Class Information July 1, 2008
Posted by wenhiers in Class Information.add a comment
Each student received a copy of the class policies and science syllabus. Students were instructed to have a parent/guardian sign the paper and bring it back for a class grade. You may download a copy of these documents below:
6th grade science syllabus and policy-letter
LATE WORK:
It is each student’s responsibility to complete and turn in all assignments on time. Late work is not acceptable and will be counted as a zero. The only opportunity to make up late classwork assignments is to attend Saturday school. Only partial credit will be given for assignments completed in Saturday school. This does not include assignments missed during excused absences unless the assignments are not made up within the appropriate time period. Return to top
HOMEWORK
Homework which supports student learning of the AKS, will count as an effort grade. It increases learning time and is valuable in monitoring student progress. It also provides an opportunity for enrichment, extension, practice, and remediation of AKS instruction. It is most effective when completed as assigned. Late homework assignments will be counted as a zero.
Homework will receive stamp of completion on the day that it is checked. If there is no stamp, then the homework was not complete on the day that it was due.
LAB REPORTS & REFLECTIONS
(10%)
You will be required to write conclusions, lab reports, answer questions to reflect on lab activities that we have done in class. You will work on the labs either with a partner or in a group. The lab reports, however, are individual assignments that will show me what you know and have learned from doing the lab. Return to top
PROJECTS
(15%)
You will be assigned 1 Project per nine-week period. They typically involve more extensive work than classwork. They often cover several AKS objectives and usually are weighted more heavily. Each day that a long-term assignment is late will result in a 10% point deduction. After three days, the highest grade the student can receive is a 70. Also, the student will have the opportunity to attend Saturday school to complete the assignment. Return to top
QUIZZES
(15%)
The purpose of a quiz is to allow you to review small portions of an AKS that leads up to a test. They may NOT be retaken.
TESTS
(30%)
There will anywhere from 4-6 tests during the year. They will help to test your knowledge and apply your understanding. These may be retaken, but only if you scored a C or higher (75%) on all of the quizzes leading up to the test. This shows that you knew the simple details leading up to the test. Return to top
Quarterly Benchmark Exam
(10%)
There will be 1 Final Exam at the end of each nine week period. You will be given a study guide and ample time to complete and review it.Return to top
ABSENT/MAKE-UP WORK
Make-up Work is crucial for students who have been absent. Since the student was not there for the initial instruction, it is an important gauge in helping the teacher assess student’s understanding. Students who miss a class, whether they were absent or checked out early or for any other reason, are responsible for determining what work they missed. TeachNow website, the Homework Hotline and this website can be beneficial in this, but they should still check with the teacher upon their return. Students will have only ONE day to make up their work for each day they were absent. The exception would be for assignments that could not be completed at home because of necessary equipment at school such as science labs, computers, desk maps, etc. The time for this make-up work would need to be scheduled with that individual teacher.Return to top
About the Voki character on the front page…… July 1, 2008
Posted by wenhiers in Technology Programs.add a comment
Just another technology program that I was introduced to over the summer. I hope to use Voki more in my classroom. There are some ideas listed below.
What is Voki?
Voki enables users to express themselves on the web in their own voice using a talking character. You can customize your Voki to look like you or take on the identity of lots of other types of characters… animals, monsters, anime etc. Your Voki can speak with your own voice which is added via microphone, upload, or phone. Voki lives on your blog, social network profile and will soon be integrated in various instant messaging platforms. You will also be able to download it to most video supported phones.
Will Voki always be free?
Yes, you will always be able to come and create a character for free at Voki. However, we may offer special items or characters for sale at some point. Also some of the things you can do with your Voki, like downloading it to your phone, may cost money. It is also likely that you will see different kinds of sponsorship on the site. No matter what we do to make money through Voki, we’ll make sure we keep you in the loop, get your feedback, and try not to do anything that makes Voki less entertaining to have.
Can anyone use Voki?
Voki is solely and exclusively for personal, non-commercial use only. If you run a business website where you sell things or you run a site about your business – a real estate agency, for example – then Voki is not for you. We have a product called SitePal that costs a small monthly fee for business class use.
- Students can create avatars that are similar in looks or personalities and record a message that tells about themselves.
- Students can exchange these avatars with e-pals either within their own setting or anywhere in the world.
- Students can generate questions to ask their avatar e-pals.
- ESL (English as a Second Language) students can use the speaking avatars to practice and listen to their speech. They may use the computerised voice first then record their own voice when they feel more comfortable. Writing, reading and pronunciation are all practised.
- Students can create an avatar that resembles a character from a story, add a setting and give it speech. The speech could be from the story or a creative point of view (POV) from the character on an event.
