Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Welcome parents and students!

We have a big year ahead of us! Luckily, we have this handy blog to help us.

Blog features:

Posts (like this one): These are where you will find information on assignments and assessments. Each post will include a descriptive title, an explanation of the work to be completed, and a due date for the assignment for each section. There are four sections of Pre-IB English II using this site - Ms. Derby's Block B, Block C, Block F, and Block G - so please take extra care to look at the right block when checking due dates.

Gradebook: This link will take you to a current record of each student's progress. This can be checked in lieu of speaking privately, via email, or over the phone with the instructor. To protect student confidentiality, each student will be assigned a random identification number once or twice per quarter.

Handouts: This section will include PDFs of files including the course syllabus, grading rubrics, graphic organizers, and other useful documents.

Links: This is where you can find links to sites containing important information on the Sturgis Charter Public School, the IB, the MCAS, research databases, and other key resources.

Search: This gadget - located in the upper right of the window - allows you to search for posts, handouts, and links on the course blog. This feature is especially helpful when searching for information on specific assignments.

Important note for students:

Please do not assume that you and your friends are all checking the same blog! The blogs for Ms. Derby and Ms. Fenney's classes look very similar and have similar addresses. Course content and assignments, however, will vary. When checking the blog for handouts, assignments, or grades, please ensure that you are viewing the correct site. Ms. Derby's blog can be identified by the blue template and the name "Miss Derby" under the "About Me" section in the bottom right of the window.