Week 4 / Grading Policy

I am glad to say that I feel we are up and running as well as we possibly can under the circumstances, and that most families have a rhythm to their school day with a minimum of interruption or absence.  The majority of tech problems and logistical nuances appear to have been solved for the most part.  Please reach out if you are struggling with organization or have a schedule that doesn't work and I will do my best to help, even for the smallest of problems.

Here is the grading policy that the district has implemented for the rest of the year.  Please read it, and let me know if you have any questions:

https://www.gusd.net/cms/lib/CA01000648/Centricity/shared/ar_bp_folder/AR-5121-ReportCards.pdf

Thanks again - you have all been so loving and supportive

Mr. Hewitt

Week 2

Looking good so far! I think we have a good rhythm going. The students have an excellent attitude, are ready to work, and are submitting high quality assignments.

Minor notes:

I'm trying to minimize Zoom meetings, and will only have a home room morning meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays unless there is a pressing need.  That should give students a little more time to relax, eat, and comb their hair.  If you can't make a meeting let me know and I can always record it and send it to you.

Yearbooks for 5th graders are FREE this year.  THANK YOU 5th Grade Committee!  This has been an incredible year for parent support.

As always, please communicate anything to me.  I'm going 24 hours a day and it's never a bother.

Stay safe!

First week of new material

I am greatly encouraged this week by seeing improvement in all areas of our new reality.  Not only has California seemed to do well in this pandemic, but I see students adapting to distance learning and trying their best.  Very few students are "dialing it in" or waking up late or failing to turn in assignments.  There has been a great deal of engagement and communication, and most people are working very hard.  Thank you parents!!

From what I have heard in other districts, grading will be done in a favorable manner that takes our unique situation into account, so please have no anxiety when it comes to assignments.  Encourage your children to do their best and know that I support whatever flexibility you require.

Have a great Easter / Passover weekend

Day 3 of new material

Today's adjustment I am trying to implement is to help the number of kids who are working WAY too late on their work.  I can think of some possible reasons for this:

1.   tech issues
2.   typing: many 5th graders are very slow
3.   large number of paragraphs and essays expected
4.   many Zoom meetings
5.   long Zoom meetings
6.   difficult to navigate websites
7.   overall time management

Please, please have your child cut everything off at 5pm at the latest (or an earlier / later time of your choosing).  You can even tell them we insist if they can't let go.  I am working on my end to streamline this, and I appreciate any communication regarding this even if your timing is just right or too short.

Thanks again for everything - another day forward

Day 2 of new material

I believe everyone is getting much more used to this.  The growing pains are starting to subside, and a we are gaining some momentum that I feel I can work with. If your child is doing WAY too much work for whatever reason, please let me know so I can help.

Again, sticking with a schedule is very important and I will do what I can to help.  Please let me know if there are any issues.  We are another day closer to the light when this all ends.  Take a walk and enjoy the day!

Day 1 of new material

 Today was the first day where we communicated new material, and the first day where grades count.

The most important issue I have noticed today is attendance and timing, in particular sticking with the day's schedule.  Please, if at all possible, do not treat this like you are doing an assignment on vacation.  Don't sleep in - submit work on a timely schedule in order.  I have noticed many people that aren't turning in any assignments or turning them in at an hour where it seems like they woke up at 10am.  If you woke up late or can't do the day's work at the times scheduled, please let me know.

Second issue is a silly one, but one that must be addressed.  Please have your child put their actual name as a sign in for the Zoom meetings as opposed to a crazy screen name.  I can't tell who is who and will have to exit you from the session.

Thank you for everything.  It was a hard day of navigating Google Classrooms, Zoom meetings, internet lag, technical glitches, and the various expectations of type A teachers (well not me, but you know what I mean)...

Hang in there.  This was another first day and I guarantee you the rest of the week will be much better.

Next week

Next week we will start NEW lessons and I suspect more patience will be required as we progress.  Expect your teachers to conduct Zoom meetings earlier in the morning for subjects than I have been doing, so wake up and be ready.  Each subject may or may not have a Zoom meeting on any given day, so expect more of those. We will try to keep things to a schedule as much as we can.

We are still waiting from the district regarding how we are to grade students, but please know from here on out, all work is subject to grading.  We will also be taking attendance.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to ease any frustrations you might have.  I know many of you are working at home or on site and that there are a variety of distractions at all times.
Sometimes assignments aren't always communicated well and/or websites are hard to navigate.  I will always try my best to help.  This is a unique time, so don't feel like you are bothering me with small requests.

Thank you SO much for your support this week.  I truly feel encouraged that we can get through these next couple of months.

Day 4 of review

Day four of review has been successful in terms of students becoming accustomed to working from home online.  I have seen a good amount of subpar work being turned in this week, and I expect that to change. This first trial week has been about simply getting used to the new reality and we have been fairly forgiving regarding work habits.  Next week is new material and all work will receive a grade.

Please find a way to check that your child has been doing their assignments.  If you're not at home or are working from home, I'm sure that is pretty difficult.  Keep on them as much as you possibly can.  Next week I will let you know personally if they are not doing what they are supposed to do.  Sticking to a schedule (unless they are sick) is of the utmost importance to make this homeschooling work, so avoid things like luxurious breakfasts or sleeping in.

My father turns 96 today and has lived through the Blitz of London, World War II, polio, heart attacks, and all kinds of trouble and strife.  He enjoys every day, even right now. I thought I'd pass that on as an encouragement.  Stay strong!

Not an April Fool's joke

Looks like we are in this for the long haul.  The governor announced today that schools will remain closed for the duration of the school year.  I think we all knew this would happen.  What does this mean for "home schooling"?  I still think of this as a tremendous opportunity to bond with your child and boost your skills as an integral part of your child's education.  Stay strong and stay positive.  I will be posting helpful hints as we go along.  To me, the absolutely most important part of a child's education is reading and a love of learning.  If we can manage to maintain that alone, your child will be successful this year.

In the upcoming weeks I will be attempting to teach your child new material, which is entirely different to review.  Thankfully, the majority of our new material, including the conceptually difficult items like long division, fractions, text citation, and writing skills have already been taught in the main.  Be patient as I explore new ways to deliver new material to your child's various screens and remember to remain as active a parent as you can right now.  Times like this remind us of what's important.

Zoom meeting tomorrow as usual and remember to communicate with me any concerns.

Thanks again!