Weekly Message #2 (4/13/20): Seniors, Credit, and Grading
First, let me be clear: while I'm sure most of this information is reliable, some of it is going to change, or be expanded upon, and I will do my best to communicate any changes as soon as I get them. Check your student email account regularly. Ask if you have questions or concerns.
1. YOUR HUMANITIES CREDIT FOR GRADUATION AND ACC: As per Superintendent Didway's notice of April 8 (https://www.ochspioneers.org/district/schools-remain-closed-new-2020-grad-guidance), Humanities students who passed the “A” term last fall automatically pass the “B” term, regardless of whether you complete any of this term's assignments (and yes, that's all of you who are currently enrolled in Humanities). Your enrollment in class will continue, even if you do no work, and you can choose to participate in class activities and assignments as you see fit. I won't take it personally if you choose not to participate. You will receive a PASS in any case. Congratulations, you will all PASS Humanities “B”. Read that last sentence again.
HOWEVER, if you still wish to earn ACC (Advanced College Credit through Clackamas Community College), you must complete all learning targets, and those include the two essay assignments for this term: 1) the Artist's Statement of the Renaissance Art Project, and 2) the Reflective Essay for the novel Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse (it's free online at Project Gutenberg and other sites). You will have to complete three tests: one for Frankenstein or Candide (20 points—short answer questions), and one for Siddhartha (21 points—short answer questions); you will also have to complete the final exam, which is based on the textbook readings for the final section of the textbook, “The Twentieth Century” (34 multiple choice questions, and yes, I will give you a study guide for the Siddhartha test and the final). You will receive a letter grade as per ACC requirements which I will report to CCC, although your OCHS grade for the course will still be recorded as PASS. Once again, if you do not plan to apply for ACC, you are not required to do any further Humanities assignments in order to PASS.
So, this week OCHS will begin our move to structured distance learning with graded assignments for all students and grade levels. We were also told that we will NOT be allowed to host any classroom video conferences (Zoom or Google Hangout/Meet) due to privacy concerns. That means I cannot schedule any Wednesday Seminar video conferences. However, I will begin to use Flipgrid to create short video posts, and ask that you create some of your own Flipgrid videos to share with me (more info on that to come, and if you can't use Fligrid you'll still receive credit if you post a written response). You are allowed to share Flipgrid videos with each other, and comment on videos made by your classmates. It's not the same, I know, but then, what IS the same anymore? And who knows, it could even be fun.
2. IF YOU WANT ACC, WE START GRADING FOR CREDIT: This week we will continue with our study of the Renaissance through readings and journal entries from the text, we will begin the Art Project, and I will post a test for Frankenstein and Candide by the end of the week (you only have to take one of those). For each Assignment or Journal you submit beginning this week, I will be giving grades using Proficiency Scores, on a 4-point scale:
GRADES (remember, this is ONLY if you're applying for ACC)
Beginning April 13, you will start to receive PROCESS grades (1/3 of your overall class grade) and PRODUCT grades (2/3 of your overall class grade), as you have in the past with me. These will come in the form of Proficiency Scores for Journals and other assignments, points for two essays and your novel tests and semester exam scores. You will be given a letter grade for your ACC credit, but an automatic PASS for your OCHS grade.
Your participation (PROCESS) grade will be based on how many ASSIGNMENT responses you create during that week:
4 responses = A (100%)
3 responses = B (85%)
2 responses = C (75%)
1 response = D (65%)
We have to make sure you meet time requirements for ACC, so you can expect to have assignments every day.
Your proficiency (PRODUCT) grade will be based on the following rubric for each ASSIGNMENT/JOURNAL response you create:
4 (100%)—you show Mastery skill in your response: you give a correct, highly detailed, and deeply insightful response as evidence of your understanding.
3 (85%)—you show Proficiency skill in your response: you give a mostly correct, somewhat detailed and insightful response as evidence of your understanding
2 (70%)—you show Developing skill in your response: you give a partially correct response, but it has very limited detail and insight about your understanding.
1 (60%)—you show Emerging skill in your response: your response is incorrect, or has insufficient detail to reveal your understanding.
I understand this is a lot to digest. The window for ACC registration opened this past week and will remain open until May 22. (Here is their handbook—see page 9 for Registration Instructions: https://www.clackamas.edu/docs/default-source/degrees-certificates/community-education/high-school-connections/acc-student-handbook.pdf?sfvrsn=b35e38d4_10) Paste this into your browser or see the link below. Your choice about whether or not to pursue ACC will likely have some repercussions in your undergraduate studies, at least as far as whether you will be forced to take a Freshman English requirement in college (you can check your college's website to see if they even have a Freshman English requirement—most schools do). You may already have a lot on your plate with AP, as well. And there are even fewer clear answers to your questions than there are in a normal year. You can certainly ask your counselor any of these questions, as well as the ACC coordinator at the college, Cheryl Tallman (cherylt@clackamas.edu), and you should at least talk with parents about the possibilities. In the end, I don't think this makes or breaks your college plans, so try not to lose any sleep over it. It's more a matter of what can you reasonably deal with now, this term.
If you have any questions, you can message them to me on the Classroom Streams tab and see what others are asking, or, if you wish to ask me privately, you can email me directly. You folks are a wonderful and unique group, and I feel lucky to have had the chance to work with you in person last fall. I feel like I owe you more than I can give, considering the circumstances, which makes me a little sad, and in that respect, you will always be a particularly special group of students to me. But I also look forward to hearing from you in whatever capacity you choose during this strange time and beyond.