MR. RESTAD
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English III Blog

Mr. Restad keeps this page up to date
​so you can check what we did while you were gone... or asleep.

Monday, Mar 30 & Tuesday, Mar 31

3/30/2020

 
For Monday, if you're not totally swamped with work take the day off. It was supposed to be a PIR day anyway. If you're strapped with work, get some done and then relax or do something productive (read a book, exercise, walk the dog). 

DO NOW​ 
  • Complete the daily check-in. (MUST BE COMPLETED AT LEAST TWICE PER WEEK) 
  • Emma and Noah are back! Check out these announcements!

WEEKLY AGENDA
To give you an idea of where we're going this week here are all of our projects. Videos are posted below to help explain and, as always, use the Research Resources page for videos and more info. All assignments are posted in Google Classroom.
  1. Turn in your Note Charts on Google Classroom (Due Tuesday, March 31 - updated to April 2)
  2. Respond to the Google Classroom question "Online Learning Reflection​" (Due Thursday, April 2)
  3. Create your Annotated Works Cited. (Due Monday, April 6 - updated to April 8)
  4. Create your paper Outline. (Due Monday April, 6 - updated to April 8)

DIGITAL OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
For a few hours a week, I'll make myself expressly available via a program called Zoom to help answer any questions or resolve any issues you're having about your research projects. THIS IS TOTALLY OPTIONAL. While I'd love to hear from you all, you don't need to chat with me if you're doing fine. Also, contact me if neither of these times work for you and we can set something else up. Just shoot me an email (restada@billingsschools.org) and I'll get you a link so we can meet one on one.

I'm obviously around more than this, but I'll make sure I'm at my computer at these times. 

Thursday, Mar 26 - Monday Mar 30

3/26/2020

0 Comments

 
Hey gang, a quick note about the daily check-in. Don't stress about when you get it done, or even if you get it done every day. I love hearing from you, learning what you're working on and what your goals are, getting your questions, and knowing how you're doing. But don't make it a thing to worry about. Just let it be a way to communicate with me when you can.
Especially don't go back and do all the past daily check-ins if you missed them. They all link to the same form for me, so no need to post 2 or 3 times in a row.


DO NOW​
  • Complete the daily check-in.

AGENDA
  • Work on those note charts in Google Classroom. Your goal to have these done so I can check them is next Tuesday.
    • ​Find sources
    • Take notes
    • Do summary and evaluate the sources on authority, currency, perspective and accuracy.. 
    • Create your full and in-text citations.
  • ​Use my Research Resources page for more information and for a compilation of my videos and suggestions.
0 Comments

Wednesday, Mar 25

3/25/2020

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Gov. Bullock announced that schools will stay closed until the 10th... at least. So, we're into distance learning mode. Luckily, with the research project you can work pretty independently. I wish I could be in person to help out more. Don't be scared to email me. I'll also see what I can do to maybe set up some "virtual office hours" you could video chat with me if needed.

DO NOW
​
  • Complete the daily check-in. Thanks! If you ask a question in your check-in, I'll try to get back to you via email as soon as I can.

CITATIONS
  • Check out the research resources page or the Purdue Online Writing Lab (Purdue OWL)
  • Watch the videos I made!
0 Comments

Tuesday, Mar 24

3/24/2020

0 Comments

 
DO NOW​
  • Complete the daily check-in. 
  • I'm moving our research note completion goal (notes, summaries, evaluations, and citations) to March 31st. 

WEEK'S AGENDA
  • RESEARCH! Work on...
    • Finding your 4 (or more) sources (2 database, 2 internet minimum)
      • Database login info
      • EBSCO username:  billingssenior
        password:  Br0ncDiscovery!
      • Issues and Controversies username: senior
        password: student
    • Take Notes (use the Note Chart in Google Classroom)
    • Write objective summaries and evaluations for sources you know you will use (see my example below).
  • CITATIONS
    • I'll post a video and resources tomorrow.

SUMMARY AND EVALUATION EXAMPLE
​SOURCE SUMMARY: Almagor says that standardized tests indicate when students are behind academically and can and should be used as a tool of intervention, not only of merit. She also comments on the usefulness of Common Core State Standards for education to encourage equity, not to force it. WHY IT’S CREDIBLE: This recent article is from the Boston Review, an award winning magazine of political and cultural articles focused on informing an academic audience, and Almagor herself is an English teacher in DC. It is mostly an opinion piece, but Almagor does a thorough job of finding commonality between learning and standardized tests.
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Monday, Mar 23

3/22/2020

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DO NOW​
  • Complete the daily check-in. Hope you all had a good weekend.

AGENDA
  • Watch the video below for today's assignment.
  • Optional watching (John Green - Evaluating Evidence) and reading (CDC suggestions for mental health during the Covid19 outbreak)
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Friday, Mar 20

3/20/2020

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DO NOW​
  • As always, complete the daily check-in. Hope you all are well!

AGENDA
  • Nothing new today! I'm sure you all have plenty on your plate with figuring out your classes are getting on. Hopefully things start to level out next week.
  • Just work on finding sources and taking notes. Look at my previous posts and videos for database login instructions. Email me with questions.
  • Be well. Make good choices. 
0 Comments

Thursday, Mar 19

3/19/2020

0 Comments

 
DO NOW​
  • As always, complete the daily check-in. This helps me see how you all are doing and lets me know who is actually checking up on the website.

AGENDA
  • If you haven't yet, watch this video on fact-checking by John Green (also linked below) that I linked to a few days ago: it's great information during the Corona Virus outbreak. Take notes on what steps are helpful in fact-checking something you come across on the internet or social media. 
  • Then, in a paragraph respond to the Google Classroom discussion question "According to John Green, why do some people fall into the trap of believing disinformation? What does he suggest people do about it? And what problems YOU think disinformation causes in our society today?" Note that other people can, and hopefully will, see and comment on your post, so write carefully. Try to have this wrapped up by Friday or Saturday.

After watching the video and responding on Google Classroom
  • For the next two days and beginning of next week, I just want you focusing on finding your 4 sources (2 database and 2 internet) and taking notes. Check out yesterday's post for a video and the database login info.
  • Try to have your sources found and notated by next Wednesday.
    ​
  • Next week we'll cover some citation stuff. 
0 Comments

Wednesday, Mar 18

3/17/2020

0 Comments

 
DO NOW​
  • I don't get to see you folks anymore and that's lame. Tell me how you're doing and what's up with the daily check-in.

READ THE FOLLOWING
First off, thanks for being patient as the district, Senior High, and we as teachers figure out how to best facilitate distance learning, something we've never done before.

I do want to stress foremost that you should be taking care of yourself and your family. I understand that many of you will have to take over watching siblings during the day, and many of you or your parents may have lost hours or jobs due to the widespread closures. Know that safety and health come first, then school work. 

Currently, I'm hoping to stick to our current deadline of having our research project sources found, notated, and evaluated by March 27th. If all goes well and the closure is lifted we can come back together to turn in our notes and complete our annotated works cited pages together. Please know that I understand extenuating circumstances and will deal with deadlines as fluidly as possible. At this point, don't stress. Just do your due diligence to complete the tasks outlined as best you can to keep us generally on track for finishing this research paper.

Do keep in mind while schools are closed physically, this isn't a vacation. So, be sure to first keep yourself healthy and also continue to learn! Online learning might be the new normal for a while.

TWO WEEK PLAN
If you or your parents completed the Accessibility Survey, and if you have available internet access...
  • FIRST! If you haven't finished the Way to Rainy Mountain Reading Assignments that were due February 27th. DO THAT! Not having this turned in is why you currently have an F or a D. Then you should...
  • Check in daily to the classroom blog for instruction. I'll be linking instructional videos to help with the tasks below over the next few days.
  • Check out the video posted below and continue working on research projects by doing the following:
    • Find at least 4 sources (two database and two internet)
      • Database login info
      • EBSCO username:  billingssenior
        password:  Br0ncDiscovery!
      • Issues and Controversies username: senior
        password: student
    • In the "Note Chart" on Google Classroom
      • Take notes on those sources 
      • Write objective summaries of those sources
      • Write a source evaluation for each source explaining it's currency, authority, accuracy, and perspective.
      • Create full-citations and in-text citations for each source.

If you don't have internet access or did not fill out the Accessibility Survey...
  • I will be calling home starting tomorrow to communicate the following:
  • I will be printing up some instruction packets and leaving them at Senior (location to be updated soon) detailing some assignments and activities on...
    • Finding, analyzing, and assessing claims
    • Writing source evaluations and objective summaries
    • and essay writing, which can be done by hand

​Also, here's some important information from Tumbleweed. Pass it along to those who might need it.
ATTENTION ALL YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS: While the building might be closed until March 27th, Tumbleweed is just a phone call away.  If you are in crisis, need to talk, have questions or just want to check in, please call 406-259-2558.   A staff person will answer 24/7, 7 days a week
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Tuesday, Mar 17

3/16/2020

0 Comments

 
Hey folks,

I finally got some direction from the principal about continuing instruction. Nothing is finalized yet, but I wanted to start communicating here. The superintendent has stressed that as a district, "We are committed to providing a learning/educational platform for our students, to the very best of our ability." So here are my thoughts for the near-future.

  1. ​I will be emailing all of your school email accounts and the email accounts of your parents or guardians listed in Powerschool tomorrow to inform of our plans as well as gauge availability to Google Classroom.

  2. At least for these two weeks (hopefully closure doesn't go longer than that, but we have to prepare for anything), I will be providing educational content related to our current classroom units. As of this moment, I will not be assigning any graded assignments, but rather I'll be providing instruction on things like how to work on your research, digital literacy skills, and other concepts with the idea that if you work on things now, you won't have to do them later. This may change as I get more direction from the district in the coming days.

  3. I will be posting on this blog as my primary contact to students. If there are any supplemental materials needed, I'll make a post, question, or add material to Google Classroom. 

As always, stay healthy and safe. Practice social distancing. Make good choices.

Restad

0 Comments

Monday, Mar 16

3/13/2020

0 Comments

 
Hey folks,

Given Gov. Bullock's direction to close schools statewide, I hope you and your families have a safe and healthy two weeks.  Remember, while the disease may not effect you severely as you are young, healthy, intelligent, and good-looking people, keeping yourself free of contagion helps those around you who aren't so lucky (like parents, grandparents, younger siblings, or those with challenged immune systems). So now's a great time to avoid crowds and practice good hygiene. Stay home and catch up on homework. Read a book. Hell, binge watch all the Netflix. All of it. Just be safe! Make good choices.

Online Class:
Personally, I'd love to try and continue instruction in our English classes through Google Classroom and this blog, but we're waiting on direction from the administration as to the appropriateness and possibility of that. For now, class is on hold.

Some things to think about:
Given the current topic of the novel corona virus and the wide-spread information surrounding it, I encourage you to look at some digital literary skills. From government and news reports, social media posts, rumors, and flat out ignorance, it's important we learn how to evaluate the information that bombards us in times like these.

  • Check out this video on fact-checking by John Green. Take notes on what steps are helpful in fact-checking something you come across on the internet or social media.
  • Then, to help cut through all of the political and medical shenanigans that goes on on the internet, click through  the Corona-virus fact checking pages by Politifact.com and  Snopes.com. Both are credible and non-partisan (meaning not-political) websites that are a great resource for fact-checking.
  • And probably most importantly, follow these directions from the CDC (Center For Disease Control) and WHO (World Health Organization). Remember, these are governmental reports and while information about the novel corona virus is still new and may be changing, these are your best, most reliable sources for credible information. 
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Telephone

406-281-5457

Email

restada@billingsschools.org
  • Classroom Blog
  • Eng III - Spring Units
    • 1 Academic Skills
    • 2 Research Projects >
      • Choosing a topic
      • Research Resources
    • 3 ACT Prep
    • 4 I Am Where I Come From
    • 5 Catcher in the Rye
  • Journalism
    • Newspaper >
      • Blogging about news
      • Senior Podcast Project
      • Person Profile Article
      • Classroom Spotlight
      • In-Depth Journalism
      • Experiential Journalism
      • Gardiner Special
    • Yearbook >
      • YOURbook
      • Weekly Photo Hunt
      • Photojournalism
      • Magazine Cover
      • Yearbook Open Disclosure
      • Reflective Writing
    • Journalistic Writing Unit
    • Design Module
    • Writing Module
    • Photography Module
    • Magazine Feature Assignment
  • About
  • Contact