Technology and RObotics
SKyridge Middle School
*STAR Class*
Mrs. Blanchard
Hi! My name is Lesa Blanchard, and this is my 9th year at Skyridge Middle School! I teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade technology. In tech class, we learn about overall Chromebook use, computer programming, and we build and program EV3 robots. In addition to teaching, I also coach the Camas Combined Middle School Dance Team and lead the Skyridge Robotics Club.
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To learn more about me, click here!
Parent Corner Contents:
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Distance Learning 2.0
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Email Me
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Schedule a Meeting
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Learn more about Skyward
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Learn more about Google Classroom
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Contact Tech Support
Why did my child earn this grade?
-Between class discussions and immediate feedback whenever possible, it is my hope that students will always understand why they earned their grade. Asking them to sit down with you and look over the assignment expectations vs. what was submitted is a great way to help your student improve for the next assignment! Typical reasons for low scores are missed directions, an incomplete assignment, and rushed work.
How will by child be graded/assessed during Distance Learning 2.0?
-A daily run down of each day is found on your son/daughter's Google Classroom page. While this is a great place to get resources and find out what was missed, it is not a substitution for class as vital instruction time and peer interaction was missed. Attendance is crucial for success!
*If you know ahead of time that your son or daughter will be missing school, please contact the attendance office and have your child fill out a pre-arranged absence form.*
How can my child receive additional help?
We have a special time of the day dedicated to additional help- Flex! With our new Flex system, students who need additional help will be able to come see me Tuesday-Friday from 3:15-3:45. Students will become more familiar with our new flex system in the weeks to come, with plenty of practice and explanation.
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What will a typical week look like for this class during Distance Learning 2.0?
During Distance Learning, students will follow this pattern:
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1) Students will receive their weekly to-do list on Google Classroom.
2) They will watch a video describing exactly what to do for the week. This video is made by me, for them, as visual directions for the assigned task(s).
-I post these videos on EdPuzzle. View this short video to learn about this tool.
3) During live meeting (see the schedule here), students are able to watch me complete the work from beginning to end while practicing with me and asking questions.
3) Students will then complete the assignment during independent work time.
4) If a student has any additional questions about the work, they can email me to either ask directly or set up a Zoom meeting during scheduled office hours (see hours here)
5) During our second weekly live meeting, I will view student progress, give feedback, and either direct students to submit their work or make changes.
6) Work is due on Friday.
7) Feedback will be entered into Skyward by Wednesday of the following week.
It sounds like all of the directions are on Google Classroom. As a parent, how can I see this?
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Teachers will be using Google Classroom as the primary way to communicate announcements, directions, and assignments to students. This is also where students will submit all work.
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As a parent, I strongly suggest you do three things:
1) View this video to understand how your child should be using Google Classroom and what is offered there.
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2) Sign up for/ accept Parent Reports from Google Classroom.
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3) Find time each day (I know this can be hard) to sit down with your student and have them log into Google Classroom.
Check their to-do list for:
- Missing assignments
- Submitted assignments*
- Returned assignment
- Feedback from their teacher.
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*If an assignment was turned in by your student, this may not mean it was completed accurately. Teachers often receive work on Google Classroom that is completely blank. It will be marked as complete since the student pressed the button, but it has not yet been checked by the teacher.
More information on this can be viewed in the video linked above.
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Email me at Lesa.Blanchard@camas.wednet.edu. My goal is to reply to every email within two days (not including weekends).
Email is the best way to contact me about quick, fairly impersonal questions. However, when discussing concerns about a student, grade, or situation, I feel that this is best done in person or via video chat. Please email me about scheduling a time to meet so we can discuss the situation in a more personal manner. My office hours are as follows:
Monday-Friday
Before school: 8am-8:45am
Plan time: TBD
After school time is very limited due to coaching.