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Dear Students and Families:
Dear Students and Families:
Welcome to the 20/21 school year!
Since this school year will present challenges never encountered before (like teaching in the classroom from home!), I would like to help set some expectations for you regarding my classes this year. As our principal, Mrs. Van Selus, always reminds us: clear is kind.
My focus this year is on learners over learning. What I mean is that I value the learner regardless of their learning. The current events of our world will inevitably impact each child, and their preparedness for learning, differently. I aim to partner with each child and family to support their unique educational needs to the best of my abilities.
In my teaching career I have been on a quest to achieve "personalized learning" for many years, getting closer to my vision each year. The introduction of emergency remote learning last spring helped me learn and prepare for this year a lot! Fortunately, my philosophy of personalized learning lends it's self very naturally to this situation and I feel like I have been preparing for this for years. My goal is to meet the educational needs of the individual student rather than teaching to the middle. To accomplish this, many things in my classes will be particular. For example, my google classrooms (GC) do not correspond to my class periods because in any given period I may have students working 4 or more grade levels apart. Also, my classroom names may not match campus. If a student is in math 6/7 (accelerated) they will be placed in the math 6 GC then advance to math 7 GC when they are ready (which could happen at any time during the school year).
My class-time routines and structures will likely be different from other classes, with the majority of time being devoted for students to engage in self directed learning. I plan to do a short whole group zoom at the start of each class, then use the remainder of time to meet individually with students to give feedback and guidance. Students will be making choices to select activities to learn, practice and apply their learning. Students will be presented these choices through google classroom, which is also where everything will be turned in. See the embedded slideshow below for more info on the "PERSONALIZED LEARNING PROCESS". Please note that many assignments in google classroom will not have due dates because students will be accessing material at their own pace. Once we get into the swing of things your child should be able to tell you what they are working on, and when they should have it finished.
On top of all this, I hope to make learning fun too! I will be encouraging MATH TASKS (which can be fun, fulfilling, and even family involved) as a choice for students to demonstrate their understanding. This is a great opportunity for students to explore their passions and creativity!
Communication will be a foundation for success. Students, I highly encourage you to write private messages to me on google classroom. I like this because we can have a conversation about an assignment then I see it again (and remind myself because I totally forgot) when I grade that assignment. Other ways to reach me: voicemail, email, zoom (link in GC) and google chat.
Parents your support will be relied upon more heavily than ever, especially while students are working remotely. If you haven't already, please help your child to create an at-home work area that is as quiet and free from distractions as possible. Keep an eye on the content your child is viewing online (or check their history). It is unlikely that I will be aware of their "off task" web viewing even during class hours. Please take advantage of the parent view on google classrooms! Check grades weekly.
Long ago, I had a professor who told me they have a philosophy of "absolute rigid flexibility". That has stuck with me ever since, even though it sounds like a contradiction, it is actually kind of perfect and I see it as quite fitting this year. What "absolute rigid flexibility" means is: we absolutely have a plan, we're going to follow through the plan rigidly and when everything falls apart we have the flexibility to bend the plan without breaking. I'm truly looking forward to an adventurous year of teaching and learning.
Be brave, charge forward, never surrender!
Sincerely,
Charlie Heimbigner
Email: cheimbig@jeffcoschools.us
Voicemail: (303)-982-1193
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