Lower Elementary eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Dear 1st-3rd Grade Parents:

Next Tuesday we will be concluding the 2nd Cycle of orientation, reviews and social-emotional interventions and be ready to officially begin new content for the 2020-2021 school year.  These first days were also intended to evaluate how the students are responding to the eLearning modality and to implement new online platforms as deemed necessary.

The design of the eLearning plan comes after months of conducting research and studies into best practices for online learning, and considering the feedback from teachers, students and parents as to how the students are engaging with and reacting to distance learning modalities.  We have also been ensuring that teachers have the resources to create quality lesson plans and carry out instruction in this new fashion.

The Schedule:

Last spring, when we found ourselves having to implement emergency distance learning, the Lower Elementary eLearning platform primarily consisted of asynchronous encounters where students and parents navigated their Google Sites Classrooms to find teacher-created videos and assignments.  In addition, there were some small group and full group encounters along the way.  After conducting surveys and town hall meetings, plus receiving feedback through the chat groups, the data showed that parents wanted there to be more direct connection time between the students and the teachers, known as synchronous connections.  That is the primary reason why most of the teaching and learning now consist of synchronous encounters. 

During the synchronous encounters, which will be the primary format, students are able to not only engage directly with their teacher, but with their classmates as well.  However, we must also be careful to not overload students with screen time and a rigid schedule.  Research on distance learning clearly shows that it is important to provide a balance of both synchronous and asynchronous encounters for students.   The feedback from these first few days confirms these findings in that while students are learning how to stay attentive for these extended connection times, as lunch time approaches the fatigue sets in. The asynchronous encounters allow for more self-directed and self-paced learning.  Students also benefit from the experience of exploring on their own and even being able to connect at different times of the day when they are more rested from the synchronous screen time.  Nonetheless, even when our schedule calls for asynchronous learning, teachers will be available during office hours throughout the day.  The teacher is literally one click away during those set office hours and any student who needs more teacher-directed guidance may connect with her.  Below is the revised general format for the Lower Elementary School schedule.  Your child’s detailed schedule with the specific subjects per day is found in the Classroom Site.  

Important components about the schedule include:

• Synchronous (live connections) will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 12:00 p.m.;
• Teachers will insert short five-minute breaks in between subjects as deemed necessary;
• Students will have 15 minutes for recess to use the bathroom and get a snack;
• The majority of the day will consist of live (synchronous) connections, but teachers will encourage students to work away from the screen when possible (i.e. to read in his/her favorite spot of the room, to work on a simple project, etc.)
• During the 1:15 to 2:15 enrichment hour, teachers will be available to connect if a student needs guidance or extra help with certain concepts;
• The work posted for asynchronous Friday will be clear and manageable for students to develop independent learning and research skills.
• On asynchronous Friday, the teachers will be available during two office hours where students may connect live for additional guidance.
• The lunch break allows for students and parents to have lunch together whenever possible in each home.

The Platforms

Google Sites will continue to be the platform to access all of our eLearning classrooms.   Please do not share the link to our eLearning platform with anyone other than your child.  

In order for parents to have an idea of the materials that their child will need for the upcoming Cycle, you will find a “preview” like the one shown below one day before each Cycle begins. 

While we wanted to start with the same video conference platform that was familiar to students and parents (Google Meet) we also left the door open to the possibility of incorporating another platform such as Zoom.  As of this 2nd Cycle, teachers have been communicating with you about making this very easy transition.  The Homeroom teacher will create the “one link” connection and all subject teachers will connect through that link.  This eliminates the need to connect to different links for different subjects.  Teachers will protect entry into the eLearning classrooms by creating waiting rooms and only allowing entry to their students.  If your child will be connecting from a device that is not clearly identified with his/her or your names, please inform your child’s Homeroom teacher in advance.  Otherwise, the teacher will not know to give your child entry.  Please understand that in order to ensure the protection of your child’s identity, this is a necessary measure.  

Parent training for Lower Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below.  If you need training in the use of Zoom, feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

We have also implemented Seesaw for students to show their work, allow teachers to give feedback and allow for more family connection between the teacher and the home.

Seesaw parent training for Lower Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below.  Feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

Your child will enjoy a variety of books to be used during English Language Arts class, both through physical and digital books.  The digital platform is called Raz-Kids.  It is a very user-friendly resource, but if you have any questions, you may coordinate a time to meet with your child’s Homeroom Teacher.

Further down the road when your child’s teachers begin to provide feedback from assessments, you will be able to monitor your child’s progress through RenWeb/FACTS, our student information system.  Parent training for Lower Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below.  Feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the icon and select the day and time that you prefer.

Netiquette:  

Students have learned the importance of following certain procedures during distance learning.  Please review these agreements with your child and help him/her to follow the classroom netiquette.  As of the 3rd Cycle, we would like to see students using a school uniform top.  It may be his/her regular or sports uniform.  Please make sure that your child is always using full and appropriate attire .

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

During the first two Cycles, you may have needed to provide some guidance for your child, but as we move forward, you should allow for more independence.  Allow your child to engage with the teachers and classmates without your direct support.  If you need to be out of the house, inform the adult in the home to not interrupt the student during school hours.  Likewise, if you need to speak to the teacher, please make an appointment.  Remember that walking into an eLearning classroom while instruction is taking place is like walking into the physical classrooms at school without prior notification.  These interruptions are not allowed.

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

During the next several weeks, we will continue to inform our school community about upcoming workshops, webinars and resources that will be made available to parents to support you during these challenging times.  This includes support from the Parents’ Association (ASPAS) as they put together online resources for parents and students.  Events and dates will be announced as they become available.

We hope this has given you clear guidance as we prepare to launch the 2020-2021 school year, full steam ahead.  Please know that we will continue to do our best to help you through these challenging times.  We also count on your customary support to work as a team so that the students, parents, and teachers will be able to stay physically and emotionally resilient as we navigate these uncharted waters.  

May God bless you and Ashton School mightily.