August 2020

Dear 8th grade parents,

Welcome to the year that feels like one of the famous lines from the monologue of Star Trek that I use to watch as a kid, "Where no man has gone before." I've read so many great memes on social media recently, like, "Every single teacher is about to have their first year teaching again." This one really resonated with me as it is my final year of teaching as well, quite the paradox. I, along with my fellow colleagues, have been working diligently to continue to add & create content digitally for the students we will care for this year. It has definitely created challenges of thinking outside the box and more expense purchasing equipment to support our efforts from home I'm very well aware that that goes both ways). A second meme message, that I hope to teach by this year, pointed out the 3 most important school supplies for this new school year: PATIENCE, FLEXIBILITY, and GRACE. I would appreciate your cooperation in supporting these three key ingredients for the '20-'21 school year., and always welcome your suggestions .

My school email link can be found in the Menu along the left side of this site. I have set my daily office hours as 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. I will be monitoring my school mail account during these times, and as requested, setting up Google Meet meetings. Another way to stay connected this year is to join my Remind group by clicking on the following link: https://www.remind.com/join/dbkka9 The platforms that I will be utilizing to instruct this year are Google Classroom, Edmodo, Khan Academy, & Flocabulary. Google Classroom sections have already been set up and an email invitation has been sent to each student. They will need to check their school email and join.

Within the Google Classroom setting, students have directions how to join Edmodo and Khan Academy. I have synced Khan Academy to the Google Classroom sections, but in the case that your student does NOT receive an email invite, I have posted a code to use when going to the URL (website) in Google Classroom. All emails should be with the student's school account, any outside emails will NOT be accepted. There are also directions for an Edmodo app that parents may download for various OS for smart phones. As a reminder, guardians may also receive an email to join Google Classroom sections. There are pages entitled "All Things Google" and "Edmodo Start Up" also in the Menu along the left side of this home page.

Typically the students begin instruction over the U.S. Constitution toward the end of the first quarter, and take the state mandated Constitution test by the end of the first quarter. We may begin sooner due to the conditions with which we are starting this year so that I can make sure that we finish within first semester.

For parents of those students that I have for Study Skills, if you join the Google Classroom section for that class, you will find an announcement that shares the rubric I will be using for the two grades that are taken in Study Skills each week and other pertinent information.

The homework for my Study Skills section and for U.S. History, can be found each evening by clicking the link on the home page of my website.

I am looking forward to a great year!

Ms Edwards