Lion's Roar
August 29, 2020
Principal's Message
As we move through distance learning, one of the questions we are often asked is: Why has USD chosen a model of small group instruction for students versus live teaching during the whole instructional block? The answer has a variety of components which come together to form what we feel is the best distance learning model for students in elementary school.
USD is cognizant of how much screen time students are exposed to and how much information developing brains can aquire. The ability to engage remotely takes stamina that must be built up over time. For younger children, brain research during in-person learning explains that shorter lesson delivery times are more beneficial than longer ones. This holds true for online delivery as well. Short bursts of clear instruction with shorter goals (5-6 minutes) are better for lesson retainment than long drawn out lessons. By providing students with time to complete math workbook pages, writing in journals and even engaging in other activities offline, students are more apt to retain information and process the newly delivered information.
Live online teaching also presents some challenges, particularly in a whole class setting. We learned over the course of emergency remote teaching last year that it is very hard to connect and engage with student learning during whole class live online instruction for a variety of reasons. Common strategies usually deployed in a classroom to engage and check in with students are simply not viable over a screen. We have also heard stories from other districts of challenges with managing the logistics and tech issues while trying to deliver an effective whole class lesson. The most effective way to engage learning in the online space is through small groups. We found this to be true in the spring and we saw success with this over summer as well. Teachers and students are more readily able to engage in effective distance learning in small group settings with additional learning provided through on-demand videos and assignments.
In practice, this means that teachers will be providing live instruction to students several times throughout the week. Using small group instruction, the teacher will be tailoring the learning to meet the needs of the students. Teachers will also be able to proceed at a faster or slower rate, depending on the needs of the group, and often be able to move at an accelerated rate of lesson delivery than when in a whole class setting. This instructional approach most closely resembles how teaching occurs in differentiated, small group classrooms where students rotate through different stations throughout each day while teachers provide tailored instruction and support.
The USD distance learning instructional framework supports the content standards and provides for instructional strategies that can be adapted to fit the needs of our students. We believe that in distance learning, this is best done in smaller groups and in shorter intervals where teachers can truly adjust to the needs of each individual. These practices do take time to build up to, whether during in-person instruction or during distance learning, and as teachers and students adapt to small groups, I fully expect to see learning accelerate throughout the year.
Let's Show our PAWS!
The "S" in PAWS stands for Spread Kindness. This week's challenge recognizes the hard work being done by our firefighters to keep us all safe. Let's show our gratitude. I want to encourage you to make a card or create a picture that shows your appreciation for our firefighters. We will place a box by the cafeteria, where you can put your thank you note. The box will be outside the fence between 7:00AM and 3:00PM during the week. We will deliver all of the notes, cards, and pictures to our local firefighters at the end of the week. If you want to deliver your own thank you to the firefighters, be sure to take a picture and share it with me! (lopezs@unionsd.org).
Join the Fun! Be a Community Guest Reader!
Have fun with this. Dress the part. Read in the dark with a flashlight, if you'd like. Bring a favorite pet. Use your best reading accents and voices. Or, just simply open a book, and read it out loud.
Email your recordings to me at Lopezs@unionsd.org. Can't wait!
Join My Parent Remind Group!
Office Hours for Mrs. Lopez (New Format)
Thank you to those of you who participated in office hours these past few weeks. I will continue holding these office hours, but please take note of the new format. For the first 15-20 minutes, I would like to offer parent tips/suggestions. I'd also like to open up the discussion so that parents can share their own tips, tools and successes. Of course, I will leave plenty of time for questions as well. Please see the zoom info below.
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00-1:00:
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://unionsd.zoom.us/j/83703702089?pwd=T1FseFVRWWVaNHc4bTZHSWZqNWl1dz09
Meeting ID: 837 0370 2089
Passcode: 431713
A Guide to Distance Learning at Home
With an ever-changing online learning landscape, our kids are spending an exorbitant amount of time in front of a screen. What impact does that have on their well-being? How can we ensure that our kids are learning?
Join Common Sense as we will explore three practical ways parents can integrate distance learning purposefully in their home. Families will leave with resources and a plan to address our current educational realities.
Participants will learn:
Specific strategies to engage their child in learning
Strategies to keep your child/teen motivated during distance learning
Specific ways to integrate tech tools effectively
This FREE parent live-streamed webinar event will occur on September 15, 2020 from 5pm to 6pm.
Tickets are limited for the attendees who can participate in the webinar. Tickets for watching the live-streamed event on YouTube will be available once the attendee tickets are gone. You will receive the link to the webinar or the YouTube viewing a few hours before the event.
Click on these Useful Resources
#LietzPride Distance Learning Moments
Sandya Lopez
Email: lopezs@unionsd.org
Website: www.lietz.unionsd.org
Location: 5300 Carter Avenue, San Jose
Phone: (408) 264-8314
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lietzelementary/
Twitter: @LietzPrincipal