Return to School
Below is an overview of Darien's plan to reopen the elementary schools. Click below to learn more about specific topics. Please see the full reopening plan for more detailed information.
Hybrid Instructional Model
The District will reopen for students on September 3 with a Hybrid Plan. The state of Connecticut requires that all local Districts develop a Hybrid Learning Plan to reduce day-to-day contact with multiple individuals and increase building cleaning and sanitization. The District will open with a Hybrid Plan with the intent for a full In-Person return beginning September 29.
The Elementary Hybrid Plan welcomes students with surnames A-K on Monday and Wednesday of each week and students with surnames L-Z on Tuesday and Thursday. When students are not physically present in school, they are participating in both synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities throughout the day. All students and staff will engage in remote learning from home on Fridays to increase building cleaning and sanitization practices.
Click here for the September Calendar.
Click here for sample schedule.
Remote Learning
Curriculum and Instruction
Monday through Thursday, students will participate in grade-level learning and specials at home or in school depending on their cohort. Lessons and activities will meaningfully connect from learning in school to remote learning. In person students will receive direct instruction, and guided and practice. Practice, review, reinforcement, and enrichment of skills and strategies learned from previous lessons will take place on Fridays. As students engage in this work remotely on Fridays, teachers will provide necessary instruction in the morning. In the afternoon, teachers will participate in professional development.
Instructional Blocks
Students will experience an increased emphasis on developing literacy and mathematics concepts and skills.
In literacy, this means adapting the DPS Reading and Writing Units of Study. In mathematics, the Singapore Math series, Math in Focus, will be adapted for a hybrid and remote environment. The Elementary Teaching and Learning Website has additional information about literacy and mathematics curriculum and instruction.
Literacy Block
Student receive explicit instruction in reading and writing strategies connected to unit focus skills. Teachers guide student as they apply the strategies and learn how to generalize the process. Then students work independently to transfer all of the learned strategies to assist them as they read and create more complex texts. In phonics students engage in direct instruction and repeated practice of letter sounds and then letter sound combinations. They learn how to apply this learning to their reading and writing every day. For more information on our literacy program, please visit the curriculum resource page.
Mathematics Block
Students engage in inquiry followed by explicit instruction and practice. Students collaborate to develop strategies and multiple methods for solving problems. The teacher models common methods and guides students through some practice. Students then engage in independent practice. For more information on our mathematics program, please visit the curriculum resource page.
Students in School
Students actively listen and participate in instruction and guided practice with teacher support and feedback. Students practice applying taught strategies independently, sometimes conferring with the teacher or participating in small group instruction.
Remote Students
Students watch brief instructional videos developed by District Curriculum Teams of the same content being taught at school posted to their Google Classroom or Seesaw. Students independently apply taught strategies at home using their Chromebooks. They engage in small group instruction that extends or reinforces the strategies taught depending on individual student need.
Differentiated Instructional Block
The Differentiated Instructional Block is sometimes referred to as the DI Block. This is because students receive individualized or small group instruction during this block. Some students receive services through Scientific Researched Based Intervention (SRBI) or Special Education. Other students may receive EL services or attend Idea during this time. Many students remain in the classroom with their teacher during which they receive additional instruction or enrichment in literacy or mathematics.
Students in School
Students receive specialized instruction or participate in small group instruction or independent work in the classroom or in different school settings.
Remote Students
Students receive specialized instruction or participate in small group instruction via Zoom. Students may also work independently on reinforcement or enrichment activities.
Home Learning Lessons
Home Learning Lessons will be assigned by teachers for students to complete outside of live instructional time. These lessons will be for the purpose of reviewing previously taught material. Such lessons are intended to be completed independently as teachers are not available to students while they are at home (they are with another cohort of students).
The following are examples of the type of learning activities parents can expect students to engage in at home.
Literacy
RAZ Kids (K-2) -listen and read texts at their level
NewsELA-(2-5)-read informational texts at their level to practice informational reading skills and learn grade level content and vocabulary (Science, Social Studies), respond to reading in writing.
IXL (3-5)- practice skills previously taught
Math
Workbook-practice skills previously taught in school
Iknowit (g. K-2), IXL (g. 3-5)- practice skills previously taught in school
Connect- find examples of math in the home environment
Games- single-player or family games to practice skills previously taught
Specials
Art, music, physical education, World Language, and library media are valued programs of Darien Public Schools.
Students in School
Students participate in physical education, music, library media, art, and World Language instruction in school.
Remote Students
Students participate in physical education, music, library media, art, and World Language instruction through Zoom or participating in posted activities to Google Classroom or Seesaw.
Technology
Students in grades K-5 will be provided with Chromebooks from the district.
Logging In- To login to the Chromebook, Zoom, and other applications, click here.
Clever-The Clever Portal provides access to all learning applications. A clever badge is a printed QR code that allows students to sign into their computer and access applications using their webcam.
Google Classroom- Google Classroom is a learning platform and educational tool that we will use for our students and families in grades 3-5. To learn more about Google Classroom, click here. On remote learning days, students should always login to Zoom before accessing Google Classroom.
Seesaw- Seesaw is a learning platform and educational tool that we will use for our students and families PK-2. To learn more about Seesaw for parents and what is to come, click here. On remote learning days, students should always login to Zoom before accessing Seesaw. After logging into Seesaw, select your teacher’s name. There you will see an announcement with the Zoom Link as well as links to learning for the day.
Zoom: Zoom is a video conferencing, online meeting, and mobile collaboration platform that will be used in grades K-5. Families create free accounts to access.
Tech Support- Tech support can be reached at http://support.darienps.net/. Please contact tech support if you are having difficulty with your school-issued device or school-related software application. The technology department is unable to troubleshoot issues on personal devices. Please click here to fill out a tech support request.
Technology How To Videos
How to Log Into Your Chromebook, Seesaw, Zoom
K-2
3-5
