Ensuring success from Day One is important for students in virtual and remote learning. Here, we share some resources for families to help you navigate our online programs. Our teachers will also be helping students navigate devices, Schoology, and other software along the way through lessons as well as just-in-time guidance and support for their students.
Get organized.
Organize each school day, each week, and the overall year as much as you can beforehand. Our teachers through Schoology provide at-a-glace weekly information that will help students and parents stay on track.
Create routines.
Younger students thrive on routine. Daily and weekly routines help students succeed. Bed times, wake times, breakfast and lunch times - they are all important and should have the same consistency as a traditional school day.
Get dressed.
Have you student dress as if they are in class. This further creates a deeper feeling for formal schooling and puts kids into the right mindset.
Have clear expectations.
Be very clear about what you expect from your elementary student. While many online schools will provide course management tools, younger students still need guidance and clear instructions from their learning coaches.
Be positive.
Be your school's (and, therefore, your child's) cheerleader. Even if you found a particular subject frustrating when you were in school, steer clear of sharing overly negative feelings. Model a positive, can-do attitude for your student.
Be present.
When you take on the role of learning coach, you must be available to engage with your student. Online elementary school students usually require hands-on interaction with adults for success.
Find support.
Our PTOs are developing networks to support families during remote and cyber learning. Connecting with them ties you in with other RTSD families experiencing the same challenges as you are. They will be able to offer suggestions, strategies, and a friendly ear.
For parents of students attending virtual middle or high school, the biggest challenge is often making the learning arrangement work. Parental involvement is crucial in the online learning process as support from parents has been shown to improve both grades and test scores and leads to higher graduation rates. Yet, in high school, the amount of parental involvement diminishes as the student transitions to a greater level of academic independence. Indeed, granting 12 to 18 year-olds greater levels of freedom (and responsibility) affords them the opportunity to hone their personal and time management skills—which are central factors to success at the post-secondary level.
Most parents of online middle and high school students gradually find their involvement is typically limited to the evenings and weekends. Between grades 6 and 12, students begin to tackle more complex subject matter, which means they may spend between five to six hours per day working and studying independently. Secondly, as middle and high school progresses, students traditionally are required to participate in a greater number of synchronous (real-time) class sessions and discussions—creating a much more consistent daily schedule.
The first and most basic point of support is reporting daily attendance to the online school. Beyond that, parents are also responsible for ensuring their student’s assignments, lessons, and tests are completed. For students of prospective online high school students, there are numerous other ways to be a supportive (but not dominating) parent. Three ways to show support include the following:
1. Join a parent network.
Many virtual schools, including statewide schools, offer a network for distance learning students. These networks offer a variety of support sessions, from live events to online training programs, from conferences to workshops. Through these networks, parents have the opportunity to connect with other parents, enhance familiarity with online learning, get advice for working with their student, and—most importantly—be part of community of other parents.
2. Conduct regular school check-ins.
Parents should have regular contact with both the school and instructors. Examples include weekly email communication with teachers or attending parent/teacher conferences to discuss grades and student progress.
3. Use planning tools.
Having an understanding of what the student is studying and when they are studying helps parents monitor their child’s academic progress. Using a family calendar with a daily schedule, lesson plans, and teacher check-ins ensures parents are integrated into the online learning process.
LOGIN INFORMATION
Schoology
Website: https://rtsd.schoology.com/
Username: studentID
Password: first initial + last initial + six digit student/lunch number
(ex: sh123456)
RESOURCES
iPad Joining Class Day One
LOGIN INFORMATION
Chromebooks
Username: studentID@rtsd.org
Password: first initial + last initial + six digit student/lunch number
(ex: sh123456)
*Grades 7-8 have already changed their passwords and should use the same password as last year.
Schoology
Website: https://rtsd.schoology.com/
Username: studentID
Password: first initial + last initial + six digit student/lunch number
(ex: sh123456)
RESOURCES
Chromebook Joining Day One
RESOURCES