Academics

Academics 

• Teachers will be reporting 3 days prior to the start of the school year for professional development days.  This will provide time to collaborate as a staff, analyze student data, go over health and safety protocols, and go over the different modes of teaching and learning.  
• Focus throughout the school year will be placed on the essential learning that students did not receive in the 4th quarter last year. Best practice backed by research supports teaching grade-level content as the academic priority while filling those potential gaps (or as needed) when the instruction of the material occurs throughout the school year.
• Teachers will communicate with each other to be clear on what was not covered and how each student demonstrated their learning on what was covered last year.  
  • Our RTL plan has outlined specific meeting requirements and protocols for teachers to ensure that this communication occurs.  Teachers have started the process of completing a spreadsheet as a way of passing on standards information.
• Teachers will set students up for mastery of their current grade level content by determining what prerequisite skills will be most important to know at the beginning of each unit throughout the year. Teachers will do this by using observation of student performance in real-time day to day classes as well as use a variety of assessment methods. This will give teachers a clearer picture of what students know and what path to take towards mastery.
  • In the event of remote learning, teachers will also observe student performance though it will look different.  This will be addressed on a class by class and/or student by student basis.
• Students who need additional supports, regardless of the instructional mode we are in, will be provided with those supports.  
  • Teachers, students, and parents must work collaboratively to identify student needs and find consensus as to the measures needed to provide that support. 
• Families are encouraged to contact their teacher with questions or concerns at any point throughout the school year.
• In an effort for ease and simplicity, we are planning to use the same platform for JK-5 students.  SeeSaw will continue to be used; however, it will now be integrated within Google Classroom. Using these platforms streamlines communication and reduces multiple email communications.
  • All teachers will explicitly teach the use of these platforms to students when we resume face to face instruction in the fall.  The goal is to prepare our students and families in the event of moving to online learning.
  • In the case of remote learning, all assignments must be turned in via Google Classroom.
  • Parents will have access to Google Classroom and SeeSaw as well. Information on setting this up will be shared at the beginning of the school year.
• Zoom and Google Meet will be the primary video tools used by teachers.
  • We are working to ensure that all devices will be able to use these platforms with ease.
  • If we move into remote learning, there will be explicit expectations for online classroom etiquette.  These will be tailored by grade spans and will be shared with the students before remote instruction begins. 
• Technology
  • All studentsdents in JK-5 will have a device with which they they are familiar and that they will take home in the event of remote learning.  
  • In onsite instruction, the goal is for more traditional teaching and learning; only using electronic devices as needed.  We will; however, spend some more time using devices, as we will need to prepare students better if the need arises for remote learning.
•  Class schedules
  • Students need structure, so student schedules will change as little as possible regardless of onsite or remote learning.
  • If we are in remote learning, more online class times will be offered than in the spring.  Due to our younger students needing more support, flexiblity will remain key in planning and this will be handled on a classroom by classroom basis.