TechnologY at Hilltop Montessori School

Helping adults support their students at home.

Our "Learning from Home" program will be designed for "school age" children: Kindergarten (Children’s House Olders) through 8th grade.

Scroll down or choose a program on the left to see the tools that will be used in each program and how to prepare your devices for at home learning.

Middle School

Middle School is using a combination of Google for Education apps in the classroom that will allow them to seamlessly switch to remote learning whenever needed. Students are already comfortable using all these programs and they are available on most devices.

Students each have their own Hilltop account to access all their assignments in Google Classroom. These all end in @hilltopmontessori.org

Synchronous (live) classes or meetings will use Google Meet, a video conference app (similar to zoom).

Teachers and students have access to Google Jamboard, which can be used to collaborate remotely with a whole class, in real time.

All of these applications can be found in the "app waffle" when students are signed in to the chrome browser, or into any one of the google apps.

Teachers have new document cameras that will allow them to teach from home or school. New ipads for faculty will also make teaching remote math lessons easier than ever before.

  • Any device with internet access

    • Chromebooks are ideal and inexpensive

  • Chrome browser installed if using a computer

  • Each app installed (if using a phone or tablet)

  • Built-in or external microphone and webcam

  • Physical keyboard (recommended for typing papers)

Upper Elementary

Upper El has created a website as a hub for their lessons. Students will find their work there each week.

The site is restricted, so that students must sign in to access it. They each have their own private Hilltop account (ending in @hilltopmontessori.org) to access the site and any other Google apps.

Each lesson on the website will have direct links to all the lesson materials.

Lesson materials may include:

  • a recorded video of a lesson

  • any written work that needs to be completed

  • extra resources for more learning opportunities

  • a direct link to Google Classroom, where they will turn in the completed assignment

  • a direct link to a Seesaw activity for students to complete

Some students have been introduced to Seesaw, a program that allows them to complete interactive lessons online, and to upload projects they have completed in real life.

Seesaw can also function as a communication tool for teachers and parents/guardians, as well as a way for adults at home to see what their students have engaged in at school.

Zoom will be used for any live lessons or check-ins with teachers. No login is needed, just a link to the meeting, which will be posted on the class website.

Students have been practicing signing in and out of their accounts at school, and can use any internet-connected device at home.

Teachers have been using the new Google Jamboard, which can also be used to collaborate remotely with a whole class, in real time.

  • Any device with internet access

    • Chromebooks are ideal and inexpensive

  • Chrome browser installed if using a computer

  • Each app installed (if using a phone or tablet)

  • Zoom app or extension installed

  • Built-in or external microphone and webcam

  • Physical keyboard (recommended for typing papers)

Lower Elementary

Lower El is using a program called Seesaw, where students can access morning messages, lessons, activities, links to zoom meetings and anything else teachers need to share. Some students have already learned to use Seesaw and are sharing work from school with their adults at home.

Zoom will be used for any live lessons or check-ins with teachers. This program is free and easy to use.

  • Any device with internet access

  • Zoom app or extension installed

  • Seesaw app installed (if using a phone or tablet)

    • Links are available here for ios, android, chrome and kindle fire

  • Built-in or external microphone and webcam



Children's House: Olders Only

Children's House Olders will use Seesaw, where students and families can access anything teachers want to share with them. During the current time that we are fortunate enough to have students on campus, we are beginning to use Seesaw to share information and pictures with adults at home. Watch your email for details.

Zoom will be used for any live lessons or check-ins with teachers. This program is free and easy to use.

  • Any device with internet access

  • Built-in or external microphone and webcam

  • Zoom app or extension installed

  • Seesaw app installed (if using a phone or tablet)

    • Links are available here for ios, android, chrome and kindle fire



Questions?

Contact Rochelle Garfinkel, Educational Technology Coordinator for help.

email: rgarfinkel@hilltopmontessori.org