MP2 Week 1 Announcements

A fresh start! Something we can all benefit from. (As a reminder, there won't be any announcements next week because of break.)

As we start this new marking period, I want to make some thoughts fresh in your brain. Most of it is copy and pasted from the first set of announcements that I sent out this year, but they are as true now as they were then.

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There are lots of systems in place (both for me and for every teacher, honestly) that you're trying to keep straight, and I get that. So to be very clear, here is what I'm using:

• For student assignments: Google Classroom

• To meet during class: Google Meet

• To communicate one-on-one with students and parents: mlouder@aacps.org OR 302/404/0250 OR a private comment in Google Classroom. (You can also talk to me in the "chat" of our website, but I am much less likely to see that & respond in a timely manner.)

• For weekly announcements (you'll get them every week on Friday): an email blast with the link to our website. (You can make an account for this website if you'd like, but it is not required to view the announcements.)

Where do I go for answers?

If you ever have a question, check a few resources, and then reach out to me one of the ways listed above. Those resources are:

• Go to your child's Google Classroom for this course --> select the Classwork tab --> scroll to the Resources topic --> Click on "Ms. Louder's BitMoji Classroom" and double check the slides there. I will update that document as often as necessary so everyone has access to specific how-to instructions.

• Check the most recent set of announcements (or maybe go back two weeks, if you feel like being extra thorough.)

• For logistics like specific instructions for a homework assignment or various reminders, read the most recent announcements on the Stream in your child's Google Classroom for this course.

THEN email/call/text/send a carrier pigeon. 😁 Allow me to be vulnerable for a moment: the area that needs most growth in my professional life is consistent communication with families of the students I teach. Not because I don't want to - quite the opposite; I LOVE getting to know the families of my favorite humans on earth. But, I am very bad at setting boundaries for myself in terms of work. I'm obsessed with my job so I'll do a lot all at once, get burnt out, and then everything after that suffers. It's my personal commitmentment to be better about that every year. All I ask is that you double check your resources before coming to me, because if no one double checked and I got multiple emails about information I've already covered...then I can't keep my personal commitment to doing all I can within a certain number of hours in a day. All this to say: my top priority is to support your child's education and serve your family in whatever way I can. Please help me help you 😊

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Grading Policy

I am willing to afford every opportunity for your child to get help, ask questions, redo things, but THE INITIATIVE HAS TO COME FROM THEM. It is simply impossible for me to reach out to 300 kids once a week, much less a few times a week.

The opportunities they can take advantage of are:

1) Asking questions during FLEX

2) Scheduling a one-on-one Google Meet with me

3) Texting me via my Google Voice #

4) Redoing any assignment (worksheet, homework, quiz, activity, recording, ANYTHING) any time they want, as many times as they want.

Things that make it harder for me to provide these opportunities:

1) When students don't read the instructions thoroughly.

2) When assignments are turned in:

a) without work attached for me to grade

b) multiple times but no changes are made to the work

c) without changing what what I asked in the comments, but submitting it anyway

3) When students don't check PowerSchool for specific details about assignments.

Students can use the following methods to contact me (aka I'm a very gracious person when life happens and effort is put forth, but I don't love excuses):

1) student email (search "email" in classlink)

2) Google Voice

3) Comments in Google Classroom

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Hopefully these reminders serve to help everyone get back on track this marking period ----> my main goal is to support every student in any way I can (but it's a two way street!) 😊

Have a wonderful weekend and restful Thanksgiving break,

Megan