1. OPEN HOUSE for Parents/Guardians and Students of Soundings XVII
WELCOME TO SOUNDINGS
OPEN HOUSE for Parents/Guardians and Students of Soundings XVII

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 for Soundings.
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.
Begin October 4th.
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 Identified Favorite Genres of Literature
Students have been put into genre groups
Groups present the genre to the rest of the class
Presentation dates have been 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 September 27th (Today)
All class/same article
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

10. Soundings Work Individual Research Projects IRP #2:
Method of presentation – research paper
Due dates are set by students
Final Research Paper – Late May

11. 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

12. Soundings Work Lab Experiments and Lab Reports
Lab Experiments are generated by teachers
Students are encouraged to do their own
Lab Report #1 – Due October 12th
Lab Reports
Typed
Conclusion – Essay
Primary focus – Physical Science

13. 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 evenings are offered.
Showcase completed work and progress.
Parent-Teacher conferences on Traditional teams – 20 minutes
Soundings Student-Led Conferences – 40 minutes (average)

14. Website Soundings website is a very valuable tool.
Contains most of the information you and your child will need.

15. Soundings Tips for Success
This is not the year to be “hands off”
What your son/daughter puts into the program is what he/she will get out of it
This can be a year of tremendous growth
Team effort
Attendance is important
Daily discussions/notes
Time in school to meet with groups/work individually

16. Soundings Tips for Success
Communication is critical
No grades on HAC – Self Assessments key
Soundings Updates sent via
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