What: EO 2020-35 allows schools 5 days of professional development prior to the onset of remote learning in order to acclimate educators to the remote learning environment and tools. This time counts as instructional time for students and is a one-time allowance to us because of COVID 19.
Why: To serve the Cedar Springs Public Schools students and educators with consistent tools and mindsets for this new way of operating. To create collaborative support teams to navigate the situation together.
How: Through asynchronous and synchronous learning and collaboration in order to plan lessons and support one another. CSPS educators will explore several required modules and choose other modules that will serve their individual or team learning needs. Much of this professional development can be completed with flexible scheduling throughout the week of April 13, but could spill into the week of April 20, to allow educators to care for their families.
Virtual Meetings
Understand how to use Google Hangouts Meet or Zoom for virtual meetings or to record your instruction.
Determine which virtual meeting format will work best for your classes.
Identify settings in virtual meetings which will help with security and managing classes who meet synchronously.
Learn how to identify the phone number of a virtual meeting so that all students can participate, regardless of device.
Plan with your team for norms/expectations when meeting with students virtually.
Voice Calls
Know how to make phone calls to families and students without sharing your personal phone number.
Choose whether to set up a Google Voice phone number or dial *67 prior to calling.
Commit to checking your school voice mail remotely each day.
Student Engagement
Identify 3 engagement techniques (from a list of many) to incorporate in the next 3 weeks of remote learning. Brainstorm with your team techniques to pique the interest and curiosity of your students to bring them back week after week.
Identify strategies to overcome barriers to remote learning participation.
With your team, develop a plan to track engagement and respond to lack of engagement.
Allow parents or students to text or call you without having your real phone number
(15 minutes of video and adjusting your own settings)
Acclimate yourself to the norms of remote learning
(20-30 minutes of reading and discussion with your planning team)
How can we engage our students in the content, learning activities, and assessments? How can we prevent feelings of frustration or isolation and keep them motivated?
(20-30 minutes of reading and discussion with your planning team)
General advice, platforms and norms, accessibility, and more
Dr. Scott Solberg from Boston University describes a way of understanding our varied reactions to the disruptions to home, school and work and the many insecurities brought about by COVID-19. We can more effectively cope and navigate through the many new challenges brought on by this pandemic by engaging in a range of key resiliency efforts. You can find resources referenced in this webinar here: https://bit.ly/2KC3R3U
ONLINE Teaching of Strategies, Concepts, and Vocabulary Terms
Teaching of Facts, Knowledge and Content-Area Passage Reading. Includes a discussion on best practices for providing independent practice work for students
Webinars to help educators use their expertise, empathy and creativity to provide the flexibility, accountability and support students will need to succeed during this challenging time
A variety of options from KISD to explore student engagement in a remote learning environment
Register for a live webinars, watch tutorial videos, and learn step-by-step instructions to get your classes up and running.
For additional resources and technical support:
For technical support:
Email: i-ReadySupport@cainc.com
Mon–Fri 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ET
Phone: 800.225.0248
Julie McDowell will be serving as dedicated support for Cedar Springs Public Schools. Julie’s support will include weekly offerings on topics such as strategically assigning lessons, monitoring students’ online progress, engaging students and families, and exploring Teacher Toolbox resources, as well as general Q & A. If you’d like to schedule a session at a different time, please let Robin DeLine know. To engage in the webinars and virtual meetings, click the link below each date.
Free and Low-Cost Options Approved for Certificate Renewal and Progression.
Includes a free course for school counselors who need College and Military SCECHs
Additional professional learning options for educators through MDE’s online SCECH catalog