GSD200 - Introduction to Distance Learning for Elementary Students

The Grandview School District is proud to announce our plans for teaching and learning as we move from providing paper and pencil review work for our elementary students to introducing them to new concepts, subject matter and ideas.

On Monday, March 4, all elementary students (students in grades pre-k through five) will begin working with their teachers and receiving new assignments. This interaction is going to look different for different grades.

The district has been using guidelines from the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), as administrators, teachers and para educators have worked to put these plans together for our younger students.

The first thing to know is that distance learning is going to look a lot different from what we were doing just two months ago. Students will not be “in class” for six hours a day. Instead learning will happen at the student’s pace and actual class time is going to be much shorter.

Below is a chart from OSPI outlining the guidelines for maximum student commitment each day:

Grades 3-5 • Students with devices and internet access
Students in grades three through five who have both a device and internet access will be working through technology. Our schools and teachers are working to create “virtual classrooms” in Google Classroom for all of these students. 

New work (assignments) will be dropped into Google Classroom every Monday by 9 a.m. New work will look different for every student, but it will likely include video lessons, worksheets and activities. New work being available at 9 a.m. on Monday, doesn’t mean that’s when students have to access the work. They can access the work whenever is convenient for your family.

Throughout the week students will have access to their teachers, who can help with any concepts they have questions on or help with anything that needs clarifying. Teachers will each have schedules during the week that include time for video conferencing with their class, so students have a chance to interact with their teachers and their fellow classmates.

It’s likely students who are working through Google Classroom will also receive packet work in the mail. They DO NOT need to do the packet work. The work is comparable to what is being offered digitally. 

Grades 3-5 • Students without devices and internet access
Students in grades three through five who do not have access to devices or the internet will continue to receive packets. The packets will include work comparable to what is being offered digitally.

New work (assignments) should arrive in mailboxes on Mondays. Throughout the week students will have access to their teachers, who can help with any concepts they have questions on or help with anything that needs clarifying. Teachers and parapros will be calling students at least a couple times a week to reach out and offer help and ensure student engagement.

Grades Prek-2
Students in grades prek through two will continue to receive packets. New work (assignments) should arrive in mailboxes on Mondays. Throughout the week students will have access to their teachers, who can help with any concepts they have questions on or help with anything that needs clarifying. Teachers and parapros will be calling students at least a couple times a week to reach out and offer help and ensure student engagement.

There are plans in place to begin transitioning our younger students to technology-based learning, but this will happen slowly over the next couple of weeks and will likely not include prek students who will continue with packet work.

Engagement
The key for students is going to be engagement. Students will need to be engaged in school and engaged in their work. It doesn’t matter if a student is doing work on a computer or packet work - they need to be engaged.

If they are working digitally, they need to submit their assignments, try to attend Zoom meetings with their teacher and reach out if they have any questions. If they are doing packet work, they need to do their work and make time to talk to their teachers and parapros on the phone.

Thank you so much for your help as we make the transition from traditional classrooms to distance learning. Know that as a district we are all missing our students, our co-workers and our classrooms. Remember that even though we’re apart right now, we’re all in this together.

GSD200 – Introduction to Distance Learning

The Grandview School District is proud to announce our plans for teaching and learning as we move from providing paper and pencil review work for our students to introducing them to new concepts, subject matter and ideas.

On Monday, April 27, all secondary students (students in grades six through 12) will begin new learning. Our elementary students will follow with new learning beginning on Monday, May 4.

The district has been using guidelines from the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), as administrators, teachers and para educators have worked to put these plans together.

The first thing to know is that distance learning is going to look a lot different from what we were doing just two months ago. Students will not be “in class” for six hours a day. Instead learning will happen at the student’s pace and actual class time is going to be much shorter.

Below is a chart from OSPI outlining the guidelines for maximum student commitment each day: 

When new learning begins, a majority of students will be working with technology. The district has worked hard to ensure students have access to technology, as well as internet access. There are thorough plans in place for students who do not have connectivity. The district is working directly with these families to ensure students have access to new learning. If your student still needs a device, please be sure to contact your student’s advisor. For elementary students, devices will begin being distributed during the week of April 27.

The district has worked hard to create “virtual classrooms” for all of our students. Students in pre-k through second grade, and special ed students in pre-k through fifth grade will be using Flipgrid as their main “classroom.” Students in third through eighth grades and special ed students in grades six through 12 will be using Google Classroom, and high school students will be using Canvas.

New learning (assignments) will be dropped into these “virtual classrooms” every Monday by 9 a.m. New learning will look different for every student, but it will likely include video lessons, worksheets and activities. This means on Monday at 9 a.m. a student will be able to see all work that will be done for the week. All of the assignments will be due by the end of the day Friday for most grades, though high school students will likely have until midnight on Sunday to turn in their assignments. The assignments will be “turned in” by finishing the work in those virtual classrooms.

Throughout the week students will have access to their teachers, who can help with any concepts they have questions on or help with anything that needs clarifying. Teachers will each have schedules during the week that includes time for video conferencing with their class, so students have a chance to interact with their teachers and their fellow classmates.

The key for students is going to be engagement. Students will need to be engaged in school and engaged in their work. District officials, building principals, teachers and staff all need students to be regularly checking into their virtual classrooms, reaching out to their teachers and making sure they are fully engaged in the learning that is being provided.

The big difference is this engagement is going to look different for different students. Some students will get their assignments on Monday at 9 a.m. and immediately be able to get to work. Other students - those who are working or helping watch their siblings - won’t get a chance to work on their assignments until the evening. Regardless, the important thing is that they find time to fit in their school work.

Students will be assessed on the work they are doing and their engagement in the work. The district is following all OSPI guidelines on what this assessment will look like. Please rest assured that we’re working hard to ensure all students continue to make progress in their learning and receive the credit they’ve worked so hard for all year.

Again, new learning for students in grades six through 12 begins on Monday, April 27, and new learning for students in grades pre-k through five, begins on Monday, May 4. Please be sure your students are checking their student email and access their virtual classrooms.

Thank you so much for your help as we make the transition from traditional classrooms to distance learning. Know that as a district we are all missing our students, our co-workers and our classrooms. Remember that even though we’re apart right now, we’re all in this together.