5th Grade Team - 2020 Texts Part 4
Fri, April 10, 12:45.
B: I wanna do a poetry unit thing. It would be super short each week/ day. Would we have enough time in our 90 minute block to add it? It would be about 30 minutes over the course of the week.
Can we develop a list of the kids who have requested paper packets? This way we know who is working at home and not in the classroom.
R: I say we add it on Monday then have them submit Friday, that way they can fit it into their schedule. Unless there's a specific day you want to do it
Brian: I have T and LG. I just contacted them since they were still waiting on the ChromeBooks.
J is also a no-show on the Google Classroom but Mom contacted last week saying she was going to homeschool him.
No packet for you!!
B: That's my plan for all the work I put in. I have a virtual reading log going in for their 20 minutes a day.
The poetry wouldn't take very long. I can do it on one of my own weeks later in the year though too. Maybe close to the end of the school year we can do a couple weeks of poetry.
I'll share the doc with you and T so he can see who we have been able to be in contact with.
You're referring to the poetry thing. Assign on Monday and have it due Friday, yes? Have either of you checked the ELA packet?
R: As for science I spent a few hours trying virtual labs and found that they are stand alone, and I’ have to do a lot of preteaching and vocabulary. I kept thinking STEM or engineering but that'd require them to use items at home. If I did it digitally we'd lose arguable one of the most important components which is to improve. Needless to say I'm reworking a mystery science lesson.
B: That works! Mystery Science is pretty great most lo the time.
Brian: B, I don't have access to Star results from your class and R's, Could you look up K's latest results? I have something from January but suspect there is something more up to date.
Hope there's something more up to date.
R: I can look that up as well
Actually, I can't. I'm trying to reset my password because it keeps saying my Renaissance id or password is incorrect.
Brian: That meeting?
R: Shit
Brian: 1:30 meeting?
RE...? Is from special services.
R: No idea
Maybe the middle school person to talk about life skills
B: Yes. And a reading log for their 15-20 minutes of reading per day. My meeting video isn't showing up. Just audio
Brian: Well, we can definitely see you wave your arms at S.
B: Lovely
R: It's fine because T had to take his son out of the room because he was jumping on bed
B: I feel better now
Longest zoom ever and I had a lanky screen.
*Blank
Punishment for being late.
R: I've gotta pee
B: Me too
I was legit watching a literacy training video that was super awesome and I forgot to pause it.
Brian: I can finally eat this delicious orange.
R: Holy cow that was just shy of two hours
Brian: I thought there was a 50 minute limit.
R: I'm happy she's slated for Ridgetop because I think she's going to find herself in life skills.
Brian: Yeah, I thought that a better option for her as well.
R: I just found Winnie on the toilet playing Animal Crossing. How long has she been here? No idea. Is she allowed to even play the switch? I don't even know.
Brian: Many many questions...
B: How do we remove things from the day of the week tab if we aren't done looking at it but they are done working on it. Can we make it "go to sleep" or hide it from view?
Brian: Not sure. I plan to much about with the site over the weekend. Who knows what I'll figure out?
B: Ok. Let me know. With the larger projects I will need more than a weekend to give feedback so I might need to leave them in there until I can do that. R too I think.
R: I don't know how go to sleep works or if that's even a real option haha
B: If it's not, it should be.
Fri, Apr 10, 7:48 PM
B: I arranged the classroom a little. We can make a topic for past projects where we can move old projects. I think.
I moved a couple assignments from one section to another easily so it should be simple.
Sun, Apr 12, 10:26 AM
B: Happy easter team!! I'm so grateful for you. It's one thing to have people on your team who are easy to work with but a whole nother thang when you can call your team friends and family.
Brian: Hey! You guys rock!
Okay, I have been putting off "getting serious" about school work for waaay too long. Just, sort of assumed everything was cool.
Yesterday was my first BBQ. Went reasonably well once I got it up to about 600 degrees to sterilize everything. That first time opening the lid in spring is NOT for the faint of heart.
When my extremely high heat BBQ gloves started to smolder.. Dang it! Doing it again!
Must. Focus. On. Work. Stuff!
Man I hope we don't have any more IEP meetings On Friday, (was that Friday?) I was so bored after 60 minutes that I started practicing my bass guitar on the down low. Sure wish I'd gotten to that vital 4th lesson before lockdown.
Not like I was contributing anything to the meeting. The ADHD meds can only do so much.
Okay, back to the Google Classroom. David invited me to join the 2nd grade classroom. I went thinking it was all bells and
whistles but nope; just a boatload of assignments.
(CG is the 2nd grade yoga teacher? She's posted a few assignments but so has Anthony.) Arrrgh! Must stop swiping the ChromeBook screen!!
Anyway, GCL still looks plain as hell. Am investigating how to upload a photo; any photo. The one of us is too small. It must be at least 800 pixels by 200 pixels
Maybe I'll drive to CC to take another photo. Something to ponder.
Oh, yeah, go Team 5th Grade! I would be (even more) lost without you!
Happy Easter! Enjoy your celebratory ham, peeps and chewing gum. Gotta go.
Well, poor Ms. W. is supposed to:
"I'm tasked with making sure your work is accessible to all our students, as well as provide some kind of specially designed instruction for rdg, wr, math, social skills, and adaptive for all my students' goals. And, I have to be able to progress monitor it somehow. What???"
Just not sure what all we can do to help R-Dub with this.
Okay, it took over an hour but I got that bleeping Orca onto the streaming page. Granted, it’s only about 1/2 the Orca and a dark half at that.
Okay, added an assignment for tomorrow: Redbird for 20 minutes. A stunning accomplishment, I know.
B: I told B that we would level the reading materials so all she needs to do is check it rather than create something new.
Thanks for making ya look good Bri.
Mon, Apr 13, 9:12 AM
B: Are the math assignments going in Bloomz or just the website?
Not Bloomz, the GCL
Brian: Both are posted to the classroom.
B: The lesson 1 isn't in there under Monday
I don't see Lesson 1
Brian: The assignment isn't a particular lesson; it's to practice for X minutes on Redbird and Mobymax. let me check the C-19 doc.
B: Ok. Sorry. Let me change the Bloomz announcement.
Brian: No, this is on me.
I'm still trying to decide whether to continue with the All Review Spring; in which cage I'll start on Ch. 1
Or....
Try to pick up where we left of in March: Fractions and decimals. B's doing fraction/decimal review this week.
Perhaps TT will have some words of inspiration at 10:00.
B: Maybe. I don't count on it though. I think he's gonna give us some freedom. We could google meet with him as a grade level.
Brian: That might be helpful.
B: Ok. I'll email him a request. Do you wanna set it up? I can ask him what time he's available
Brian: Let me check my schedule.
…
I'm pretty much free this, uh, spring. T’s schedule might be busier.
Maybe just see what works for him? And it's possible he’ll clarify things at the Zoom meeting, so I’d like to wait til 11:00 to ask him.
That work?
The Spooky Goat has spoken.
R: I'm alarmed by that
Yeah I'm pretty free as well...it's frightening.
B: Yeah. I'm free too. Except tomorrow. The littles then eight. If you wanna send me a quick little happy birthday video that would be awesome.
R: We do, W and I need to come up with a script.
B: Sweet!
R: Quarantine has us trying to be low maintenance with hats, don't judge we're new here
B: No judgement. I haven't even pulled my hair down from my sleep style.
Brian: I'm judging.
B: Well, we're judging You too goat boy.
So a lot of families aren't seeing the daily announcement for the assignments because Bloomz is glitching, I'm glad we put our days of the weeks topics.
R: Also the video in my slideshow doesn't work which isn't a big deal
B: Sigh. Figures. Lots of tech issues.
R: The problem is they describe everything as teams and handouts, it requires materials and printing. I redid everything because I tried to elongate equity issues
B: We can click and drag assignments from one topic to another. I might click and drag the reading log from one day to the next so they can find it in each day's section
Brian: She said elongate...
R: He he
Brian: Zoom Meeting Scavenger Hunt: How many cats can you spot in the background?
B: How many did you spot.
The question people are my least favorite.
Brian: Just two: Mystery Sam and Shanna.
R: Yes you are!
Brian: So, I'm thinking we should post our office hours on the Classroom?
R: Was that a portrait on the fireplace of two Pomeranians in the background of G’s? That's my question. Can we all just say 8-330 which is basically what we're doing
Brian: What else should we take care of today?
(I'm waiting to hear back from TT about Zooming. That time works,
Yeah, I'm really liking the Orca photo.
B: I'm good with those hours too. I posted them on Bloomz too.
Brian: FYI: Taking a break. Be back in 30.
B: Ok
Brian: Okay!
-had some lunch: Xander brand bread w/English cheddar
-checked in with the wife
-restocked the bird and squirrel feeders
-brought in the now empty garbage can
-near filled same can with all the many garbage bags sitting around the garage
-Started watering the fruit trees
-and now enjoying some delicious gum.
Back to work!
Still haven't heard back from T
Mon, Apr 13, 1:54 PM
B: Got some light reading.
Brian: Me, too.
B: Which book(s)?
Brian: This monster of a fantasy novel and its two predecessors have taken up most of my past month.
X is also on my audible account and so....accounts! for some of the listening time. His assigned book this week was "The Millionaire Next Door"; which he discovered is in my library.
Curses! Foiled again!
Mon.Apr 13, 3:28 PM
Brian: I am getting up a 2:00 Zoom with T tomorrow. Mostly just want to pick his brain about math stuff but you may have further questions for him.
Futzed about with the classroom and the C-19 doc.
I'll be honest; not a fan of the classroom layout.
It’s probably due to my using a G-Site for all these years. Classroom just has fewer options. With 10 weeks ahead of me, I'll have plenty of time to become an expert.
It may only be 3:27 but I'm sneaking out of work early. Don't tell anyone. Yabba Dabba Dool!
B: I went on a walk at about 3:20. I had had enough of this inside stuff. I am not used to staying home and the boy child was driving me nuts.
Got home and realized that D's assignments dated today didn't all have to be finished today so the poor boy got wrath without necessarily deserving it.
We'll figure it out. It's foreign ground for everyone and I think we are way more efficient and effective than others. I would appreciate the way we do it more than what I'm seeing from the ones I see.
I can't even find C's stuff. She has to do it. A is on her own completely. Poor kid.
R: Perfect!
I sent LM’s mom the info about his packet from J. Wonder how many people she's having to track down info for to make sure they get their packets
B: I know she was trying to track down C's mom.
R: I can add my stuff whenever
B: No worries. I just wanted to make sure it's there at some point before I post on Bloomz in the am. I post at about 7:30
R: I get up at 5:40 everyday still I got your back mama
B: Still? Why?
R: I make K lunch and coffee...
Brian: ….. Nope, I got nothing.
R: Awwww.
B: Plus I thought we were going back to work so I just kept my schedule. Now it's part of my routine.
R: Oh my gosh. M’s photo is too cute in the class. I miss our kids
B: I miss M. Not all of them, but she's one of them.
R: So funny I'm giving feedback to all the kids who completed the assignment, I get to A's and she's working on it currently. last questions which is short response. I just gave her some real time help. I could tell she was like "wth" by the movement of her curser and slow backspacing.
B: I LOVE messing with her. It's my favorite.
R: If you comment to students does it notify them when they enter the classroom? Because typically you'd get an email but elementary doesn't have access to that
B: I don't know. I think it shows up when the open they assignment. S and C's teachers don't comment but I can ask A if hers does.
R: I want to give them feedback and things to consider as they go into tomorrow. Me just chose a location to build a well because "water can't travel downhill". They need me
B: I wonder if she's building a well on the moon. You know, where gravity's pull is much weaker.
R: Apparently report cards were received today. S’s parents aren't happy. I'll deal with it tomorrow, but I'm thinking a lot of our parents aren't going to happy with their students’ performances.
Brian: All these texts are distracting me from James Bond’s awesomeness.
Baby's going in the Office.
Goodnight.
Tue, Apr 14, 6:51 AM
R: I'm a little upset so many parents want packets when I know their students have access to internet. I truly believe they would get more from doing our projects and assignments then the work packets.
B: Every person that asked for one that is in the classroom, I warned that the packets are for people who don't have internet access and that are not going to do the online work. a few backed out and didn't want one after that.
R: I know :-/ Thanks for doing that though!
B: Maybe they think the packets would be easier. I checked out the reading one and it's substantial. They would benefit from not doing it.
Brian: Can't say the same for the math guide.
So, I'm at work now and have checked the kids fact fluency progress.
S and K both worked on theirs last night. I'd like to send them attaboys (attagirls?) but since MobyMax is an external website, how do I do that? The kids’ emails don't work for email, correct? I could mark their assignments as complete but that's not very specific.
R: Elementary doesn't have the ability to email.
Brian: so I just sent a reminder about math homework to the 30 or so kids who didn't Redbird yesterday. It LOOKS like it was sent successfully but you are saying the kids won't get it?
...
Ha ha. My inbox in now chock full of "Delivery status Notification (failure)". That answers my question. I’ll just need to do whole group comments on the G-Classroom page?
B: I will also post on Bloomz about kids doing Redbird. Do you want them on there again today?
Brian: Yep. 20 more minutes.
I'll get up earlier tomorrow to update things.
R: Do we have preferences about next year's camp dates?
Brian: Whatever they have.
B: Nope.
Do either of you happen to know the dates of our next spring break?
Brian: April 5-9th
B: Awesome. Thank you
And not to brag or anything but my pest control guy just showed up to get rid of our spiders. Because I am adulting the hell out of life right now.
R: Mom used to pay a pes1 control for spiders until he told her that his "warranty" doesn'1 cover spiders.
B: I don't know if they warranty it or not but I know we can call them back at any point between treatments and they will respect for free.
Respect
Re-spray
Brian: spiders?
Wendi is on the "Hlubby Takes Care Of Them" plan.
Tue, Apr 141 2:02 PM
R: You setting up the meeting Bri?
Brian: Invite on the way.
R: Email?
Brian: From T.
R: Shoot. I'm on my way
Wed, Apr 15, 6:34 AM
R: Just got invited to W's classroom from Pl.
Holy cow. It's 5 videos lo start your morning off everyday then a document for the entire week to view after the videos. Straight up we've streamlined it and made it so nice for parents and families.
Go team!
B: I agree. Our way is the best way.
Brian: Yea, us!
Mrs. J. has quite the glamour shot on her email account! Just saying.
R: Speaking of which I need to update mine
Brian: Well, I wasn't going to say anything but...
B: Mine looks like a B movie headshot. I need to update mine too.
Do you two have a preference for what communication platform we use? I like Bloomz but Dojo and Remind are on the table.
Brian: The Bloomz interface is ass; at least on this ChromeBook but the parents have been using forever. I suspect the transition over to something else would be more trouble than it's worth.
B: We are talking about a whole school communication system.
Believe it or not, Bloomz is easier to maneuver on the phone app not the computer. That's not usually true, but with Bloomz it is.
I hate Dojo so I hope we don't go that route.
R: Dojo I don't love because I don't want to do all the other business and parents might expect us to use those behavior features. Remind is straight forward and sterile so that's fine with me. I do like bloomz though
B: Remind is like Twitter. As a parent it's just for assignments. Like you said, super sterile.
R: Exactly
Brian: So, is this decision being made right now? Like, we all have to decide this week? Again, you gotta dance with them that brought ya.
I will try putting Bloomz onto my iPad. What's the username/password?
B: It's your email I believe.
I don't think so. I think they are planning for next year.
Brian: Hey, is there anyway to post photos or videos to Bloomz?
I think S has earned at least 1 Screaming Goat for finishing his fact fluency. I, uh, MAY have too much time on my hands.
R: Announcements I believe can post videos
The one thing I'm hearing from parents is too many emails between schools and all the teachers. I say the classroom is a more appropriate place for that and motivational for the students
B: The classroom is where students can see it and Bloomz is mostly parents. So just know the audience for our comments and things.
Brian: Okay, I'll post these thrilling results on our classroom.
Aarrgh!! I just saw a Parent comment on Classroom about Redbird being checked off. And now I can't find the comment again.
HULK SMASH!!
Can you help me out?
B: I'm in an SLT so when it's done I'll check it out. It might be under an announcement rather than a post.
R: I don't see a comment but I do see that L "turned in", Which L?
I didn't see a comment and GC sends me emails that vibrate my phone, maybe because I didn't make the assignment?
Brian: Could be?
Crud. Found it. Never mind.
Wed, Apr 15, 5:15 PM
B: Have either of you gotten a stimulus check yet? I keep seeing people post about getting their checks...
Brian: Nope.
I assume we'll be direct deposit. The holdup is probably President Dumb-Ass insisting on signing all the direct deposit checks.
B: Just wondering. We didn't file in 2019 so I wonder if we will be later than other folks.
R: I got mine yesterday and same with K, we both bank with KCU. My sisters got theirs today and they bank with Chase. Not sure if that's a factor.
B: I don't think banking matters. Did you file in 2019? For 2019
Brian: Yep.
B: Ok. Just trying to plan stuff. We are hoping to give J's mom some $ to pay her car payment
Thu, Apr 16, 12:00 PM
B: I did the Imagine Learning training today. I am zooming with the lady who loads the rosters later today so I can get all three homeroom a into my roster. Once I get that done, I can start communicating to families about it and assigning it in classroom.
Brian: Sounds good. Still no math component?
R: That's awesome. Thank you for doing that!
Brian: Oh, yeah. Yippee for the Beck!
B: No math. Redbird is for math. This is just like Redbird for ELA
Brian: Both Wendi and Xander feel the need to update me on their daily progress. All. The. Time.
And now Wendi has turned on M.C. Hammer again.
You can't actually be arrested for breaking into your own workplace, can you?
B: Oh my word! J narrates every flipping thing too!!! And so does S. A would be my favorite except she's Uber moody and cries when she has to work hard.
All that being said, C is my favorite.
Thu, Apr 16, 6:31 PM
B: Are we keeping track of everybody who is turning stuff in? We can take old assignments and create a new topic (past assignments) and put them there so we have a record. It'll just add up quite a bit as we go.
R: Good idea!
B has sent me two messages via A's email and had no idea about our new google classroom. Today he asked me if he has to do
everything from this week because today is his first day logging in. Mind you his entire message was in the subject
B: I think they can see the grades page if they are looking over their child's shoulder.
We can't cut down the stream unless we cut down the Classwork tab. I never even look at the stream. Ever.
Are we moving the day that's current to the top of the Classwork page? Someone did and I liked it so I made Friday be at the top.
I can rearrange it back to Monday at the top over the weekend. I'll add a past activities topic too and move old stuff down there so we have a record of everything. I wish they had a way of hiding things from the kids so they won't see it but we will.
Thu, Apr 16, 9:58 PM
Brian: Just to be sure, students or their parents can see all 4 pages of the classroom?
The stream is ghastly but it's the first thing that I see. You all just make a habit of ignoring page one? B, what time does tomorrow's Bloomz go out?
Fri, Apr 17, 6:21 AM
R: It's like your Facebook wall. I know our 5th graders aren't getting caught up on every single announcement. They know the routine. They go straight to classwork. As for grades. I make everything I do ungraded. That moans instead of a score they get a check mark.
Brian: Okay, if this makes the daily edition, great. If not, I'll send it out Thursday evening.
Great Job with math this week! On the Moby Max guide, some of the MANY highlights include King Tut Badges being earned by S, E, and S. Baseball badges by K and M. But most impressive were both B and B completing five (5!) MM lessons by Thursday evening.
Over in Redbird world, many students: A,N,S,T, M completed an impressive 3 lessons this week but the Crown of Mathyness goes to J for successfully finishing 4 lessons this week.
Again, great job and let's have an even better next week!
P.S. No idea what a King Tut badge is… Sounds pretty impressive.
And I better start working on the Crown of Mathyness. Silver. Should probably start with silver.
B: I wonder if it's like a resurrection badge. Come alive!!!!!
Brian: Now even I would do Moby Max for that!
B: Me too.
R: Hey Brian, J and M both left comments about not knowing which quiz to do and where to go for MyMath quiz. I'd help but I don't actually know anything about that website
Brian: Yeah, me neither. I'll take a look.
Thx
It's %#€£ dieappeared!!
R: It could be worse. N's mom messaged me saying that the math teacher sent out a reminder to do meth everyday for 30 minutes
Brian: Meth everyday? That seems excessive.
R: We're doing good team
B: Meth will definitely keep her productive.
I have two teacher fears..
The first is the I will make KOMONews, Kitsap Sun and/or FB by posting something like "Let's do 30 minutes of meth every day! Congratulations to J for being our Best Meth Worker!" Something to that effect.
The second is that I am intently drawing a math diagram on the white board or document camera when I notice the increasing titters of laughter from the students. (And visiting principals-'cause why not?)
When I stop drawing to find the cause of the laughter, I notice I have accidentally drawn something that looks very much like a penis.
That nightmare scenario plays (way) in the back of my mind pretty much every day of school.
And I know I would need to resign that very day....
Welcome to Brian's mind !
B: Ha haaaa!!
Brian: Oh, sure! I am being completely unreasonable....
B: You see what you wanna see...
Brian: I just updated T’s spreadsheet.
B: Thank you.
M said he can't find the quiz in My Math
I tried the link and it goes straight to the CKSD website. Is that where you wanted it to go?
Brian: Is THAT the problem? The boneheads have to log into their CK accounts and then go to ConnectED. Just like we practiced.
R: How sweet is this?!