LEARNING7th Grade: Orientation Class

Rebecca Heilman

AbstractThis presentation is designed as an on-line orientation class for students and parents who are new to an electronic environment. The agenda includes: computer skills and requirements; role of the learning coach; student code of conduct; plagiarism policy; truancy and absences; communication; assessments; student services; communities, activities and clubs.

LEARNING7th Grade: Orientation Class

Agenda• Computer Skills and Requirements• Role of Learning Coach• Student Code of Conduct• Plagiarism Policy • Attendance and Progress• Truancy and Absences• Communication• Assessments• Student Services• Communities, Activities and Clubs

Goal

• Set Expectations

• Review Policies & Procedures

Mission Statement

LEARN

School Curriculum• On-line School

• Supporting Materials – mailed separately to include:– Grade level books– Activity Workbooks– Science Materials– Art Materials

Computer Skills• Typing

• Use of email

• Electronic File Management

• Use of Word Processing

• Internet Search Capability

Computer Requirements• Good, Reliable System• Microprocessor: Pentium 4 CPUs• RAM: 32MB• Bowser: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google

Chrome, or AOL• Internet Connection: 56K modem or Broadband or Cable• Operating Systems: Windows XP or MAC OS• Software: Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Open Office,

Microsoft Excel• Plug-Ins: Adobe Reader, MacroMedia Flash, Windows

Media

Learning Coach • A parent, or other responsible adult,

• working in conjunction with the teacher,

• serves as a Learning Coach to student.

• The Learning Coach helps

– facilitate progress through the daily lessons

– works to modify the pace and schedule according to the individual needs of student.

Student Code of ConductStudents are subject to the rules and

restrictions implemented by – The Student Code of Conduct: Acceptable

Use Guidelines for the Internet.

Prior to the start date for each school year, students must read the Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Guidelines and agree to abide by its terms.

Accountability • Posting anonymous messages online is not permitted.• Impersonating another person is also strictly

prohibited. • Students must use only their own user names and

passwords, and must not share these with anyone. • Students must log into Virtual Classroom with student

last name, first initial - homeroom teacher (Example: Jones, T. – Heilman).

• Students may not interfere with other users’ ability to access the site or disclose anyone’s password to others or allow them to use another user’s account. Students are responsible for all activity that is associated with their usernames and passwords.

• Students should change their password(s) frequently, at least once per semester or course is encouraged.

Inappropriate Computer Behavior

• Insults or attacks of any kind against another person.

• Use of obscene, degrading, or profane language.

• Harassment (continually posting unwelcome messages to another person) or use of threats.

• Posting material that is obscene or defamatory or which is intended to annoy, harass or intimidate another person. This includes distributing ―spam mail, chain e-mail, viruses, or other intentionally destructive content.

Plagiarism Policy • Copying or rephrasing another student's work.

• Taking material from Internet sources and using it as your own, even if some words are changed.

• Having someone else write an assignment or rephrase any part of an assignment (not just proofread it).

• Directly copying student aids (for example, Cliffs Notes), critical sources, or reference materials in part or in whole without acknowledgment.

• Indirect reproduction of students aids, such as Cliffs Notes, Coles Notes, critical sources, or reference materials by rephrasing ideas borrowed from them without acknowledgment.

Violation Consequences • The following consequences will take place

when a student work is known to violate academic integrity:

• 1st offense Redo work sample, no credit for initial plagiarized sample, mandatory plagiarism training

• 2nd offense Redo work sample, no credit for initial plagiarized sample, mandatory plagiarism training, may not promote from course(s) without more proof of mastery through work samples or virtual sessions

• 3rd offense Expulsion

Attendance • Arizona Revised Statutes 15-901(A)(2)

requires all public schools offer a minimum of one-hundred-eighty (180) days of instruction between July 1 and June 30. Additionally, statute requires a minimum number of instructional hours by grade level as shown in the following chart:

Grade Yearly Hours Weekly Hours Daily Hours

7 1068 30 6

Attendance and Progress • Attendance logged in the OLS must reflect the

progress made in the courses. • If attendance does not match the progress, teachers

have the option of deleting the attendance for those hours logged.

• Please also note that if a student fails to submit work samples, the teacher will delete hours logged for those certain objectives until the objectives can be verified.

• This deletion of hours can put the student in jeopardy of becoming 10 consecutive days behind in attendance or 10% below the mandated state requirement for attendance. The student would then be considered excessively absent.

Truancy • The School is required to monitor student attendance in

accordance with all applicable statutes and State Board of Education Rules. Teachers and administration monitor student attendance.

• Responsibility for compliance with state attendance statutes and regulations belongs to the Learning Coaches, but the school is obligated to keep an accurate record of daily attendance. A student is considered truant if he/she fails, without a legitimate excuse, to log attendance for 10 consecutive calendar days or at a rate that is 10% below the attendance requirements over a given month. Staff follows the procedures outlined to notify Learning Coaches of a truancy situation.

• Truancy may result in expulsion. If a student is expelled from a public school in Arizona, any public school in the state may refuse the student admission.

Process for Withdrawal and Expulsion of Truant Students:

• An Attendance Clerk monitors student attendance. The clerk notifies families when student attendance is in danger of being expelled due to excessive absenteeism.

• 1. Individual K-8 teachers will send a E-mail or conduct a phone conference informing Learning Coaches that their child has been absent for 10 or more days or if the attendance is 10% less than the time mandated by state requirements.

• 2. Failure to respond to teacher within 24 hours could result in student being withdrawn or expelled due to excessive absenteeism. Should this happen, a letter is sent to the family via e-mail and certified mail that notifies the family that the child has been withdrawn due to excessive absenteeism.

• 3. If Learning Coaches respond within 24 hours, the teachers create Attendance Action Plans with the families. Adherence to these action plans are monitored by teachers.

• 4. If a family does not fulfill the attendance action plan, the family is withdrawn due to excessive absenteeism.

Absences Students must meet the required

attendance hours cumulatively by the end of each week (30), month (120), and school year (1068).

Should a circumstance occur, that requires an absence that cannot be made up within the school week; Learning Coaches will contact their assigned teacher for guidance.

Progress Reports • Progress Reports are sent out

– winter and spring school year semesters.

• Students earn grades in the following courses: Language Arts, Math, History, Science and Art. Music/World Language, PE and Strategies for Success are not graded courses.

• Work Samples, Scranton Assessments, and Study Island participation are all included in the student progress report.

Communication

•Virtual Conferences - Quarterly

•Email

•Phone/Voice Mail

Assessment • Students have the opportunity to

demonstrate their acquisition of course academic objectives through – end of lesson and end of unit assessments,– weekly scantron quizzes– teachers collect student monthly work

samples – Study Island Requirements– standardized testing

Late Work• Failure to submit monthly

work by required due dates will affect student grades and grade level promotions.

Student Services• Special Education and 504 Services =

assists Learning Coaches

• RTI = as a first level support, to assist in the identification of educational needs, and to provide scientifically based interventions for struggling students.

• Related services may include – occupational therapy, – speech and language therapy and – physical therapy when it is necessary

Communities, Activities and Clubs

• Outings and Clubs = hosts monthly regional outings throughout the state

• Parent Boosters = group of Learning Coaches, parents and guardians who are committed to enhancing the school for the students

• Yahoo Groups = Yahoo board as a place to discuss, share tips, problems, ideas, fun stuff, or whatever pertains to their virtual schooling experience

LC and Student Responsibilities

Best wishes for a great year

• Please keep your orientation packet handy. This packet contains important calendars, information, and descriptions of programs.

• We have an exciting year ahead of us and are pleased you have selected our school.

• Please do not hesitate to contact your teacher or the administration if you have comments.

References

• Christian, L.(2011, January 23). Telephone interview.

• Christian, L.(2011, January 23). Email interview.

• Animationfactory.com