Welcome Back Everyone! We are excited to be back! Please take some time today to look through this entire page. Your teacher leaders are meeting today, and will be inviting you to a meeting tomorrow where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive additional information about our Orientation Activities. If you are someone who likes to look ahead, we have the whole week open for you. But please be sure to check back each day, as we will add updates as questions arise!
Embedded Files
Overview for the week...
Overview for the week...
Take moment to review the Phase 2 overview for this week. You can read or watch!
Take a look at the PreK-6 RLE Checklist for this week.
Take a look at the PreK-6 RLE Checklist for this week.
Comets Connect Time:
Comets Connect Time:
Each week you will want to offer time for your students and families to connect with you in order to ensure continuous learning. Please take a few moments to review the plan for your building below.
** Note - since this is something new - we realize this may need to be adapted over time. Our recommendation is to give this plan a try for 2 weeks. If it is not effective for your families- you can then adjust and adapt as needed. We want to give it 2 weeks because sometimes something feels like it's not working - simply because it's new.
** Questions regarding this time should be directed to your building principal or assistant principals.
** If you need support on how to use Remote Learning Tools to do this, touch base with one of your LED's.
Adding your Comets Connect time links to your weekly templates...
Adding your Comets Connect time links to your weekly templates...
The easiest way to set up your Comets Connect times is to schedule it for yourself on the calendar and then share the link on your RLE template for the week.
Here's how:
Open your calendar
Create an event for your Connect Time
Add Conferencing
Hit Save
Go back into the invite and copy the google.meet link
Paste in your RLE template
Watch here for video walk through
Watch here for video walk through
ADJUST AND ADAPT MOMENT: (PreK-4 only)
ADJUST AND ADAPT MOMENT: (PreK-4 only)
After talking to some teachers leaders and reading Allison's most recent blog post - we realized it might be better for you and for families to offer a weekly template - rather than a daily template. Please look at both templates below and choose what is best for you.
WE WILL STILL SEND A DAILY EMAIL - SO FAMILIES WILL KNOW TO LOOK FOR IT, REGARDLESS OF WHICH TEMPLATE YOU USE!
If you choose to switch to the weekly template, click here to make a copy and add this link to your schoology page and delete the old one!
Sample Templates for Week of 4/6
Sample Templates for Week of 4/6
Remember - these are purely examples of what this might look like! There are many ways to achieve the same end. Use your creativity and imagination to make these RLE's match your style and using tools that you are comfortable with.
Grades PreK-4
Grades PreK-4
Specials/Gifted Sample
Sample Template Daily Model Sample Template Weekly Model
This sample template provides lots of examples of how you might set up a template for each week. While we are highlighting a variety of tools -we recommend you start with only ONE or TWO and stick with those. This is just to give you some idea of how this could go...
This is a general template. You would need to make adjustments to the amount of items on your template based on your grade level and the suggested time for student engagement.
Make sure you are not expecting kids to be in front of a device for the full time each day!
Make sure you have your grade level specials/gifted saved for quick access so that you can copy and paste the lessons into your template before you send it to families.
3rd Special Area/Gifted 4th Special Area/Gifted
** Special Area templates will be updated at noon on Friday of the week before to give homeroom teachers time to paste into their templates.
Template Tips:
Post the newest template at the top of your running document
Let parents know that they can look ahead by checking the document in Schoology
Grades 5-6
Grades 5-6
** Review the Schoology Template Guidelines here
Things to Consider:
How can I make this more personable & connected?
Can I add a weekly video message or check in using Flipgrid or some other tool?
Do I need to add in a video demonstration?
Is my goals checklist easy to follow?
Have questions, ideas, want to learn more?
Have questions, ideas, want to learn more?
We've created a Staff Community Forum on the MCSCovid19.com resource page. This page will serve as a place to ask questions and share ideas. Check it out here! (Use the Google Sign On)
Also be sure to check out the Live Resources Calendar for Live learning demos and LED office hours.
You can subscribe and add to your calendar by clicking the + button on the right of the screen
Hover over events for details and to add to your calendar
FAQ's
FAQ's
Q1. Why is Screencastify taking so long to show up in Google Drive? (video walkthrough)
It is because so many people are using it. Here is a hack that will save you A LOT of time:
As soon as you finish the Screencastify, it will pop up.
Immediately click Download (it will download to your download folder)
Open Youtube and upload (use an unlisted link!)
Share the youtube link to families. This is better because you can view youtube on any device.
** You might wonder why we didn't suggest the "publish to youtube" button on Screencastify. It can be glitchy. The method above works 100% of the time - so we are hoping to save you time and energy. :)
Q2. I thought I was supposed to be connecting with kids 1:1 and in small groups...
As we've learned more, we realize that this may not be realistic for you or for families... While we want you to connect in whatever ways you can - it can be synchronous and asynchronous. Be sure to read the Comet Connect document for your building carefully. It will detail expectations for your building.
Q3. I thought GoogleMeet was supposed to update with features for controlling mics and ending the meeting...
When Google rolls out updates - it usually takes 48-72 hours. I just checked the gsuite updates and here is what it says: Rollout pace
Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: These features have started rolling out and should be available to all G Suite for Education and G Suite Enterprise for Education customers within 2-3 weeks.
So- it may be a few days to a week before folks see the update show up.
PS - rumor has it they're working on a raise your hand function as well.
Q4. I really don't want to use my personal cell phone to call families - do I have another option?
You can use Google Meet to make phone calls. Use this tutorial!
Optional Learning...
Optional Learning...
NCTM is offering webinars and other tools to support teaching math remotely. Check it out here.
Seesaw is offering tons of resources on getting set up!
Lucy Calkins and the TCRWP crew are doing office hours and recording webinars to support teaching the units of study in remote learning environments. Sign up here to get access to previously recorded sessions and to be put on the mailing list for future sessions.
A letter from TCRWP
In this time of national and international crisis, teachers, coaches, administrators, staff developers, and families are sharing resources as fast as we can. The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project is sharing materials to support virtual teaching and learning, to help you connect with families and with each other, and to help us all increase access and equity, which we are deeply concerned about. Much of the material is in the form of videos, which all members of the community are finding among the most accessible and engaging supports.
On Our Website:
Find several tabs of resources for flipped teaching, live teaching, recorded and upcoming free workshops and webinars, padlets, and more to support kids at home:
https://readingandwritingproject.org/virtuallearning
On Facebook:
Units of Study in Writing TCRWP (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TCRWP.WUOS/)
Units of Study In Reading TCRWP (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TCRWP.RUOS/)
Units of Study in Middle School: Reading and Writing Workshops TCRWP (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TCRWP.MS.UOS/)
On Twitter:
Follow us at https://twitter.com/tcrwp or #TCRWP
On YouTube:
Get immediate tips about distance learning for educators and parents:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TCRWP/
Page updated
Report abuse