Introductory+Cover+Letter+for+Parents

** Dear Parents,
 * Language for the Letter to Parents

This year our Calculus class will be undertaking an interesting challenge. We are going to have a class Without Bound. This means that we will be interacting with, learning with, and learning from a calculus class in another country. These interactions will be both real and virtual, happening on the internet and in real time. The focus of this project is to improve and extend the learning of calculus by incorporating more voices and by extending the conversations of students and teachers alike.

The two classes are in Littleton, Colorado at Littleton High School, and in Winnipeg, Canada at (fill in name here). The facilitator in Colorado is Christopher Marchetti and the facilitator in Winnipeg is Darren Kuropatwa.

Bio: Christopher Marchetti

I have taught mathematics for 11 years, the last 6 of which have been at Littleton High School and in the last 3 years I have taught AP Calculus. I have a Masters Degree from Regis University in Educational Leadership with concentration in Instructional Technology. Over the past few years I have been integrating technology increasingly into my classroom. I feel that teachers have a responsibility to teach students to use the technologies they are using in thier personal lives in the classroom in a responsible way.

Bio: Darren Kuropatwa

For our own class use, it would be excellent if all students are able to upload photos , videos and audio (sound) of themselves to share with each other, folks at home and the clas ses/educators we collaborate with. Invited ed ucators and classes can add pos itive comments on our learning.

Please consider carefully the following and check which boxes you are comfortable with. It is true that students can feel ‘left out’ if their images and voice are not included yet the rest of the class is. It is very important that this does not sway your choices below. Strategies can be sought to include all students – e.g. only photograph the back of their head.

We will make every effort to teach ‘safe and savvy’ internet use and lim it references to your child to first name only on  educational sites and will use  (where possible) password protected sites. We have researched appropriate sites at some depth and feel confident with the choices we have made. I consent to my child’s involvement in the following learning and development of teaching resources: ( Please check applicable statements) > “ Educational websites ” includes http://apcalc2008.blogspot.com/ By signing below, I confirm that I am a legal guardian of the subject. Name of student: _ __Student Signature__ _ Name of Guardian: __Guardian Signature__ Guardian phone: _ __Guardian Email:__ ___
 * The use of video /audio footage of my child for publication on educational websites, on video or in other electronic format (i.e. CD, DVD).
 * The use of photographs of my child for publication on educational web site s, in printed matter and electronic formats (i.e. CD, DVD).
 * The publication of my child’s first name and collaborative learning that is displayed on educational website s, in printed matter, on CD or on video /audio.

**Permission Form**

Here is some language that needs to be in our Permission Form from Littleton Public Schools. I don't think that it has to be copied verbatim but the jist has to be there.

Littleton Public Schools Permission Form

= Media Release Yes _ No _ = I give permission for my child to be photographed, interviewed, or videotaped by representatives of the news media and/or district personnel when covering stories related to the school or the district without compensation. = Electronic Communications Release Yes _ No _ = I give permission for photographs, interviews, video, and/or exemplary classroom projects to be posted without compensation on the school or district web sites, all of which can be accessed on the Internet at [|http://www.littletonpublicschool.net]. The school/district is careful not to associate a student’s full name in such a way that it can be identified with a photograph of the student. Students routinely use the Internet in classroom and supervised lab activities to enhance learning. District staff make every effort to ensure students use the Internet responsibly. The district will provide appropriate Internet access to each student unless parent/guardian indicate they do want their student to use the Internet. Here is a link to the original document [|Permission Form.doc]
 * Internet Use**
 * I do not want my student(s) to use the Internet at school. **// (please initial) //