MERSD Elementary Guide to Remote Learning

For Teachers

• For grades K-2 a weekly email (Monday mornings) from teachers to parents is the preferred method of communicating the assignments/expectations for the week.
• For grades 3-5 Google Classroom is the preferred method of communicating the assignments/expectations for the week.
• Teachers should communicate assignments via parent email or Google Classroom each Monday. Assignments should be preceded by either video or written explanations and should take the average student a total of 3.5 hours to complete each day..
  • Teachers should plan collaboratively with their grade-level team each week to ensure students across the grade are getting similar assignments/expectations
  • Classroom teachers should integrate 45 minutes per day of “Specialist” time to coincide with the activities the specialists are sending home
  • Classroom teachers and special education staff should collaborate weekly to ensure that special education staff is able to provide services per IEP. Assignments should be collaboratively modified/accommodated for students with disabilities (as appropriate)
• Teachers should keep a record of students who are engaging in the work and students who are not engaging in the work. Please use “Highly Engaged,” “Partially Engaged, and “Not Engaged” in your record keeping
  • Teachers should inform their Principal each Friday of which students are not engaging at all (or minimally) so that a plan for outreach and support can be developed and implemented.
• The focus of assignments will be to deepen students’ skills in relation to previously learned content.
• Teachers should post “Office Hours” for real-time access for parents and students with questions. Teachers should be available for students for one to two hours during the day.  Office hours should be posted on all Monday morning emails.
• Teachers will track the completion of assignments/participation/engagement as directed by their Principal.
• Teachers should provide feedback in terms of comments in Google Classroom when appropriate.
• Special Education teachers will provide students with a “toolbox” to support student access to activities.
• During closure, Special Education teachers will check-in directly with students to identify problems and troubleshoot solutions.
• General Education teachers should reach out directly to parents if they notice that a student is not engaging in the weekly work. A list will be provided to Principals each Friday.
• If a teacher becomes ill, the teacher should post if they will be unavailable for office hours that day.

For Students:

• Students in grades 3-5 should check Google Classroom on a daily basis, as teachers may be communicating throughout the week.
• Students should be engaging in an average of approximately 3.5 hours of school work each day.
• It is expected that students will complete assigned school work each day.
• Students should try to stay on track with completing assignments on the day/date established by the teacher - try not to fall behind!
• If a student is having difficulty, he/she should work with their parent to communicate with the teacher. For grades 3-5, students can do this directly via Google Classroom.  Students in grades K-2 will need a parent to email the teacher if they are having trouble.
• Students should engage in physical activity on a regular basis.

For Parents/Guardians:

• Parents/Guardians should monitor students to assure completion of assignments.
• Parents/Guardians should contact the teacher if there is a concern or question about assignments or their child’s progress.
• Grade K-2 student communication will flow through the parent email account.
• Grade 3-5 student communication will flow through a combination of parent email and Google Classroom. Please be sure to check both platforms.