Hello Parents of my Honors Sophomore English students,
For our next unit we will be implementing a teaching model known as the 'flipped classroom'. A 'flipped classroom' switches around the traditional order of teaching with the purpose of creating a more in depth and supportive environment in the classroom when the teacher is present and able to help students. It allows for students to receive a more individualized education where my actual face-to-face time with them during the class will be on an individual basis. This gives time for students to learn how to take charge of their learning and manage their time, becoming resourceful learners. Lastly, it provides time for more “Higher-Order Thinking” discussion and questioning during class time, helping students to become reflective communicators and to think more deeply about the subject.
I'm writing this letter to address how our flipped unit will look. If you have any additional questions feel free to email me or schedule a time to observe the class in action.
Why are you flipping the class?
The main reason I’m doing this is to have more time to spend helping your child master the content of the course. This is not always possible if I am giving notes to students during the majority of class time.
What are the benefits to flipping the class?
According to teachers/authors Jonathan Bergman and Aaron Sams (Flip Your Classroom, 2012), there are many benefits:
- Flipping allows teachers to know their students better
- Flipping helps busy students
- Flipping helps struggling students
- Flipping helps students of all abilities excel
- Flipping increases student-teacher interaction
- Flipping increases student-student interaction
What does homework look like now?
I still require that students spend 15 minutes a day or 1 1/2 hours a week at home devoted to my class. However, they are allowed to work at their own pace with goals for the day, the week or the whole unit in mind. There may be videos to watch, short stories to read or listen to, notes to watch and take, surveys to take or assignments to blog about. Each assignment will be attached to a blog post through this blog (http://hastyshonors.blogspot.com/). Whatever they work on at night will determine what they work on during class and I will be there to answer questions about their reading, supplement their notes, ask questions, work on projects or use the computer lab. I've asked that students create a blog where they can house their work and discussions with me. It can be a public one like this one, or they can make it private to where only they and I have access.
What does classwork look like now?
We'll start with a mini-lesson (topics listed below) and then students will be allowed to work alone, with partners or small groups in whatever way they find class time to be most useful. We'll be using the Catch and Release model to address individual and class concerns. Students will actively creating their own content through the completion of a project and participation with this blog and their own.
Mini-Lesson Topics:
1] Intro to the unit: expectations, a look at blogger, the class blog, the project and online ways to create it
2] Romanticism
3] Gothic Romanticism
4] The Scary Story
5] Questions about the Project
6] Where are you in the unit?
7] Southern Gothic Romanticism
8] Closing the unit
What does this type of unit require of you the parent?
There are several very easy ways you can help your student:
1] Provide your student with a quiet place to work on his/her assignments for this unit (preferably with headphones to limit distractions should they need to watch a video). If a computer is not available at your house, know that I can provide your student with a computer during class/academic lab/Jacket Time, after school, or they can come in early to use computers in the library or my classroom.
2] Ask your student questions about what they are working to see if they understand the concepts, the assignments and the project.
3] Encourage them to take their time while working on assignments, they can pause, rewind, or re-watch portions of the videos, and reread notes or review this blog if something isn't making sense.
4] Feel free to review this blog often, feel free to comment or communicate at all points.
What does a 'flipped classroom' require of your student?
Students are expected to come prepared to class each day with the background knowledge of each concept, ready to learn it better, deeper, and faster. Students are not expected to have full mastery of the content before they arrive in class, although many students will be at that level.
The “flipped classroom” requires your student to take responsibility for their learning in several ways:
1] Students must work on their work to prepare for class the next day (before 10pm is highly suggested). They cannot use class time wisely if they haven't prepared the night before.
2] Students must take initiative to complete a task.
3] Students must make sure that if they are absent, they still complete the required work and come to class prepared.
4] Students must make sure that they take initiative to communicate with me either online or in person if there are issues. This includes coming and seeing me before school, during Academic Lab, Jacket Lab, to complete the work in a timely manner.
What if your student does the work every night but still does not understand the content?
Catch and Release gives them ample time to address personal and class questions. I am still available during study times, computers are also available during this time.
Thanks for reading and remember if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Hasty
Sources
STUDENT NAME: ____________________________________ PERIOD: _________
Please check one:
[ ] I understand the changes that will be taking place and the expectations for my student. We have internet access at home and working 15 minutes a night or 1 ½ hrs. a week should not be a problem.
[ ] I understand the changes that will be taking place and the expectations for my student. We do have a computer at home; however, we do not have consistent internet access at home, so please make accommodations for my student.
[ ] I understand the changes that will be taking place and the expectations for my student. We do not have a computer at home, so please make accommodations for my student.
Parent/Guardian Name: _____________________________________________
Parent Signature: __________________________________________________
Best way to contact me from 8am-3pm during the week (please check and fill in one):
[ ] Email: ____________________________________________________________
[ ] Phone: ___________________________________________________________
Questions, comments, or concerns:
