Remote Learning Message for Families - March 27, 2020

●      For this coming week, parents and students can decide when during the day is best to complete learning assignments.  The time needed to complete learning assignments will vary by student, but we expect that students will need to spend about the following amounts of time per day completing learning assignments:

Preschool: approximately 60 minutes each day

Kindergarten through Grade 2: approximately 90 minutes each day

Grades 3 & 4: approximately 120 minutes each day

This week, students in grades Kindergarten - Grade 4 will be expected to complete several assignments, and to also submit one English language arts assignment and one Math assignment to their teacher (teachers will provide specifics). Preschool students will select one piece of work to share with their teacher by the end of the week (teachers will provide specifics).

●      On Monday, classroom teachers will communicate all the assigned learning for the week to all families.

●      Educators will be providing feedback on submitted assignments in varying formats.

●      Additional shifts to remote learning will happen in the coming weeks to increase educator instruction, student work production, and student engagement.

●      On Monday morning, students will find a required assignment from each teacher and related service provider. Curriculum coordinators and K-12 Directors will provide guidance on these assignments.

●      Assignments will be posted in students’ Schoology Courses (not in “Groups”) along with a due date. The due date for each assignment will be clearly indicated and posted to the Schoology calendar for that class.

●      Over the course of the week students need to look for additional assignments from their teachers. It is expected that all students will submit completed work according to teacher instructions.

●      Teachers and related service providers will provide feedback to students on assignments, and will continue to communicate with students daily.  We encourage students to reach out with questions.

●      Allied Arts teachers will focus on wrapping up Cycle 4.  Next week we will work through the details about beginning Cycle 5 and Trimester 3 and provide more information then.

●      (Optional)  Teachers and Related Service Providers can determine whether to revisit unfinished assignments for closure, if wanted. This will be handled on a class-by-class basis and communicated to students from their teacher.  Teachers will be selective and collaborate on this to make sure students are not overloaded with make-up / re-take work in addition to new assignments.

●      Students should visit Powerschool to determine if they are missing assignments prior to the March 12th closure, and should complete and submit any missing/late work by Friday, April 3.

●      On Monday, teachers will post two new required assignments via Schoology.

●      As always, students should review their assignments by course and set a weekly schedule that helps pace and complete all assigned work by teacher due date.

●      Instructions and due dates for these assignments will be articulated by each teacher.  Students will be required to complete and submit assignments via Schoology or at the teacher’s direction.

●      Teachers will provide students ongoing feedback as these assignments are submitted.

●      If students have individual questions, they should reach out via email to teachers to resolve their questions or concerns.

•  DESE recommends two models: 1) provide support and resources for our students with disabilities to access content; and 2) provide instruction and services to students when possible.
• Here is a resource from DESE that we highly recommend that spotlights remote learning for students with special needs. 
• It is important to remember that special educators, including related service providers, will be using the goals and the intent of the IEP to guide their actions, recommendations, and supports and services for students, to the best of their ability.
• We recognize, particularly for students with more intensive needs, that this imperfect situation we find ourselves in will not allow a delivery of services that mirrors what students would receive were we in school.
• We will strive to collaborate with parents and with each other to provide opportunities to address the goals set forth by IEP teams.

• At the elementary level, 30-40 minutes of ELA will be 30-40 minutes of English language practice for students with beginning levels of English skills.  For students with more developed English language skills, English language teachers will provide support with classroom ELA assignments.
• At the middle school level, students enrolled in ELE ELA classes will receive ELA assignments from their English language teacher and will follow the structure outlined above.
• At the high school level, students enrolled in English Language Education (ELE) courses will follow the structure outlined above.

●      Our SPS Tech Department has reached out and will continue to    do so to support all families in accessing technology devices and      learning platforms. For their most recent communication click here.