October Newsletter

Blended Learning Department

In this issue:

Rigor and Mastery
Did you Know? Canvas Parent Observer Accounts
Blended Learning Best Practices: Rigor and Mastery
Monthly checklist (videos you may need now)
Rigor/Mastery Resources

Digital Citizenship
Promethean Place
BL Resources
September Canvas winner
Rigor and Mastery Challenge: Chance to win!

Rigor and Mastery

For a driver to win a race he/she must master speed, pace, knowledge of the course, car control, all while making quick decisions that can and will impact the outcome of the race. In the classroom, students are all working toward the same "win," which is mastery of the standards being taught. When students are challenged with robust tasks, but receive the necessary support to be successful, we should see all students cross the finish line.

Did you know that parents can create a Parent Observer account in Canvas? Canvas Observer enhances the potential for parents to engage in their children's education. Parents can review upcoming or past assignments, check on grades, and receive alerts for student activity. Canvas Parent can be used by any Canvas user with an observer account and is available for both Android and iOS devices. For step-by-step instructions that can be sent home to parents, click HERE. For teacher instructions on how to print off a class list of pairing codes, please click HERE.

Blended Learning Focus: Rigor and Mastery

It is important to consider the goals and objectives that students need to master by the end of each unit of study. Rigor is what makes a learning unit robust, engaging, and appropriately challenging.

Here are a few things to consider as you look at building a lesson that promotes rigor/mastery.

Rigor in the Classroom: What it is and isn't
Understanding Mastery Based Learning
How to Bring "Mastery Learning" to the Classroom
Gaining Understanding of What your Students Know (exit tickets explained)
Fostering Joy in the Academically Rigorous English Classroom (Great read for all subject areas)

Monthly Checklist

Consider...

Using Google Forms to create exit tickets to assess mastery of standard/s
Importing outcomes to use in rubrics and new quizzes
Creating a Rubric in Canvas and Attaching it to an Assignment.
Adding Rubrics to Graded Discussion Boards in Canvas.
Using Google Sheets to track student data

Rigor and Mastery Resources

(*While these resources are free, they are not district-supported).

Kahoot: Students compete against each other to answer questions quickly and correctly. The teacher receives feedback on who answered correctly and who did not.
Quizizz: Create lessons, conduct formative assessments, assign homework, and have other interactions with your students (for all grades) in a captivating way.
Ditch that Textbook: This website has free, editable templates and graphic organizers that can be used to tie back to a variety of verbs often found in academic standards.
Try one of these 5 techniques for enhancing joy coupled with rigorous learning in the classroom.

Monthly Digital Citizenship Lessons

October Digital Citizenship Theme: We are critical thinkers and creators.

It's essential that students learn to think critically about the news and media they encounter every day. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify, evaluate, and use information effectively, find credible and trustworthy sources, and give proper credit. They will recognize how individuals and society are influenced by the media and the misrepresentations and stereotypes they sometimes promote. Students will reflect on their responsibilities and rights as creators in the online spaces where they consume, create, and share information. Read more about this topic on the Common Sense Education website.

Monthly activities to teach digital citizenship are available on the Guilford is Cyber Safe website.

Promethean Place

Click HERE for some adorable fall and Halloween wallpaper templates that can be used on your Promethean Board. Click HERE for instructions on how to change the wallpaper on your on your Promethean Board.

Want to create a fun review activity for your students in Explain Everything (an app located on the AP9 Promethean Panels)? Watch our "Magic Hat" video that shows you how you can create one of your own!

Resources

BL Resource Website: Visit our website for all things blended learning. Locate your blended learning specialist, find out about our virtual course offerings,

District-Provided Tools Database: Want to know what digital resources we have for you? Check out the district's Air Table. You can filter to find the information you need.

Resources Document for Best Practices: If you like the Blended Learning Look-for document but feel like you need to know more, please check out our resource page that directly aligns with each of the blended learning focus areas.

Digital Learning Resources Canvas Page: Need help with one of our GCS district-provided resources? Visit our digital learning resource page to find video tutorials and instructional guides on anything from Swivl to Canvas.

Congratulations to our September Newsletter Culture Challenge winner, Ellen Neese, from Cone Elementary! Ms. Neese has won a $25 gift card to LA Nails in Oak Ridge, NC for submitting a check-in that she does with students at the start of each day.

Special thanks to LA Nails in Oak Ridge for there generous support. We could not do this without our community partners.

Rigor and Mastery Challenge

How do you promote rigor/mastery in your classroom?

Please submit a screenshot of one of the following to Jessica Lamberth at lamberj2@gcsnc.com. Once you submit your screenshot, you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a prize.
- - - - Google Form Exit Ticket that you have created.
        Canvas quiz that you have created.
        Outcomes that you have imported into your Canvas course.
        Rubric used in Canvas for an assignment.

Last Day to submit your Rigor and Mastery Challenge entry is Wednesday, October 29th.

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