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Learning Guidance & Support for Parents and Caregivers
Learning Guidance & Support for Parents and Caregivers
Parent Responsibility for Meaningful Engagement through Virtual Means
Parent Responsibility for Meaningful Engagement through Virtual Means
California State has a compulsory school attendance law. Essentially, this law compels parents to send their children to school each day they are healthy and well enough to participate in a full school day. Brea-Olinda Unified School District parents and caregivers understand this responsibility and support regular attendance. The commitment of BOUSD's parents and caregivers to the education of their children and youth is exceptional and appreciated.
When lessons are scheduled to be delivered through virtual means (in the cloud), attendance is still required. Teachers track virtual attendance in a variety of ways, and technology tools facilitate the confirmation of a student's participation in virtual learning. It is possible for teachers to identify who is in attendance during a live video session, whether a student has signed into their District Google folder and completed assignments, who has sent or received an email, which students participated in an online chat, or who has uploaded an image or video documenting a student's learning activity. When learning occurs in the cloud, educators will clearly identify the method they will use to verify attendance so this can be inputted into our attendance system. The role of parents and guardians when learning occurs in the cloud is to ensure they and their student(s) are aware of the way in which attendance will be noted on any given day and for any given class.
Online learning requires that parents and caregivers also consider other factors. Specifically, parents and guardians have the responsibility to support their student's meaningful engagement in learning through virtual means. The tips and tools offered here identify specific actions that can be taken in support of the endeavor to promote continuous learning outside the four walls of a classroom.
Create a Learning Schedule & Space
Create a Learning Schedule & Space
Sustained periods of virtual education are successful when students have a routine to follow and a space in which to work and learn. As you consider how to support your child's online learning, be clear about the time of day any online video sessions will be held as well as the extent of the assignments your student will be asked to complete. If you're not sure, ask your child's teacher(s). Once you have an idea about daily time commitments, plan a schedule for your child to follow. Stick to as predictable a daily routine as possible. Don't forget to include times for breaks and lunch. In addition developing a daily learning schedule, it is important to identify an at-home learning space. Ideally, this space should have:
A computer, iPad, Chromebook or other device
Good lighting
Ready access to learning materials and tools
A dedicated learning space for virtual learning should ideally be located in a shared area of your home such as at the kitchen table, a large kitchen counter, or a desk in a living room or family room. When your student's learning space is separate from their bedroom and distanced from the television, it sets the expectation and tone that the space is for work and not play. Additionally, an online learning space in a shared area allows parents and guardians to readily support learning while also monitoring online activity.
Sample Daily Schedule
Sample Daily Schedule
More and more adults are able to work remotely and most have daily schedules or routines they use to help them stay focused and on task. When your student learns in the cloud, they're going to need parent support to think about how to establish a regular routine. To develop your child's daily schedule, ask them about a typical school day. Consider their ability to stay focused and how long they can reasonably devote their full attention to a task. Below is a sample daily schedule. Your student's schedule will look different depending upon your family dynamics and your child's personal learning needs.
07:30 AM - Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, etc.
08:15 AM - Organize learning space, turn on computer/device, log into Gmail
08:30 AM - Review daily Gmail announcement from teacher(s) and get necessary learning materials (books, workbooks, etc.)
08:45 AM - Engage in a virtual session or chat session or video tutorial on whatever the topic is for the day
09:30 AM - Begin assignments
10:00 AM - Take quick stretch and nutrition break
10:15 AM - Return to assignments, keep working, document learning in whatever way is required
11:00 AM - Check Gmail for any additional announcements
11:15 AM - Lunch and movement (Walk. Dance. Do exercises. Run. Follow an online workout routine.)
12:00 PM - Return to assignments, keep working, document learning in whatever way is required
01:00 PM - Engage in another virtual session or chat session or video tutorial or whatever has been assigned
01:45 PM - Take a quick stretch and nutrition break
02:00 PM - Return to assignments, keep working, document learning in whatever way is required
03:00 PM - Summarize learning in whatever way teacher(s) have requested, and submit learning evidence online
03:45 PM - End of full day of virtual learning
Learning in the cloud is just as challenging and rigorous as a day of learning in the classroom. Teaching and learning just happens in a different place. Like in the schoolhouse, your student's schedule might be a bit different on each day of the week. There will be certain things such as stretch and nutrition breaks as well as lunchtime that should probably be kept consistent. What might change are the times your child hops online for video sessions or online chats. The more time your student spends learning virtually, the more you and your student will know about what works best in terms of keeping focused, on task, and engaged in meaningful academic endeavors.
Provide Learning Materials & Tools
Provide Learning Materials & Tools
Nothing disrupts a person's ability to do planned tasks than having to stop and find the materials and tools that are needed for the task. Virtual learning experiences don't just require a device. Students who are learning virtually should also have the following materials and tools available to them:
Paper, pencils, and pens
Calculator, ruler, compass, counters (e.g., dry beans), or other items to support math
Textbooks, trade books, composition notebooks, and other necessary curriculum resources provided by your student's teacher
Phone, iPad, or computer with camera for taking pictures of work and/or recording videos of learning demonstrations
The above list is not exhaustive. As BOUSD educators get smarter together about providing online learning as an option for students, this list will grow and guidance will be provided to parents and caregivers about how to access such materials and tools.
Share Learning with Teacher
Share Learning with Teacher
All BOUSD students have District Gmail accounts. Students should check these accounts every day for messages from their teacher(s) about the daily learning expectations. Elementary aged students may need help checking their Gmail account for messages. Educators will also communicate with students about how to share their learning. Students may be asked to:
Complete a Google Quiz;
Submit a document to their personal Google folder;
Take a picture of their work and upload it into a Google folder or email it to their teacher;
Record a video that shows how they are able to do something; email a message summarizing their learning;
Engage in a Chat session; or
Engage in an online video "Office Hour".
There are many possibilities for how teachers might invite students to share their learning. Parents and caregivers should be sure they know what their children's teacher(s) expect and then support their student as needed.
Check Progress
Check Progress
Meaningful learning engagement in the cloud will not require a big shift in the ways teachers share student progress or in the ways parents and caregivers can check on their child's progress. Email, information shared via SeeSaw, or Google Classroom assignments and grades posted via Illuminate or Aeries, along with other practices already used by teachers and parents will remain available.
Create a Support Network for Unique Circumstances
Create a Support Network for Unique Circumstances
When BOUSD students are asked to engage in online learning due to circumstances that require school buildings to close, the District recognizes that this can pose a hardship on many families. Although students may be restricted from going to school, there is no guarantee that parents and guardians are able to work virtually from home and therefore be able to supervise their children. In the event a school building must close and we must shift our learning from the classroom to the cloud, BOUSD parents and caregivers are encouraged to think about ways they can support one another. Everyone is encouraged to ask themselves:
Who in the neighborhood might be able to look after several family's children?
How can a neighborhood or friendship group use a rotation schedule to provide supervision for students?
Who in the neighborhood is really "tech savvy" and willing to help teach others how to use the online tools that are available to BOUSD students?
How might older siblings and students be able to support the learning of younger children?
In what ways can neighbors and friendship groups share technology tools?
Supporting Learning with Technology
Supporting Learning with Technology
Supporting Learning With Technology
Supporting Learning With Technology
Important Responsible Use Guidelines
Important Responsible Use Guidelines
BOUSD wants to support the best use of technology to support teaching and learning. We value the partnership of parents and caregivers when learning occurs outside of the school building.
In general, students and adults should be sure to:
Use respectful behavior and language.
Stick to appropriate topic discussions.
Send only appropriate video transmissions.
Use only appropriate icon, emoji, and avatar submissions.
Wear school appropriate clothing if attending meetings via video.
Be honest and use academic integrity by not plagiarizing or copying others’ work
Not falsify information about oneself or impersonate others online.
When everyone remembers to act kindly, show consideration for others, and treat one another online as they wish to be treated in person, students and adults alike will be able to focus on learning.
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