Parent/Guardian Roles

What is the role of the parent of students participating in the 2020-2021 enhanced online learning opportunity?

In grades K–6, students require a lot of support from caring adults at home in the online classroom. Parents or guardians of elementary students in the enhanced online learning opportunity provide the structure a student needs by establishing and managing the daily routine. The teachers will use a Google Calendar to make it easy for parents and students to keep track of their daily lessons. Parents stay in touch with the student’s teachers by phone, email, and virtual conferences. The student’s teacher will contact the parents early in the school year to discuss how they will work together to help students reach their potential.

Parents of elementary cyber students should plan to:

• Establish an appropriate location for learning (I.e. desk or table area to work from, quiet space, etc.).

• Adhere to the daily schedule and ensure your student attends classes as scheduled.

• Assist with lesson activities when appropriate.

• Communicate frequently with the teacher.

• Help monitor student progress and comprehension.

• Keep your student motivated through support and encouragement.

• Notify online teachers, counselors, and administrators when your student is struggling or experiencing academic or personal issues that might inhibit academic achievement.

Parents/guardians of students in grades 7-12:

Parents/guardians of students in grades 7-12 also play a vital role in the student’s learning in the 2020-2021 enhanced online learning option; however, the students will also be expected to take more responsibility for their learning. The parents/guardians are responsible for many academic aspects of the student’s virtual learning program that contribute to a student’s success, including but not limited to

• Ensure your student attends classes as scheduled.

• Establishing an appropriate location for learning (I.e. desk or table area to work from, quiet space, etc.).

• Helping students to establish a daily routine for working on the lessons for their each course.

• Keeping students motivated.

• Monitoring student comprehension and grades in Skyward.

• Communicating frequently with the teachers and building administrators

• Encouraging students to complete assignments and to turn in work.

• Notifying online teachers, counselors, and administrators when your student is struggling or experiencing academic or personal issues that might inhibit academic achievement.

What are the characteristics of a successful online student?

With the freedom and flexibility of fully online courses come responsibility. Online work takes real commitment and discipline to keep up. Students should be willing to log in to classes every school day. Here are the skills a student needs or needs to be interested in developing to be successful in the 2020-2021 fully online learning option.

Profile of a GMSD online learner.

Rate yourself as an online learner (secondary student form).