1. OPEN HOUSE FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND STUDENTS OF SOUNDINGS XIV 2014-2015 WELCOME TO SOUNDINGS

2. Soundings Basics Students create their own curriculum. Students do NOT receive grades. Students work in small groups, individually and as a whole class. Students always have work to be done each night. Emphasis is put on the quality of the work, not the quantity or a grade. Work is not “finished” until the student decides it is their “best”.

3. Soundings Work Log Book:  Daily Log Questions  Quotes Twice per Week  Daily Goals  Daily Accomplishments  Upcoming Due Dates  Notes from discussions

4. Soundings Work Self Assessments  Soundings students create the Self Assessment rubric  Begin October 8th  Bi-weekly  Due dates are set for the year

5. Soundings Work Self Assessments (cont.)  Students fill out assessment in school on Wednesday.  Teachers write comments and return to students by Friday.  Students take home assessment on Friday.  Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are asked to read, comment and sign assessment.  Students return with assessment by Monday.

6. Soundings Work Reading Journal :  Validations of Books Read  Types of Validations: Book Talk Letter to the Author Pictures/Collage New Ending/Epilogue Critique of the Novel  Notes from Coffeehouses

7. Soundings Work Coffeehouses  Students identify favorite genres of literature  Students put into genre groups  Groups present the genre to the rest of the class  Presentation dates will be set for the year  Info/aspects of the genre are presented  Recommended novels  Activities related to the genre  Food

8. Soundings Work Current Events  Bi-Weekly  First one due October 1 st  All class  Due dates set for the year  Due on Wednesdays  Students choose the article  Write summary of article with connection(s) and/or impact(s)  One to two pages typed

9. Soundings Work Individual Research Projects  Students choose topics  IRP #1:  Method of presentation – student choice  Due dates are set by teachers  Final Presentations – Mid-January  IRP #2:  Method of presentation – research paper  Due dates are set by students  Final Research Paper – Late May

10. Soundings Work Focus Papers  Writing Prompts  Five or more assigned each year  Two to Four pages in length  Related to goal setting, Units of Study, genres of literature, and modes of writing

11. Soundings Work Lab Experiments and Lab Reports  Lab Experiments are generated by teachers  Students are encouraged to do their own  Lab Reports  Typed  Conclusion – Essay  Primary focus on Physical Science (8 th Grade)  Physics  Chemistry  Electricity/Magnetism

12. Student-Led Conferences Soundings Students run their respective conferences. Conferences are offered twice each year  November – Required  Offered same week as the rest of RMS.  Two additional evenings offered in November.  May – Optional  Two or three evenings are offered. Showcase completed work and progress. Parent-Teacher conferences on Traditional teams – 20 minutes Soundings Student-Led Conferences – 40 minutes (average)

13. Website Soundings website is a very valuable tool. Contains most of the information you and your child will need. http://www.rtsd.org//Domain/416