LEARN Curriculum Network
September 17, 2020 Update
Greetings Colleagues,
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! We hope that everybody's school openings are going well as we weave in supports for our educators, students and families that encourage flexibility, grace, and growth despite the highly unusual circumstances that have impacted our important work. Last week, we had our first Regional Curriculum Network Meeting of the year and are pleased to relay some of the highlights below.
September 4th Meeting Recap
While our agenda was lengthy, we were able to discuss quite a bit in our first meeting! A few highlights were:
- Connecting Across the Region- In addition to reconnecting and "seeing" one another virtually, our network welcomed Tamara Gloster, the new Assistant Superintendent for Norwich Public Schools to our network. Welcome, Tamara!
- School Openings- More than one district shared that being with students in-person offered an added element of comfort for educators and assuaged the "roller coaster" associated with some of the fears around being in the brick and mortar environment.
- Plans and Communication- From technology supports to substitutes to supports for families, we shared several practices from our districts in an effort to build resources and reflect with one another.
Looking for notes with more specifics outside of this newsletter? Please refer to LEARN's Curriculum Network Hub http://www.learn.k12.ct.us/professional_learning/curriculum_network now and throughout the year for meeting dates, shared documents, notes, and upcoming events.
Next Meeting Date & Time
Also discussed at our first meeting was moving our virtual meeting time to the afternoon. With that in mind, our next meeting for this Friday, September 18th will be at 2:00pm. We hope you can make it and please reach out if you have an agenda items you would like to add.
Best,
Sue
Dr. Sue Iwanicki
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
LEARN
44 Hatchetts Hill Old Lyme, CT 06371
(203) 859-2838 (mobile)
Distance Learning Structures and Supports
As school district seek to support distance learning and parent communication, many of us are reflecting on our distance learning plans. Assistant Superintendent Amity Goss from Old Saybrook Public Schools shared several positive highlights as well as a copy of their Distance Learning Plan adapted from Columbia University's Center for Public Research & Leadership (2020) and the Congrove Distance Learning model. Click below to take a look. Thank you, Amity!
Procedures for Hybrid & At-Home Learning
Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) Closing the Digital Divide with Douglas Fisher
- Lower teacher stress by encouraging them not to "rerecord" their videos. Students need to know it's okay to make mistakes.
- Encourage parents to allow students to struggle during live instructions as opposed to giving their children the answer.
- Be sure students are introduced to mental models that can help them capture their learning while they engage in practice.
- Read, read, read! Research he referenced shows that student reading has decreased from 90 minutes to 30 minutes of exposure and has a high effect on learning.
- Interactive Video (students interacting with video) has one of the highest effect sizes for learning.
Below are a few pictures of tips he shared during his presentation. What more specifics?
CAS will be posting the recording of his session on their website for schools to use.
Roundtable Across Settings
Classroom Roles in the New Age
Make Learning Expectations Clear
- What am I learning?
- Why am I learning this?
- How will I know I have learned it?
New Rule for Title IX
Our Littlest of Learners
More Avenues to Support Elementary Teachers On-line
The Magical Yet- An Inspirational Short Read
The Magical Yet is the perfect tool for parents and educators to turn a negative into a positive when helping children cope with the inevitable difficult learning moments we all face. Whether a child or an adult, this encouraging and uplifting book reminds us that we all have things we haven't learned...yet!"
Thank you to Assistant Superintendent Annine Crystal and Guilford Public Schools for sharing this title in the work that they do with educators.
LEARN Schools Offer Weekly & Unit Communication to Families
Mystic Seaport Continues to Offer Quality Virtual Programming
Logistical details for virtual programs
- Programs cost $225 per program; financial aid is available up to 100% if needed.
- Programs are 45-60 minutes including Q&A (a few are 75 minutes)
- Mystic Seaport uses Zoom for their programs with a capacity of 500, but they recommend no more than 100 participants per program. They can use Google Meet or other platforms if needed.
- When possible, participants are encouraged to have their videos on, and they have participants muted unless it is a small group. A staff moderator will field questions from the chat throughout the program—interactivity through questions and comments related to the content of the program via the chat is encouraged!
- At least two days before your program, their staff will send a personalized Zoom link that can be shared with students.
- To reserve a program contact Sarah Cahill at 860-324-3989 or sarah.cahill@mysticseaport.org
Please see the flyer link below for more details or watch the embedded video!