April 13

Online Learning – Instruction and Tutoring

Daily Lesson Format (Mon. – Thurs.)

We will be learning online for the rest of this academic school year. It is vital that you read my blog each day to learn your lesson and complete your work. I have streamlined my online teaching format so it appears the same each day and is easy for you to follow.

Each day I will follow the same format:

1 – An Instructional Video to view. In this video, I will teach and explain your lesson for the day. I also model how to navigate the blog and links.

2 – Activator:  Used to recall what you have learned or what you know (or see what you don’t know).

3 – Work Session:  All lesson materials and additional resources will be posted on the blog for each day’s lesson.

4 – Closing Session:  You’ll have an electronic TOTD to complete for credit and/or you’ll need to upload your written work on Floopedu.

Whole-class Online Meetings

Each week, I will host whole-class meetings on Wednesday on the Zoom platform. These meetings are for you to answer Questions as well as connect with your classmates. Everyone is expected to attend the meetings. Your meeting link and password will be sent out the day before on Remind.

9th Lit. will meet every Wednesday at 11 a.m. on Zoom.

Am. Lit. will meet every Wednesday at 2 p.m. on Zoom

Are you feeling stuck? Need help? Let me know. Send me a communication and I’ll schedule a 1-on-1 conference with you on Zoom. I can share my screen to tutor you and get you unstuck so you can learn and get your work done. Email me at janet.vrba@cobbk12.org or send a Remind text.

April 3

School is Not In Session During Spring Break

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

Spring Break is April 6 – 10. There will be no new online learning. We ask that all staff and students take a break and enjoy time with your families. Online learning will restart on Monday, April 13. I will not be available during Spring Break but my office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Monday – Friday) when online learning resumes on April 13.

 

March 24

Read Online for Free!

Hi Students,

We need to continue Independent Reading. Reading has many benefits like vocabulary expansion and it’ll help you improve your writing skills when you read expert writers. But did you also know it helps reduce stress? It also helps you build focus and analytical thinking skills.

Here are some links to free online books to read. Find one and begin reading!

Find a great YA novel using this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1emGU7smDk3xOaI-0KlF4lbAu1nub2mbIc1Byf48pxj0/mobilebasic

 

Go to the Cobb County Public Library online. Did you know you already have a virtual library card as a student of OHS? Download Libby and start checking out online books. Follow these directionsLibby-Cobb Co Public Library

 

Here are some other free online sources:

https://novel80.com/280419/young-adult.html

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

https://openlibrary.org/

Or do your own search and find something.

March 23

Support Your Child’s Online Learning

Dear Parents/Guardians,

How can you support your child’s learning?

You could check this blog each day and ask your child if he/she is doing the assigned work?

You can ask your child, “Are you turning in your work by text on Remind or to your teacher’s email @ janet.vrba@cobbk12.org ?”

You can email and ask me if your student is doing his/her work.

 

We need your support to help our students login each day (Monday-Friday) to get their work. Each day I send a Remind text message alerting each student that their daily lesson is posted and to come to this blog and complete it. I also send video teaching/instructions to support your child’s learning. The good news with online learning is that your child is free to complete their learning 24/7 at their convenience. They can even catch up on the weekend. But the best way is to login each day on Monday – Friday during a regular scheduled time.

 

Parents, you can join my Remind! 

9th Literature Parents:  text @ecefae  to #81010

American Literature Parents:  text  @vrbasa   to #81010

March 20

Moving Out of Our Comfort Zones

Hi Students,

This coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought a disruption to our lives as we knew them. Some would say we’re living in a crisis. Our President as well as other world leaders say we’re at war with this virus. In the midst of crisis, I believe there is opportunity. I am now teaching online and learning new software and skills, such as creating teaching videos. What are you learning in this new situation? Try to see the positive as I believe there is always light with the dark. This too shall pass and life will return back to a new normal. In the meantime, you can be using this time to develop new skills and knowledge.

I have posted a video tutorial to 9th Lit. and American Lit. classes on how to navigate our class blog as well as review our first week of Online Learning. I’m very proud of the students who have been reading the blog, learning their lessons, doing the learning, and submitting the work. Many of you have done a wonderful job communicating with me via text or email.

For those who haven’t started, it’s not too late to begin. What’s important is that you begin TODAY! The worst thing you could do is nothing. When you have a question, ask me so I can help you get on track with online learning. We can solve any issue together.

Remember, we’re not on a vacation. Online Learning is in full gear for all grades K – 12. I am here to support you in any way that I can. Keep up the good effort. This is an opportunity to learn new skills and about resources you never knew about before.

 

March 16

Online Learning is Happening

Hello Parents/Guardians and Students,

Cobb County School District has closed its schools beginning on 3/16/2020 until further notice. We are not on break and this is not a vacation time. Our expectation is for our students to have school via online as each teacher has communicated to their students.

For my students, I will send out a daily Remind message to notify and “remind” each student of his/her responsibility to read, learn, and complete the daily lesson that has been posted for his/her 9th Literature and/or 11th American Literature class. Many assignments will be read, written, and submitted online.

FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED WIFI, Comcast is offering free wifi for 60 days. Go to this link to apply:  https://apply.internetessentials.com/

If you have any questions, contact me at my email:  janet.vrba@cobbk12.org

I will be available Monday – Friday during normal school hours and provide quick feedback. If we need to speak, I’ll call you. Provide your phone number on the email. If you need a copy of an online resource, I’ll be attaching MS Word and PDFs via email. Don’t worry. We’ll get through this. It’s vitally important that you keep learning as we stay home due to COVID-19. Your class is an EOC course and we must keep on learning. You can do this and I am here to support you.

 

Hola padres / tutores y estudiantes,

El Distrito Escolar del Condado de Cobb ha cerrado sus escuelas a partir del 16/03/2020 hasta nuevo aviso. No estamos de vacaciones y este no es un tiempo de vacaciones. Nuestra expectativa es que nuestros estudiantes tengan la escuela en línea ya que cada maestro se ha comunicado con sus estudiantes.

Para mis alumnos, enviaré un mensaje diario de Recordatorio para notificar y “recordar” a cada alumno su responsabilidad de leer, aprender y completar la lección diaria que se ha publicado para su novena literatura y / o undécimo estadounidense Clase de literatura. Muchas tareas serán leídas, escritas y enviadas en línea.

PARA ESTUDIANTES QUE NECESITAN WIFI, Comcast ofrece wifi gratis durante 60 días. Vaya a este enlace para solicitar: https://apply.internetessentials.com/

Si tiene alguna pregunta, contácteme en mi correo electrónico: janet.vrba@cobbk12.org

Estaré disponible de lunes a viernes durante el horario escolar normal y proporcionaré comentarios rápidos. Si necesitamos hablar, te llamaré. Proporcione su número de teléfono en el correo electrónico. Si necesita una copia de un recurso en línea, adjuntaré MS Word y PDF por correo electrónico. No te preocupes Lo superaremos. Es de vital importancia que siga aprendiendo mientras nos quedamos en casa debido a COVID-19. Su clase es un curso EOC y debemos seguir aprendiendo. Puedes hacer esto y estoy aquí para apoyarte.