How my kids’ school rocked distance learning
I can’t believe how quickly life changed when COVID-19 hit the US. One week, life was normal: my husband and I were working, the kids were going to school, we were looking forward to my daughter’s basketball championship game (her team was in first place!), and we were planning to attend a performance of Grease at the local high school. The next week everything was canceled! No championship game, no high school play, literally ACTUAL SCHOOL was canceled! What?!
We found out on the morning of Friday, March 13th that it would be the kids’ last day in the classroom, “until after Spring Break” as we thought at the time. (Sigh)
My kids go to a small, non-profit, charter school with less than 400 full-time daily students (in addition to a homeschool program). The school’s philosophies include inquiry-based learning and positive discipline. Our school focuses on developing the whole child – connecting with others, conflict resolution, social-emotional learning, and encouraging learning via a child’s natural curiosity and desire to learn. In my opinion, these (along with other factors) contributed to us having a head start on how to do this distance learning thing.
Here’s a list of the ways my kids’ school – Innovations Academy – rocked distance learning:
– Quick start – On Friday morning we found out it would be our last day on campus. When I picked up my kids Friday after school, they each had a distance learning schedule for the next two weeks already in hand. They started live sessions with their teachers the following Monday morning! This efficient action was due to the vision, organization, and flexible leadership of our principal and staff. This was HUGE in keeping the kids’ learning on track for the school year. (As you probably know, many schools in the country didn’t start online learning until weeks later.)
– Technology – On their last day on campus, my kids asked me if they could bring home their classroom Chromebooks. At first, I said no because I didn’t think we’d need them. We have two laptops at home. I acquiesced, and thank goodness I did! They used those Chromebooks EVERY SINGLE DAY. The Chromebooks had all the software they needed, none of the software they shouldn’t have, and they already knew how to navigate the devices. This was possible because every student at our school has access to a Chromebook or iPad. We were also already accustomed to the needed software like Parentsquare, Padlet, Google Classroom, Seesaw, and others.
My son on his daily video call
– Daily video calls – Our kids love their teachers and fellow students due in part to the relationship-building that our school fosters. Every day from 10-11 both my kids were on a Google Hangouts call with their teachers and classmates. And these calls weren’t just a teacher giving a lesson. These teachers got CREATIVE! At many points during their classes, I would see my kids running around the house gathering items for scavenger hunts. I observed my daughter being instructed to go find a rectangular prism, measure it, and report back with the area. Both kids were seen drawing pictures with the paper and pencil on top of their heads. One time my son even came to me, hugged me, and said, “I love you,” as instructed by the teacher. (Thank you, Ms. L!) The daily connection to teachers and fellow students was integral to keeping a small semblance of “normal” for the kids.
– Assignments – Before and after their Hangouts calls, my kids did their assignments. They knew exactly what they needed to do based on their weekly schedule. My kids often got up early to do the work because our family delayed additional screen time until their school work was done. The kids had math lessons and practice, reading assignments with “stop and jots,” educational videos to watch, a “passion project” writing assignment, etc. My kids are pretty independent so they didn’t need much help from me or their teachers. But if they did, the school also offered… (next bullet point)
My daughter helping my son with his model of Pluto
– Access to teachers/staff for both kids and parents – Some of my kids’ classmates were bored and needed more work. Some had a hard time with being on the Hangouts calls, or with keeping up with the work. To address questions and special issues, teachers and staff were available to provide extra support or to work out amended plans for any kid who needed it. My son didn’t like his video on during video calls so, after talking with his teacher, he often turned it off during calls. It was no problem!
Parents also received weekly emails from the teachers, as well as had access to a spreadsheet showing what assignments our kids had finished so we knew where they stood, and we could help (or ask for help) if needed.
– Flexibility – I’ve mentioned this already but can’t stress it enough. My kids and I felt heard and respected when teachers and staff listened to our needs, and responded by helping us. One family with two working parents could not be there with their child during the day. The teacher texted the parents at the end of every day to let the parents know what work still needed to be done. The teacher made a detailed plan with the child on how to manage their time during the day. Individual children received individual attention, as it should be!
The school also sent out multiple surveys throughout the spring to make sure distance learning was meeting our needs, and to assist in planning for the fall. Students that needed extra support in any way (those with IEPs, mental/emotional struggles, English Language Learners, etc.) all worked with additional staff members to meet their needs.
– Creativity – In addition to some amazing, fun assignments, my kids had “explorations” classes – Nature Studies and Art. Once a week they spent 30 minutes each on a video call with their nature and art teachers. Between their video calls, they made art from food (my daughter made a brownie in the shape of a cat!), they recreated famous art works by participating in the Getty Challenge, voted for what flavor cricket their nature studies teacher should eat (while learning about the practice of eating insects), and made videos and slides about so many animals. They also had optional menus of life skills and at-home projects. My son made an instructional video of how to replace the water filter on the fridge. My daughter researched and made a slide show on how to start a business.
My daughter’s Getty Challenge photo
– Leadership – Every Sunday we received an email from our principal (as we always have). About a month into distance learning, included in her email, she said this:
“You are guiding your children’s education at this time, and that can work nicely because you know them best, you are their lifelong leader, and with you they have learned so much already. There will be conflict and resistance, but there will be great moments of connection as well. Focus on the positive and let go of the rest. I have said it before, no lesson is worth a fight, raising your voice, or saying things you may regret. Let go and let learning happen.”
I mean, need I say more? Our principal has amazing wisdom, flexibility, and vision; and she will do anything she can to help her families.
In addition to our principal, we have an incredibly robust social-emotional program led by a Marriage and Family Therapist. She hosted Zoom calls for parents and kids, and visited every classes’ video calls to help parents and kids learn the tools to make it through these tough times.
The school also surveyed parents regularly about how things were going; they had staff meetings to share ideas; and they have a dedicated staff member to collect, evaluate, and share resources. At the end of the year, a survey indicated that 95% of parents thought the communication from teachers was “just right,” and 75% thought the workload was “manageable.”
So, we – like the rest of the country – finished the school year distance learning at home. And it looks like this could actually continue into the next school year. My kids might not admit it, but I actually think they miss school now that we’re on summer break. I know I do. Days had more structure then. And I got involved in my children’s education more than ever before. It was fun. Now the kids are bored with nothing on their schedule most days.
Reflecting on distance learning (and our current isolation) I realize I’m really lucky in so many ways. I have two eleven-year-olds who can entertain each other (when they’re not fighting), I work part time from home so I have time to help the kids with schooling and finding things to do, my husband works from home so he’s here if needed, and we have internet access. I know many families are not so lucky.
But for all families, having the help and support of an amazing, flexible school makes distance learning so much easier. I wish that all schools offered this type of much-needed support for all the parents and guardians out there during this challenging time!
By Jennifer Ott (parent to two incoming 6th graders at Innovations Academy in San Diego, CA)