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The middle school houses, bears and ravens, get to take a day off and play at the snow park at Diamond lake.

With the departure of Mr. Honse, Integrated Math at Days Creek Charter has been restructured as a blend of face-to-face and online learning. Weekly sets of lessons and assignments will be posted online and could serve as a purely online class – but to take advantage of strengths of both digital and face-to-face learning, the course will be held 5th period with direct instruction from teachers as well as with access to the course website on school computers during class.

I will serve as course developer as well as class instructor. As much as possible, I will provide direct teaching in the classroom but my duties as superintendent will likely prevent 100% attendance in the classroom. Lisa Hemphill, who has strong skills in math instruction, will be present in class every day. Most of the time, both of us will be in class.

The online aspect will enhance classroom instruction. Students will have access to lesson instruction and assignments online 24/7 anywhere, any time. Also, the course will use links to simulations and mathematical models unavailable in a classroom setting. A messaging system will allow frequent communication between the students and me. Students will have access to a level of support from teachers unavailable in a virtual school. Lisa and I will be available in class and at other times for individual help. With the bus transportation Friday mornings, students are welcome to come in for individual help from Lisa or me during that time or simply to use the school computers when connectivity is a problem at home. 

 Each weekly set of lessons will include actual instruction – usually with options for video podcasts or voice-enhanced animated explanations. Many of them will be digital versions of my own teaching. The Integrated Math curriculum will concentrate on authentic uses of algebra and geometry including practical applications of proportion, inverse variation, statistics, visual representations of data, right triangle geometry, spreadsheets, linear functions, and geometric measurements. Assignments will include daily practice, weekly individual or collaborateive projects, and quizzes. Grade and work completion information will be available to parents and students on the course website.

I am exited to create a course in which the sum of its parts will be better than either digital or direct instruction alone. I’ll post updates on this blog regarding this course as the implementation proceeds.

Respectfully yours, Laurie Newton                                                                                                                 

We had a great turn out today for Friday study groups. Over 21 students signed up to come today to get homework done and work on community projects.

One of our community members took advantage of the Friday morning access to school internet connectivity. High school tech support students are available for assistance when community members attend the open lab opportunity each Friday morning.