 Mr. Goodman's Science class
Michael Goodman teaches grade 8 Science at Avalon Middle School. He uses FirstClass ED to manage his classroom material and track communication. He uses FirstClass ED to
 Develop a lesson plan for the Science courseThis is Avalon Middle School's first year using FirstClass ED. Therefore, Michael spent part of his summer adding course material to the Grade 7 Science course. Here, he created a new grade 7 Science course in his My Courses area and populated it with five units of study. Within the units, he added a number of lessons and lab assignments as well as a major project.
Make initial contact with parents
At the start of each year, Michael contacts parents to touch base, welcome them, answer any questions they may have, and get a little bit more information about his students. He uses the Student information forms to get contact information, and records each call in his own Documents area.
Michael also posts a welcome letter to parents in the Class news area.
Develop tests
Michael uses FirstClass Testing to create and maintain a question bank of Science questions for his class. As test time approaches, he creates a new test easily based on the questions that are already in the question bank, and simply outlines the test criteria on the test properties form. He restricts access to the test to his Science class.
Administer tests
When Michael is ready to administer a test, he simply provides the grade, subject, and test code, and students can log in and take the test. He can easily discourage cheating by randomizing the questions for each student.
Manage student marks
Michael uses the roster to keep track of his students' marks for homework, classwork, labwork, tests, and exams. Students complete their homework and labwork online, so Michael makes his comments in the document, enters a grade on the online form, and then selects Reveal mark to student, which automatically updates the roster.
When he administers tests and exams or grades for participation, he manually enters the grade.
Create a seating plan
Michael uses the seating plan view at the start of the semester to coordinate where each student will sit for the duration of the course. Whenever he has a substitute teacher, he refers them to his seating plan for easier identification.
Evaluate student work
Periodically, Michael refers to the roster to determine which students have not handed in assignments or are struggling with the material. He approaches them privately and provides extra work and tutorials for them in the Resources area.
He also refers to the roster to determine who is excelling. He gives those advanced students the ability to earn extra credit by doing more challenging work that he posts in the Course Content area.
Michael also refers to the roster often as he prepares student report cards and prepares to meet with parents.
Schedule homework and important dates
Michael uses his classroom calendar to schedule homework, tests, and special events. He lets them know which lessons will be covered and when, what is for homework, and details of special events. In his calendar he records lessons in purple, homework in blue, events in orange, tests in pink, and so on. Parents log into their children's accounts regularly to see what is happening in Mr. Goodman's Science class.
This is a week in Mr. Goodman's class.
This is a homework entry for one of the days in the calendar above.
Provide resources to students
Michael uses the Resources area to provide additional work, tutorials links, and so on to students who need extra help. He also provides all students with additional information to complement the course, such as diagrams, pictures, web sites, and reading material.
Monitor student work
Michael monitors his students' work in many ways. Using FirstClass ED, he
• assigns homework and keeps track of grades and completion
• records test scores
• reviews the roster and uses this data to make needed adjustments in instruction
• posts questions in the Discussions area and monitors student responses
• periodically reviews student journals in the Journals area
• tracks student projects in the Projects area.
In addition to Michael monitoring student work, parents also monitor their child's work by logging into their child's account to see what is for homework, and to follow their child's progress. If parents have questions about the assignment or their children's work, they email Michael or arrange a meeting.
Facilitate discussions among students
Michael helps his students to elaborate on classroom discussions by posting questions in the Discussions area and monitoring student responses. He feels that this is an effective way for students to elaborate on each others' answers, and to see who is contributing and who may need more attention. This is his Discussions area where he has started discussions for a couple of topics.
Manage class journals
Michael has his students use class journals to document their observations during various class demonstrations. He reviews these journals on a regular basis to make sure students understand the material.
When needed, he adds comments to the journals.
Manage class projects
Michael assigns a group project during the semester. Michael divides the students into groups and then creates a project environment in the Projects area for each group. Michael uses the Course Content area to publish the details of the project, but students use the Projects area to manage their projects.
Hold online office hours
Michael holds online office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 PM. During these times, he is available in the Office Hours chat room for students to ask questions and get extra help.
Prepare report cards and parent/teacher meetings
When it is time to do report cards, Michael refers to his roster to determine grades, and to notes he put on the Student information form to make comments. He also refers to the roster and the Student information form when talking to parents.
Share news with students and parents
Michael uses the Class News area to post general information for students and parents. Here, students and parents can find information about the course, special events, assemblies, and so on as well as announcements, letters to parents, notification of upcoming due dates, etc. Michael also uses this area to showcase student work from time to time.
This is the Class News area for Mr. Goodman's Science class.
Michael also uses The Board to post information he wants students to see as soon as they enter the classroom.
Showcase student work to peers and parents
Michael uses the Class News area and student portfolios to showcase student work. Occasionally, he posts exceptional work to the Class News area to share with parents and peers. During the week of parent/teacher interviews, he asks students to create an alias to their portfolios in My Shared Documents. He then refers to each student's portfolio to show work to parents.
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