Dear Parents/Guardians --
Thank you for your patience as we await state and federal guidelines that affect schools and our students in this unprecedented situation due to COVID-19. There are many questions that we cannot yet answer; however, we expect that with the Ohio General Assembly meeting this week, we will get more definitive guidance on questions about state testing and other regulations that will be of immense help to us as we develop plans for moving forward. We will keep you informed on what we learn. Continue to check our Frequently Asked Questions page for general answers to questions.
REPORTING ON PHASE I OF ONLINE LEARNING:
Our educators -- they have amazed me by quickly rising to the challenge of delivering online education, something that is a new process for all of us, after schools were closed due to COVID-19. It is hard to believe that just a week-and-a-half ago, we were teaching students in our school buildings. Yet here we are now with a week's worth of lessons, activities, creative videos, rich email and phone conversations and more, with delivery made possible through the use of diverse technologies and online learning. Our educators turned on a dime, and they delivered with their usual caring and enthusiastic support of students.
Our support staff -- everyone is pitching in with work behind the scenes to provide support for this new world of e-learning. Our technology department prepared for pick-up Chromebooks for every K-8 student (high school students already had their devices). Office work regarding planning, scheduling, database management, accounts payable and more continues. Support for educator use of technology is more critical than ever. We will also use this time to provide online staff development that employees can access from home.
Our students -- we still see the joy they have in learning. Their exhuberance is evident in their writings, their art, their videos and their messages. We know they miss their teachers, and they know their teachers miss them. But they are maintaining relationships through quality online communication and learning.
And of course . . .
Our parents -- YOU have amazed me by embracing this challenge, as well. You created learning schedules, picked up Chromebooks, added your own enrichment ideas, and sent teachers photos and videos of students demonstrating their learning. You are keeping tabs on your older students, and I know you will be ready to jump in and help them adapt to changes in completing this school year, changes yet unknown but sure to make this year unlike any before.
PHASE II OF ONLINE LEARNING:
If we are still using online learning following our spring break (April 10-19), we will offer the following guidance for educators:
Use the 5 Es Model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate. Teachers, of course, use these methods regularly in the classroom. We are presenting this model as a structure for high-quality online learning as it is 1) used and recommended by experts in the online learning field, and 2) identifies a range of online learning tools and technology suitable for each of the strategies.
Grade for Mastery and Targeted Feedback. Learning online is different from learning in the school building classroom. We need to acknowledge that these differences require we adapt our perspective on measuring achievement. Teachers will focus on essential standards, and students will be graded on mastery of those standards, rather than achievement levels on assignments. Each three-week period will focus on new standards.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR PARENTS:
Learning is fun, but it isn't always easy. Teachers know that productive struggle is necessary for growth. I think parents realize this, but it is harder for them to watch their child wrestle with small failures while working toward a solution and understanding. But it is this "growth mindset" that allows students to be unafraid of a challenge, to be resilient in setbacks, and to have the confidence to expect success through their own efforts. Both of these videos do a great job of explaining that experience when students are "stuck in the learning pit." They will help you understand this universal moment in learning when we muster up that strength from within and soldier on! (Look for many other resources like this in our Parent Toolkit, recently added to our eLearning page on our website.)
James Nottingham's Learning Challenge
(Learning Pit) animation:
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"Stuck in the Pit"
a song by 6-year-old Grace
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We know, with your help, we will make the most of this challenging situation. With our Bay Village parents and guardians as our partners, we cannot fail. We are, after all, One Rocket Nation!
Sincerely,
Superintendent Jodie Hausmann
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