Elementary School

SANY Elementary Schools:

Syracuse Academy of Science includes grades K-4
Utica Academy of Science includes grades K-3
Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship includes grades K-5

Elementary students in both the hybrid and full-time online education models will receive instruction in literacy, numeracy, science, social studies and specials (art, music and PE).

The full-time online education model and the hybrid model have similar structures to ensure a consistent learning experience across models. In both plans, teachers will use the same pacing to introduce new learning. Students will receive instruction, either synchronous (live) or asynchronous (recorded lessons, assignments, etc.), Monday-Friday. On Wednesdays , students in both groups will engage in asynchronous learning, and teachers in both models will engage in collaborative planning and will provide small-group interventions, when needed. Below are schedules for online education days and in-person days (hybrid model only).

SANY will offer to all ELL and Special Education students in grades K-12 to attend hybrid learning 4-days per week. We will periodically reassess the effectiveness of online instruction for all students in order to maximize learning. We may make adjustments to students' learning model (online or hybrid) by reassigning students to increase in-person learning opportunities based on their individual learning needs and CDC guidelines.

Full-Time Online Education Model:

In this model, students in all grade levels would engage in both online, synchronous (live) and asynchronous (independent) learning 5 days per week, Monday through Friday. All students will participate in independent/asynchronous learning on Monday. New instructional content will be offered to all students, attendance will be required, and student work will be graded.

Total direct/synchronous instruction time will be similar to the hybrid model
Additional instruction provided for English Learners, as required
Additional instruction and specialized services provided for Special Education students based on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
Social-Emotional Learning will be provided weekly for all grades
Daily office hours with counselors by appointment
Daily office hours with teachers provided for students to complete assignments and get additional support

Hybrid model:

The hybrid in-person/online education model delivers in-person instruction in SANY schools, with physical distancing and health and safety measures in place to protect students and staff, per CDC and NYS guidelines. In this model, students will attend school in-person on two consecutive days and engage in self-directed, asynchronous online learning on the other three days.

Additional instruction will be provided to English Learners as required
Special Education services will be provided both in person and virtually to meet IEP hours to every extent possible
- IEP teams will meet in the fall to make any adjustments to services or accommodations needed to access online learning
Social-Emotional Learning will be provided weekly for all grades
Modified transportation will be provided, with physical distancing
Face coverings/masks are required for students and staff while at school/work unless medically exempt

In-Person Learning during Hybrid Model

Online Education during Hybrid Model

Distance Learning Practices in Elementary School from Spring 2019-20

Academic

Daily Zoom Meetings enable teachers to conduct classes and hold office hours with families to ensure that communication flows, questions get asked, and answered, and students can still see their teachers and stay connected.

Individualized Support sessions via Zoom help students with assignments and provide an opportunity for them to chat and receive support for social/emotional needs.

Daily Office Hours are open to students and their parents, offering teachers a convenient way to answer questions, say hello, or provide individualized instruction as needed.

Work Completion Options: Teachers record videos for each subject daily. Students complete lessons posted on a timeline that works for them and their families, then submit work on Google Classroom, or Class Dojo, or send pictures of work completion to their teacher. Kindergarten Math Remediation Lesson | 1st Grade CKLA: Lesson 8: Animals of the Saltwater Habitat

Use of YouTube to upload teacher-recorded materials for ease of use across multiple devices and distributed through Class Dojo.

Encouraged use of manipulatives and photo submission of completed work products allow students to continue working hands-on and minds-on and share with teachers.

Clearly structured lesson delivery that is predictable for families and follows the SANY- approved pacing guide. K Daily pacing | structure | 1st Daily Pacing Structure | 2nd Daily Pacing Structure | 3rd Daily Pacing Structure | 4th Daily Pacing Structure

Adjusted models and resources are used for modified instruction, progress monitoring, and scaffolding for ENL and SWD students. Translated glossaries | Math Glossaries | Social Studies visual glossaries | Modified activities for practice

Anticipated Outcome: Students and staff stay connected with contact that encourages development of the character strengths flexibility, open-mindedness and love of learning. Students regularly access schoolwork that follows the same in-school learning progression in all content areas. The process of online learning becomes highly personal and humanized through active connections based on real relationships.

Social-Emotional Support

Daily Mindfulness Practice

Our goal is to provide students with a designated time of day for reflection, structured breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices to increase their social-emotional health, encourage participation in school activities, and continue to provide a positive school culture for students during school-building closure.

Students respond to the daily post with their thoughts and feedback, and submit images of themselves completing the mindfulness practices through ClassDojo to earn “Bonus Dojos.” You can see a student in this video as she practices one of her mindfulness poses. Bonus Dojos contribute to their ability to earn a monthly award through our school’s Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. Here is a compilation video that one of our Dean of students put together to highlight some of our scholars and teachers participating in their daily mindfulness practices throughout school closure: Elementary Atoms Practice Mindfulness.

Daily Positivity Project videos are made available for students in every grade level, and they focus on NYS mental health standards and character-strength progression for personal growth. Video Links - Kindergarten Morning Meeting/ Fairness Day 3 | 4th Grade P2 Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence

Virtual PBIS Award Ceremonies

Prior to school closures, Science Academies of New York utilized ClassDojo as a Tier 1 and 2 behavioral support to encourage positive behavior and foster academic skills in the classroom. Despite not being physically present in the school building, we have continued to offer students positive school-wide experiences that encourage their academic and social wellbeing.

To encourage academic participation, we provided all families with a checklist to keep their child on track and motivated to engage with online learning. Families utilize this checklist in their child’s daily schedule to provide structure and routine while they are at home and away from school. Students have the opportunity to earn ClassDojo points for each daily subject. The students who earn the most Dojos for the month are given special recognition for their hard work and effort. Here is a virtual award ceremony that we shared with families to recognize their dedication to learning: February ClassDojo Winners. You can hear from our school administrators at the 2:10 mark.

Developmentally Appropriate Practices

STEAM Activities

We are always looking for new ways to incorporate STEAM into our curriculum. Through distance-learning, students have participated in various STEAM activities, including science experiments right in their own homes. Families capture these moments with photographs, pictures, and videos to share with the school community and stay connected. Teachers post these images and videos on their private ClassStory pages via ClassDojo so that students can be connected with their friends and continue to learn and grow from their peers.

In this video, you can see one of our first graders experimenting with regular household materials (pepper, water, and soap) to demonstrate how washing hands with soap and water helps to prevent the spread of germs. It is a useful way to provide students with a sense of agency during this uncertain time. Students can support their health, and the health of their families and communities, during the COVID-19 pandemic by washing their hands to eliminate germs that contribute to the spread of COVID-19: STEAM Germs Experiment at Home UASCS

Virtual Family Nights, including pajama parties, bedtime stories, and play-based learning, maintain our personal connections with students and their families and promote spending time together.

Throughout our online-learning instruction, we have been looking for ways to connect with our students and provide them with developmentally appropriate learning opportunities. So far, our classroom teachers have held pajama parties, Play-Doh parties, paint parties, and scavenger hunts for grades K-2. These activities give students and families an opportunity to explore their world, remain connected with their friends and teachers, and bring joy to their daily learning activities. Students and families love these fun activities and often send photographs, pictures, and videos to share their joy with their teachers and the school community. Teachers repost these images on ClassDojo’s private ClassStory page so other members of the classroom can learn from their peers and stay connected during this unprecedented time.

Take a look at one of our Kindergarten students as she explores the outdoors in a backyard scavenger hunt: Kindergarten Scavenger Hunt

Community Service

Community service has always been an important part of character development at SANY. As the country transitioned to stay-at-home orders, essential workers remained in the community to keep our country running. Classes made thank-you letters, pictures, and cards to show our essential workers how much we appreciate everything they do and have done for our community and country.

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