Hello Parents/Guardians!

We are extremely excited to have the privilege of teaching your child this year! As a way to encourage student learning and growth outside of school, we have created “The Extra Mile”. This is a program that will help students grow in reading, research, speech, and presentations while incorporating various subjects, including reading, writing, math, and science, as well as technology, into self-directed learning. This program pushes students to grow; therefore, it is designed to challenge students.

Goals of the Extra Mile

• To challenge students through completing self-directed projects.

• To help students grow through research, writing, and presenting.

• To encourage students to explore areas of interest.

• To encourage self-motivation, hard work, and commitment.

• To teach students how to reason, articulate, and investigate information through research.

What is the Extra Mile?

The Extra Mile was created to push students academically, challenging them to think critically and creatively, while constructing presentations. Students will receive a choice board with four projects and will have one week to decide which project they wish to complete. Each choice board will be different for each project set. Students will choose ONE project for that 4 weeks. Once they choose which project they would like complete, the students will complete a project proposal on Google Forms. Once the proposal is sent, we will approve or not approve. Once students have approval, they may begin the project. The project instructions are very broad so students can choose focus points and be creative with completing the projects. Students will be given a due date for the end of the 4 weeks. The project will be due and presented on that day. If an unforeseen issue arises with the due date, adjustments will be made. Students will not be required to work on the projects over fall break, spring break, or winter break. We have added time to those projects so students can enjoy time with their families during the breaks.

What is the project proposal?

Students will have one week to read the choice boards, decide which project to complete, and submit a project proposal. The project proposal will be a Google Form sent through Google Classroom. Students will complete the questions and turn it in. Once it is turned in, I will read over the proposal and approve/not approve. Once the proposal is approved, I will return it to the student via Google Classroom, and they may begin working on the project.

Is it mandatory? Does my student have to participate?

Due to the projects being completed outside of school, students are NOT required to participate in the program. If your student chooses not to participate, they will NOT be punished and grades will NOT suffer. We understand that many of our students have activities outside of school and do not have enough extra time to dedicate to this project. Therefore, we will leave the choice of participation to the parents and students.

When will the due dates be?

The due dates will be about every 4-6 weeks. The date for each project will be included on the project information. There will be a total of 6 projects throughout the year. Presentations may or may not be conducted on the day the project is due. Presentation dates will be determined closer to time.

Due Dates (subject to change if needed):

• Extra Mile Contracts will be sent home on August 17, 2020 and will be due on August 21, 2020.

• Extra Mile 1

  • Extra Mile 1 Choice/Proposal Sent Home: August 24, 2020

  • Extra Mile 1 Choice/Proposal Due: August 28, 2020

  • Extra Mile 1 DUE: September 25, 2020

• Extra Mile 2

  • Extra Mile 2 Choice/Proposal Sent Home: September 28, 2020

  • Extra Mile 2 Choice/Proposal Due: October 2, 2020

  • Extra Mile 2 DUE: October 30, 2020

• Extra Mile 3

  • Extra Mile 3 Choice/Proposal Sent Home: November 2, 2020

  • Extra Mile 3 Choice/Proposal Due: November 6, 2020

  • Extra Mile 3 DUE: December 11, 2020

• Extra Mile 4

  • Extra Mile 4 Choice/Proposal Sent Home: January 11, 2020

  • Extra Mile 4 Choice/Proposal Due: January 15, 2020

  • Extra Mile 4 DUE: February 11, 2020

• Extra Mile 5

  • Extra Mile 5 Choice/Proposal Sent Home: February 16, 2020

  • Extra Mile 5 Choice/Proposal Due: February 19, 2020

  • Extra Mile 5 DUE: March 19, 2020

• Extra Mile 6

  • Extra Mile 6 Choice/Proposal Sent Home: March 29, 2020

  • Extra Mile 6 Choice/Proposal Due: April 1, 2020

  • Extra Mile 6 DUE: April 30, 2020

Where will the projects need to be sent? Where will they be presented?

If projects are completed on Google Slides, Google Docs, Google Sheets, etc., students may share their project with us, and we will have access to it. If students are using a different technology, they may need to send a link or download it to a flash drive. If there are any questions, please let us know. If students would like to use another presentation resource that is not listed on the choice boards or rubric, they may discuss it with us so we can reach a compromise.

Projects will be presented in our classrooms. Each project presentation time will differ, so we will send out information regarding presentations using Remind, Dojo, and Facebook.

How will students complete the projects?

Students will need to complete the project outside of school. They may use internet resources, book resources, articles, etc. It may be beneficial to visit the Chester County Library. Also, students may check out books in our library to use for the projects as well. Students will need access to internet and computer/laptop if at all possible to complete the projects. Students have access to Google Docs and Slides by logging in with their school email address. Students also MAY have time to work on it at school; however, that time is not guaranteed.

Why do we sign a contract?

This program is a challenging program which will require students, teachers, and parents to work together. Therefore, the program should be taken seriously with much effort and thought put into the projects. The projects are designed to be a creative, yet challenging, way to learn and grow.

What if we do not have technology or access to the internet?

If you do not have access to the internet or have a computer, students may visit the Chester County Library to use their technology resources. However, if this is not an option for your student, they may create presentations using tri-fold boards throughout the year. They will not be punished for not having access to technology at home.

Acknowledgement

Students who complete ALL 6 projects in a satisfactory manner throughout the year will take part in an excursion at the end of the year. These students will also receive special recognition at the end of the year. These students will also be leaders in the classroom and school functions.

Example of a Project Choice Board

Choice 1: Choose two books to read and review. Read the books and create a book review for each. Compare and contrast the story elements in each. Describe the books and why (or why not) someone should read them. The book review should be a Google Slides presentation or an essay.

Choice 2: Conduct a research project on something that interests you. Use 4 or more resources to conduct the research project. You may create a Google Slides presentation, video, or other presentation.

Choice 3: Create a timeline of the major battles of the Revolutionary War. Include at least 4 resources to explain the major battles. You may create a Google Slides presentation, video or other presentation.

Choice 4: Create a comic strip explaining the major events leading to the Civil War. Use at least 4 resources to explain the major events. You may create a comic strip on a Google Slides presentation, video, drawing, or other resources.

**This information and dates about The Extra Mile may change if unforeseen issues arise. If this occurs, you will be contacted via Class Dojo, Google Classroom, Facebook, or Remind.