School Reopening Community: Learning Beyond COVID-19

I wanted to flag three new webinars coming up this week and next week on ELLs and distance learning and preventing the summer slide. All three can be viewed on the link below. They are free and you will receive PD credit (assuming your school district accepts it). <br><br>Learn more and register: https://sharemylesson.com/partner/share-my-lesson-webinars<br><br>Dista… Learning and English Language Learners: What Have We Learned So Far?<br>AFT, SupportEd, Colorín Colorado<br>Thursday, April 30, 2020<br>at 3:00pm EDT<br><br>How Parents Can Help Stem a "COVID-19 Learning Slide" Webinar<br>ACT and the American Federation of Teachers<br>Thursday, May 7, 2020<br>at 1:00pm EDT<br><br>Preventing Summer Learning Loss: Strategies for Educators, Districts and Parents<br>AFT and Springboard Collaborative<br>Thursday, May 7, 2020<br>at 3:30pm ET<br><br>We wrapped up our annual Share My Lesson Virtual Conference last month. Be sure to check out the 42 webinars - PD credit is still available. https://sharemylesson.com/vc2020<br><br>My best,<br>Kelly Booz<br>Director of Share My Lesson

I haven't read about anyone else doing what I've been doing, which is to have simultaneous in-person and remote lessons. I have about 8 students in the classroom with me, and 3 to 5 joining us via Zoom. It's really tricky and challenging to make it all work, but it's getting better with every class.

The primary school ss learn in 2 shifts, the seckndary school students come to school every other week, while the others are online. It is very difficult to have classes this way. I use G Suit for education, Englishtestsonline.com, Agendaweb.org, Liveworksheets, Survio, Wordwall, Bamboozle, Quizzland, etc

From learning a new technology tool, to seeing how it looks and works from a student's perspective to then creating and sharing the lesson. Teachers are exhausted. Luckily I work with small groups of math students so I don't have to deal with a large classroom of virtual students and all its problems. However, even though I only have small groups of students, I still plan 2 to 3 of these extended lessons a day. I can't even imagine what elementary teachers are going through with having the same students all day and creating lessons for all subject areas. Sometimes parents and community members think those of us that are working from home, are just sitting around doing nothing. That is so far from the truth.

We also are learning to better use the platform to feel more like school amojng co workers. We are learning to "visit" each other's classes and to support each other by sharing digital resources. We are remaining optimistic for a safe return before this school year ends. We are concerned about how to effectively educate students using this virtual reality. We are also looking for ways to motivate students and families to continue to be active participants. How is school life on your side of this Covid19 reality?

We are full time remote for now. Some of the students are thriving in this environment, in the sense of no drama. However, on balance, everyone is desperate for it to feel safe to return, so we can teach/learn in person. I will say, so many teachers are creative, clever and engaged. As a school we are in it for our kids.

The students are split into 2 groups and alternate days of in class instruction and home work days. So far we have avoided much impact from Covid, but cases are on the rise in our county, so who knows how much longer we will be able to avoid full-time cyber.

We also allow those who wanted a hybrid model and allow students to attend only on certain days and do virtual on the other days. In addition to the who is in school and who is at home learning, we serve breakfast and lunch to our district's Pre-K through 8th graders.