Distance Learning

In these uncertain times we are faced with constant flux, uncertainty and challenges that are allowing us new ways to innovate. Knowing this, and knowing that we are working with our MPUSD residents on a path towards excellent teaching, we will need to make some adjustments to our teacher residency program for the last quarter of the school year. Highlighted changes are below:

• Teaching at a Distance: Residents will continue in their co-teaching placement with their mentor teachers. Residents should continue to attend all PD, PLCs, and staff meetings that mentor teachers attend. Additionally, residents should be included on all of the planning and execution of distance learning for the same class/es they have been working with all year.
• Resident Gradual Release: Because this is a new type of learning for both mentor and resident, it is important that we think through a gradual release plan for the resident. Click here for the suggested gradual release. Please know that this release plan is flexible. Mentors and residents should work together to modify the release plan to meet their strengths and needs.
• Rounds Visits: We will continue with the regular rounds visits schedule, in terms of A week and B week. The focus of rounds visits will be continued growth for residents based on the goals set during the mid-year ARE meeting. Weeks 1-4 of distance learning will focus on practice/simulation teaching, and weeks 5 and beyond (if needed) will focus on curriculum planning. Click here for more details on rounds visits here.
• Sacred Meeting Time: It is important that mentors and residents are in frequent, open communication similar to what would take place during a regular in person school day. In addition to frequent, open communication, mentors and residents should set aside 1 hour a week (rather than 2 hours) to engage in Sacred Meeting Time that is focused on the residents growth.
• edTPA: Pearson has set an alternative way for teacher candidates to complete edTPA through teaching at a distance. We expect more details to come out soon. Residents who did not video and administer assessments for their edTPA will begin working on the alternative edTPA at a distance as edTPA is a requirement for credentialing.
• Seminar: We will continue to hold seminar though it will take place virtually and the time will be reduced. We will keep our same seminar dates.The structure of the resident seminar, though reduced, will look similar to our in person seminar in structure. Mentor seminar will also take place on the same dates, though the seminar will be reduced in time and be a space for mentors to problem solve with each other.