Hello to my new co-teachers!
Parents and students, this is an extraordinary time that we are living in. The reality of the situation, of being out of our school building indefinitely and turning to technology to get us through, means that you both have a more active role in education than ever before. Welcome to our team! We have always been a team, but now more than ever, it is important that we see one another as teammates and act like ones. This is new (and kind of scary) territory for all of us, but we can get through it together. Like the saying goes, "If we all lean on each other, no one will fall."
Communication
Communication is going to be of the utmost importance during these upcoming weeks, and I want to be upfront about what you can expect from me in terms of communication.
In an effort to streamline communication, announcements will be coming to you by way of your student's homeroom teacher. They will include announcements from me in their regular communications with you to minimize the total number of school-related emails you are receiving at this time.
I will be avialable via email from 7:15 am to 3:15 pm school days. If I do not respond to your email immediately, please be patient. I cannot respond to every email the moment it comes in or I will not be able to effectively provide lessons to you/your students. Any email that comes to me before the end of the school day will receive a response that day. Anything that comes in after will be attended to the next morning.
I will check my email once per weekend, probably on Sunday afternoons. If you send an email after 3:15 pm on Friday, please know that it could take me up to 48 hours to respond. That being said, if you/your student have/has something due on Monday, I do not recommend putting it off until the last minute. Please at least read the assignment directions and check out the links to make sure you understand and have access to everything you will need to work over the weekend if that is when you choose to work.
If I do not respond to an message from you to let you know I received an assignment, please do not worry. Given the volume of assignments I will be receiving via email, I will not be responding individually to let each student/parent know that an assignment has been received. If you have a particular concern about an assignment, please feel free to reach out. Otherwise, I will be in touch if I need something.
As a reminder, my email address is [email protected].
In an effort to streamline communication, announcements will be coming to you by way of your student's homeroom teacher. They will include announcements from me in their regular communications with you to minimize the total number of school-related emails you are receiving at this time.
I will be avialable via email from 7:15 am to 3:15 pm school days. If I do not respond to your email immediately, please be patient. I cannot respond to every email the moment it comes in or I will not be able to effectively provide lessons to you/your students. Any email that comes to me before the end of the school day will receive a response that day. Anything that comes in after will be attended to the next morning.
I will check my email once per weekend, probably on Sunday afternoons. If you send an email after 3:15 pm on Friday, please know that it could take me up to 48 hours to respond. That being said, if you/your student have/has something due on Monday, I do not recommend putting it off until the last minute. Please at least read the assignment directions and check out the links to make sure you understand and have access to everything you will need to work over the weekend if that is when you choose to work.
If I do not respond to an message from you to let you know I received an assignment, please do not worry. Given the volume of assignments I will be receiving via email, I will not be responding individually to let each student/parent know that an assignment has been received. If you have a particular concern about an assignment, please feel free to reach out. Otherwise, I will be in touch if I need something.
As a reminder, my email address is [email protected].
Schedule
We have decided to move to having each class once per week.
Here is the current schedule:
Mondays- 2nd grade, 5th grade
Tuesdays- 1st grade, 4th grade
Wednesdays- K5, 3rd grade, 8th grade
Thursdays- 7th grade
Fridays- K4, 6th grade
These are the days when your lessons/assignments will become available in your class's shared folder.
Here is the current schedule:
Mondays- 2nd grade, 5th grade
Tuesdays- 1st grade, 4th grade
Wednesdays- K5, 3rd grade, 8th grade
Thursdays- 7th grade
Fridays- K4, 6th grade
These are the days when your lessons/assignments will become available in your class's shared folder.
Due Dates
TIn general, your assignments will be due 6 days from when they are assigned. In other words, if I assign you something on Tuesday, it will be due on Monday, the day before a week from the class it was assigned.
If you are having difficulties completing the lessons/assignments, please communicate with me. I understand that everyone has different resources and challenges at this time, and grading for participation is not meant to be a burden if you have extenuating circumstances that prevent you from completing assignments in a timely manner or at all.
If you are having difficulties completing the lessons/assignments, please communicate with me. I understand that everyone has different resources and challenges at this time, and grading for participation is not meant to be a burden if you have extenuating circumstances that prevent you from completing assignments in a timely manner or at all.
Assignment Expectations
I expect lessons/assignments to be completed to the best of your ability.
If you are sharing One Drive documents with me, please do not just share them with the title "Document X." Please title the document with the assignment name so I know what the document is for.
I expect you to read and follow directions. If you have questions, please reach out and ask. I will be happy to explain something if it is not clear.
I expect middle school students to check their email daily on school days, to follow the due dates in the "Assignments Calendar" for their grade, and to share and communicate assignments with their parents.
If you are sharing One Drive documents with me, please do not just share them with the title "Document X." Please title the document with the assignment name so I know what the document is for.
I expect you to read and follow directions. If you have questions, please reach out and ask. I will be happy to explain something if it is not clear.
I expect middle school students to check their email daily on school days, to follow the due dates in the "Assignments Calendar" for their grade, and to share and communicate assignments with their parents.
Grades
Many students currently have only one grade in the music gradebook. This is for participation for the one week in March since third trimester began that we were still in the classroom. These grades in many cases do not reflect what I feel your students should earn for the entire trimester. I had put those grades in the gradebook early in the VIL period so I did not have to worry about them later and at the time, anticipating that more grades would be added to give a fuller picture of your students' progress.
However, it has become unclear how long VIL will last and what our assessment capabilities for this time will be, so please bear with me as I figure out what the grading scheme, if any, is going to look like for VIL. Rest assured that your students' final grades will not be based off of that singular score that is currently in the gradebook. I am seeking a fair way to be sure that one week of the trimester does not determine your students' grades for the entire trimester.
Thank you for being patient with me as we work this out. I will share more information as it is available.
However, it has become unclear how long VIL will last and what our assessment capabilities for this time will be, so please bear with me as I figure out what the grading scheme, if any, is going to look like for VIL. Rest assured that your students' final grades will not be based off of that singular score that is currently in the gradebook. I am seeking a fair way to be sure that one week of the trimester does not determine your students' grades for the entire trimester.
Thank you for being patient with me as we work this out. I will share more information as it is available.
Take Care of Yourselves and Each Other
Waiting this out is not going to be easy on any of us, so it is important that you not only take care of your physical health and that of those around you, but that you also care for your mental, emotional, and spiritual healths as well.
One of the ways to do this is through open communication about your needs. Another is setting good boundaries.
This is why I am trying to foster good communication between us and asking for your collaboration in this. It is also why I have set the hours I outlined above for my availability via email. In order to best support you and teach during this time, I need to attend to my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs as well. No one can pour from an empty cup, so let's all promise each other to refill our own cups as needed. Remember: always put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others!
One of the ways to do this is through open communication about your needs. Another is setting good boundaries.
This is why I am trying to foster good communication between us and asking for your collaboration in this. It is also why I have set the hours I outlined above for my availability via email. In order to best support you and teach during this time, I need to attend to my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs as well. No one can pour from an empty cup, so let's all promise each other to refill our own cups as needed. Remember: always put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others!
A Safe Space
Music is something that is holistically good for us, and in times like these, it can be a great refuge.
My goal for this time of virtual instruction learning is to continue our standards-based curriculum and also provide a safe space for all of us to find comfort through music.
Take care,
-Ms. Laske and her "teaching assistants," Kayla and Gizmo
My goal for this time of virtual instruction learning is to continue our standards-based curriculum and also provide a safe space for all of us to find comfort through music.
Take care,
-Ms. Laske and her "teaching assistants," Kayla and Gizmo