Attendance and Tardies

Regular attendance is mandatory for learners to be successful in this class. You need to be in class to learn the content. Different teachers will have different requirements for attendance during distance learning; make sure you know what is expected by each teacher.

In my classes, attendance means:

• You are present for each class.
• You are present for the entire period until you are dismissed.
• You are actively participating in class. I would love to see every student’s face, but I know that might not always work for you. If using a camera will not work for you, you can participate through the chat window.

You are expected to be in class twice a week, and to be online, working, and available on Friday during school hours. Friday is not a day off. It is a day to do work for all of your classes. I will be available for individual assistance.

We will be starting our virtual instruction each day on Google Meet. The join code for each class will be my name followed by the period number:

Period	Join Code
1	gattuso1
2	gattuso2
4	gattuso4
5	gattuso5
6	gattuso6
After lunch and Friday	gattusoa

Google Meets will be open at the start of the 45 minute virtual instruction and stay open through independent/group work time. Friday will be open all day to everyone, provided I am not in a meeting elsewhere. You will only be able to join if you are using your BUSD account.

Due Dates and Late Work

All student work will be turned in through Google Classroom. You will see the due date for each assignment in Classroom, so you will always know when work is due.

You must complete all assignments – that’s how you learn new things! Most assignments will have a due date the next week, but always check the date to make sure you will complete them on time.

Every once in a while you might not be able to complete an assignment on time. Don’t panic, it happens- but you still have to turn it in. If you do turn in work late, email me so I know you have turned it in! If you don’t email me, I won’t know you turned it in!

If a student has more than one late assignment, families and counselors will be asked to support the student. Students who are missing any assignments are required to contact me to get assistance. I will accept late work for about two weeks. You will still get full credit, so take the time to do your best work! After two weeks, late work will not be accepted.

Being Successful in Distance Learning

Across our school, we ask for students and families to build learning habits that will help make students successful.

• Get into a healthy routine. Get a good night’s sleep, shower, and eat a good breakfast before you start the school day.
• Work at a workspace where you will not be distracted and have your books/materials ready for each class.
• Do all of your class work for each day. Check each teacher’s Google Classrooms for assignments and due dates.
• Demonstrate learning with completion of assignments.
• Attend all live instruction meetings. Arrive on time and be ready to learn.
• Email your teachers when you have questions.
• Use your planner to organize classes/assignments.
• Demonstrate online learning etiquette.
• Collaborate with peers using respectful language and behaviors.
• Wear clothes that are acceptable for school.
• Support each other in this new way of learning.
• Be patient with yourselves and your teachers- we are all learning together!

It is important that learners understand their responsibility as learners to engage in their classrooms each day. In addition, they are responsible for the same expected appropriate behavior as listed in our Luther Burbank Middle School Behavior Matrix and the BUSD Behavior/Discipline Policy. This includes appropriate online behavior.

Grading Policy

Digital Media/ADM/Yearbook

Projects: 80% of class grade. These classes are project-based. You are astounding and awesome, and I will only grade work that shows you are using your skills to the very best of your ability. This does not mean every project will be perfect. Some things will not work. It is all right to try and fail. You might not succeed at what you were trying to do, but some of the best learning happens when things go wrong and you have to solve a new problem.

Class Report: 20% of class grade. Every day you are in my class (that’s three days a week including Friday) you will complete a report of the work you did that day for class. BE HONEST. You will get full credit for your report as long as you tell me what you did, whether you write “I created a new video game” or “I fell asleep in class.”

Keyboarding

Keyboard Practice: 50% of grade. We will be using typing.com to practice keyboarding. Make sure you log in with your school account to get credit! Your typing goal is not to be the best in class, but to keep improving your personal skills. If you put in the time and follow the instructions you will get better. You must use a real keyboard! No virtual keyboards, no thumb typing on your phone.

Projects: 50% of grade. These classes are project-based. You are astounding and awesome, and I will only grade work that shows you are using your skills to the very best of your ability. This does not mean every project will be perfect. Some things will not work. It is all right to try and fail. You might not succeed at what you were trying to do, but some of the best learning happens when things go wrong and you have to solve a new problem.

Remember: Your work is a reflection of you, and you are amazing.

Behavior Expectations

Across our school, we have three Core Values that we use to guide our behavior. Values are ways of acting that a person believes are important. Our Core Values describe how we are expected to treat others and how we expect to be treated by others.

Students are expected to act with our values in mind at all times:
Respect, Excellence, and Community.

10 Tips for Families for Distance Learning Support/Success

Families are playing a much larger role in their children’s learning while navigating the stressors of work, homelife, and a global pandemic. Understandably, families are feeling a great deal of uncertainty.

1. Understand your role. Families are not expected to take the place of school teachers. Instead parents should play a supportive role. A good rule of thumb is to keep your child engaged and thinking critically.
2. Make space for learning. your learner will achieve their best in a quiet, comfortable, and dedicated space to learning.
3. Set clear expectations. Parents/guardians should build time, if possible, to assist with their learner’s schedule.
4. Encourage reading. When in doubt, have your child read. When you have time, read with them.
5. Plan your work and work your plan.– Good planning can relieve stress for both children and parents/guardians. Check-in with your kids about their plans and help them to develop a routine/schedule. Help them prioritize and learn to create goals, tasks, and deadlines.
6. Show empathy. Allow yourself, your child, and their teachers some latitude and grace during these unprecedented times. Understand that you are not going to have all the answers and this transition is not going to be perfect. Acknowledge this is not an ideal situation for anyone and give yourself permission to be flexible.
7. Use supplemental resources. Utilize any and all available resources to enhance independent learning.
8. Don’t forget to have fun. Your relationship with your child is what’s most important at this time. Use this distance learning as an opportunity for bonding.
9. Take regular digital recesses. Make sure your child takes plenty of breaks from computers in order to get time away from screens.
10. Ask for help. Remember that you are not alone in this distance learning journey. Don’t hesitate to ask your child’s teacher for tips and guidance. Additionally, make use of the school’s other resources.