How We Will Learn: Important Information
March 15, 2020
Dear Families,
As I was recently walking down the near-empty aisles of my usual grocery store, I was thinking about our broader community. When we realize that this COVID-19 virus might hurt vulnerable people in our community, business just does not go on as usual. We stop what we are doing. We limit our movements and our social contacts. We go to great measures to slow things down and protect the most vulnerable in our community. That’s what we do. Similarly, at Atrium, we are closing school as a preventative measure and urging you to follow CDC guidelines regarding social distancing that includes refraining from gathering in large groups.
Although this feels so sudden, I want you to know that your child’s teachers have been preparing in earnest and will continue in the coming weeks to provide direction and support for student learning. On Monday, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., parents may pick up materials and check in briefly with teachers. Please empty cubbies and lockers, bringing home any personal belongings. Please also bring home your child’s violin. Early in the week and regularly, thereafter, teachers will be communicating with families.
Seeing Each Other Face to Face Every Week, PreK to 8
While apart from each other, it will be so important to keep seeing each other face to face. Older students (grade 4 to 8) will be using Chromebooks and Zoom Conferencing to visibly engage with teachers and one another every day. Younger students will connect visibly as well, when teachers contact parents personally every week by either Zoom or FaceTime (or phone if that is preferred). At other times, video and messages will be received from specialists through Schoology or email. Children will need to see our faces and we will need to see theirs.
We are so used to seeing parents in our hallways and classrooms every morning and will not want to lose touch. Do let teachers know when a phone or FaceTime conversation is needed with you, as parents. Stay tuned, as well to messages from Ariana and Sami who hope to hear from many of you. Atrium is a close community, especially now.
Learning at Home, Materials and Work
On Monday, any time between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., parents are to stop by Atrium to pick up needed materials and check in with teachers. Your children are of course welcome to join you, since this is a short visit. Materials to pick up include Chromebooks for grades 4 to 8 and packets of books and materials for PreK to 3. Teachers will provide overviews and schedules in print and/or by email, and look forward to seeing you Monday, even if only briefly.
Middle School students will begin warming up on Monday, with distance learning taking place in earnest for everyone starting Wednesday, March 18. Watch for teachers’ emails for specific details, but know that each week there will be:
A Daily Morning Message: Every morning either through Schoology or by email, a morning message will arrive. This will give shape to the work of each day.
Academic Instruction, Online and Offline :
Working both Online and Offline in Grades 4 to 8: Older students will work both online and offline, including both video and live contact with teachers via Zoom Conferencing or Schoology. Each week’s schedule will include academic work that is in line with the year’s academic goals. Each work-at-home-day will start at approximately the same time as a regular school day, though schedules will vary, according to the age of the child. Assignments will be submitted and personal feedback will be given from teachers, as teachers explain. While students will be using screens, they will also be working off screen every day. Specific schedules will be shared by teachers.Spanish will happen in an alternative way during the week for grades 4 to 8. You will also be hearing from Talin, Nate, Susan, Christine and Audrey.
Working Offline in Grades PreK to 3: For younger students, there will be books, writing or drawing prompts, math challenges, and all the familiar daily work, but this will largely be done offline. Daily emailed messages from teachers will pose the plan for the day. Materials and directions will also be found in the take home packet. Often the child’s work will involve drawing, building, designing, and creating. When that happens, feel invited to email photos or videos to teachers. At the same time, stay tuned for messages from Nate, Audrey, Susan, Christine, or Talin about other special tasks that continue children’s engagement in the arts, literature, and physical education.
Good Habits to Support Learning
It is helpful and important to establish steady routines in support of learning from home. Routine is vital for children to thrive, and helps establish a “new normal” during this unusual time we are in.
Regular Sleep: Be sure that all children are sleeping regularly, so that they can be ready for learning every morning.
Quiet Space: Identify a quiet space that can be used consistently for daily work.
Designated Time: Set aside time to complete work each day, according to the schedules that teachers provide.
Independence: Students should be able to work quite independently and will share finished assignments with teachers as teachers explain.
Feedback: If there is any difficulty or confusion, be sure to email teachers. (Older students should also communicate with teachers directly.)
Connection: Teachers will be available each day to respond to student and parent emails and questions and will be in touch regularly.
Supportive Supervision: Children will need various kinds and degrees of supportive supervision; help them ritualize their new schedule and support them to maintain focus and persistence with their independent work. Younger children who may not yet have developed “homework habits” will benefit from such guidance.
With all that said, I thought this advice to Parents (NY Times) was very helpful, with respect to guarding the well being of children and whole families. Also, this is one helpful resource about how to talk to your child about COVID-19 (Child Mind Institute).
As we all take this step together while apart, we are all charting new paths. Please, take very good care of yourself and your family. We know that questions will arise should a child become ill or just unable to complete a day’s work. Connect with teachers right away with any question about the learning plan and know that flexibility will be part of the learning plan at all grade levels, even while we maintain a stable and reliable plan. We will all continue to stay in touch. Please, reach out to me as well with any questions, special concerns or feedback.
Peace,
Kathy
khanson@atrium.org