Raptor News
Otho E. Stuart Middle School
Productive Struggle
As we are working together to ensure that all students are able to be successful in meeting their learning goals for the year, we are working hard to make adjustments and optimize learning experiences for students in person and at home. Asynchronous learning is new for all of us, but provides valuable opportunities for students to engage with material independently so they are prepared for class meetings.
We are doing our best to provide a full day of learning on asynchronous days without overloading students. This will take time to get right. One of the best ways for our students to learn is to engage in what we like to call “productive struggle.” Productive struggle is different from frustration. When a student has to think about how to answer a question or how to complete an assignment that is challenging, that is where they learn. This is also how students figure out where they need help from their teachers and what questions to ask the next day.
Because we are teaching new material to students, they will have a larger volume of work to complete independently than they had last Spring. There may be obstacles in accessing materials and new platforms for learning that will slow the learning process down. Our goal is not that parents become replacement teachers, but rather that families support students in accessing the materials provided in Google Classroom and help them troubleshoot any technology struggles they have as they work through the materials. If you find yourself spending too much time “teaching” a concept to your student or reviewing work, this is not our intention. We would rather know that a student did not understand a concept or assignment than receive a flawless assignment after spending hours working on it with a family member. It is a form of feedback to the teachers when students do not understand, and we need to know that.
Steps to take when you hit a roadblock in asynchronous learning:
- Have your Raptor check Google Classroom for any videos or examples of what they should be doing.
- There are Raptor Cafe times available for student support every day (see below under Raptor Cafe). Help your Raptor find the time for their grade level and ask a teacher for help during this time.
- Have your Raptor email their teacher to explain the struggle you are having. They will respond to you as soon as they are able. It might not be that day; but communicating with them will let them know what to expect when you show up for your next class.
- IF YOUR CHILD HAS REACHED FRUSTRATION LEVEL (TEARS/SCREAMING) PLEASE HAVE THEM STOP! No assignment is worth your child crying and screaming. Let the teacher know that they were not able to complete the assignment so that we can continue to adjust the amount of work. Remember, we NEED the feedback.
I would like to thank the parents who have reached out to let us know about the issues their Raptor is facing. Please know that we are very responsive and will reach out to figure out how to best support your child.
Together, we will continue to RISE! Have a great weekend Stuart!
Fabricio Velez, Principal
Family Involvement Team (FIT Team)
Please join us for our first FIT Team meeting on Friday September 25th at 8:00 AM via the Zoom link below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://sd27j.zoom.us/j/94779163087
Student Advisory Council (SAC)
Raptor Cafe - Student Virtual Support
Stuart, please remember that next week we are starting with our Raptor Cafe! If at any time you need help with one or more of your classes, this is the perfect time to get support. Please make sure that you are logging in and asking for support during the times that our Raptors are at home (asynchronous times). Please know that your child can access this resource during the scheduled times on a regular basis.
8th Grade: 12:34 PM - 1:34 PM
7th Grade: 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
6th Grade: 12:34 PM - 1:34 PM AND 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
ESL/Gifted & Talented: 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Please click HERE to access information on accessing support for your Raptor. All links will be added by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 1st.
Allstate RISEs AlltheWay!
Eng Orthodontics Partners Who RISE
Horace Mann Shows RISE
Otho Stuart Middle School
Website: https://www.sd27j.org/stuart
Location: 15955 East 101st Way, Commerce City, CO, USA
Phone: (720) 685-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stuartmiddleschool