Flipgrid

Hello students and parents!

I have decided to set up Flipgrid accounts for my classes so we can have class discussions while distance learning!

Flipgrid is a video app that lets students and teachers record short videos to answer questions and have discussions. It is completely restricted to members of each class period, so that only classmates can see each others' posts. It is also completely private.

For students who do not have a camera on their computer, I recommend downloading the Flipgrid app so you can record your responses on your cellphone.

As with all of our work, you can make your video responses WHENEVER you want - no need to log in at a certain time.

Your first Flipgrid assignment will go up on Google Classroom tomorrow, 3/19, and be due on Monday.

Please email or send me a Remind if you have questions or concerns!

Distance Learning

Hello parents! I know you've probably already heard that our school is moving to distance learning for the next three weeks to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

It's a very scary time for our kids, and I did my best to reassure students today that the measures being taken are mainly precautionary and to keep our healthcare system from being overrun by the small percentage of serious cases.

I know that many are disappointed and sad at all the cancellations of special events that many have prepared for and looked forward to, such as concerts, sporting events, and school dances. I hope we can all help each other and keep each others' spirits up throughout this unusual time.

I have already prepped assignments for students' first week of distance learning. Freshman have two activities - the Prereading Nearpod, and the Turtle Symbolism Pratice. Juniors are to read and answer questions about an article - "What You Don't Know Can Kill You" - and finish their evidence logs. By Friday, 3/20, their entire log should be complete, except for the McCarthyism schmoop article, which we skipped.

Distance learning will begin on Wednesday, 3/18. Please remind students to be checking Google Classroom each day.

Students do not need to worry about completing anything else for next week. Please have them email me with questions!

I hope you all stay well, wash your hands, and be wise in the upcoming weeks!

Miss A's Last Day

Today our class said farewell to our awesome student teacher Miss Alishahi. She moves on to Sierra Vista to do more student-teaching at the junior high level.

Miss A has added so much to our classroom with her ready smile, her love of music, and her cute puppy photos. I have absolutely loved having Miss A as my partner in crime for the last six weeks, and I am sad to see her go.

Here are some photos from Miss A's last day. 9th graders enjoyed some PHONE FREE fun time in class today to say good-bye - 11th graders, unfortunately, had to finish their district benchmarks, but gamely posed for a photo!

Debates

Who is responsible for the death of John Proctor? That was the subject of this week's debate about The Crucible in American Literature!

Arthur Miller's classic drama is full of guilty characters - after all, what would an exploration of Puritanism, theocracy, and adultery be without guilt? The question though was who was most guilty!

The candidates were:

* John Proctor himself, the wayward patriarch who slept with and then fired his teenaged servant
* Elizabeth Proctor, his wife, an upright truth-teller who lies for her husband at a crucial moment
* Abigail Williams, the ex-servant-and-woman-spurned who accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft
* Mary Warren, their wishy-washy servant who continually succumbs to peer pressure
* Reverend Parris, the wanna-be authoritarian preacher who is more concerned with money and reputation than the truth
* Deputy Governor Danforth and his court officials, who decide to admit "spectral" evidence and Bible verses into a court of law
* Puritan society with its repressive norms and religious obsession
* Mass hysteria that had taken Salem by storm

It was a lively debate, but both Periods 2 and 3 ultimately pointed the finger at Mass Hysteria - with Mary Warren making it to the final round in Period 2, and John Proctor himself getting to the final showdown in Period 3.

Parents, you may notice our student teacher, Miss Alishahi in some of the pictures! She's been an amazing addition to our classroom!