Not-so-fun-thought: <\/strong> Just think…we could be starting SBAC today! Let\u2019s take a moment to enjoy that small silver lining\u2026.although, if I am being honest, I would happily trade the inconveniences of SBAC testing over remote learning any day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Staff Appreciation: <\/strong>It felt weird not to jump in and participate this past week with all the other schools, but please know this is not forgotten and our PTO has never disappointed our staff in this area. You are sooooo appreciated and there is an army of parents who are incredibly emotional that their opportunity to express their appreciation is tainted by COVID-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n PTO Update <\/strong>– the PTO board met last week so I thought I would share some information from the meeting;<\/p>\n\n\n\n Social Distancing reminder whenever on campus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Meetings:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Class Placements:<\/strong> Thank you so much for you input on this process and I really appreciate your openness and willingness to this new program. After meeting with each of your teams, I will make some final adjustments to our characteristics. Once this is done, you should receive an invitation to complete your student surveys (these are virtual cards). You should have your parent input forms ready on Tuesday. I will also send a separate email to summarize the meeting input refected in the process. All in all, I feel we did a great job streamlining and calibrating our characteristics, so I think you will be happy with it. My hope is we can put a deadline to complete the student surveys by Wednesday 5\/20<\/strong>. If you think this is going to be a difficult deadline, then let\u2019s discuss. We can be flexible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TAG Letter<\/strong>– This is just FYI – This letter<\/a> was sent to parents of third grade TAG students last week. The district will see how many commit to the program before sending invites to anyone else. We are still in holding pattern in terms of identifying students who still need a 97th %ile or above on a standardized test. If you have parents asking about this, please talk to me or encourage them to talk to me so I can explain our situation. (a.k.a., it\u2019s a pickle!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n National Boards-<\/strong> National Board certification recruitment has begun! Heather and Michele, working alongside OEA and TSPC, have 3 virtual recruitment sessions set for May. If you have teachers who are interested in pursuing National Board, please share the OEA flyer that is in the google folder. There are also several resources available for you. Teachers who are \u201cshoulder tapped\u201d by an administrator are more confident and eager to grow their professional learning in this way and become teacher leaders in their buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/12_dQqJe9jyZ4H9fqeQKdk-CM3kOicn6T\/view?usp=sharing<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Three key points of information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) HB2763 will reimburse teachers for the cost of certification once they certify<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) OEA has a grant to support teachers of color and novice teachers (first 5 years) in their pursuit of NB certification<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3) MidOregon Credit Union is offering zero interest loans for our candidates in order to support in the upfront cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last Week of School Draft Plan – June <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember what I wrote last week??? Well forget it. On to the next plan\u2026TBD<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following factors have changed on me;<\/p>\n\n\n\n Distance Learning Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Paraeducator Professional Development webpage- <\/strong>The HDESD is excited to share the Paraeducator Professional Development webpage, compiled by the Culture of Care Coaches (link below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For leaders and administrators, there is a catalogue of opportunities at the top of the page, that allows you to view the comprehensive list of PD in the event you want to plan and organize specific content for certain programs\/staff. In addition, there is a Professional Development Reflection Document that can be used by staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of the content is then divided into categories on the webpage, with a variety of resource links\/videos for paraeducators to access. It will be updated weekly with new resources\/links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/strong> In this National Geographic<\/em> article, Julia Sklar reports that many K-12 and university teachers are finding remote instruction more exhausting than in-person teaching. Cognitive scientists say that virtual interactions are more taxing on the brain \u2013 because we\u2019re trying to make up for the copious information we get, without knowing it, during face-to-face interactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When we\u2019re physically with others, we\u2019re listening to the words, but also picking up dozens of non-verbal cues \u2013 facial expressions, whether the person\u2019s body is facing us or slightly turned away, their fidgeting, perhaps a quick inhalation as a prelude to an interruption. \u201cThese cues help paint a holistic picture of what is being conveyed and what\u2019s expected in response from the listener,\u201d says Sklar. \u201cSince humans evolved as social animals, perceiving these cues comes naturally to most of us, takes little conscious effort to parse, and can lay the groundwork for emotional intimacy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n During a video call, seeing people from the shoulders up, very few of these cues can be perceived, which puts much more cognitive load on listening to what\u2019s being said. We search for non-verbal cues that can\u2019t be seen, and eye contact on the screen can be disconcerting if held too long, which would seldom be the case in a face-to-face conversation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMulti-person screens magnify this exhausting problem,\u201d says Sklar. \u201cGallery view \u2013 where all meeting participants appear Brady Bunch-style \u2013 challenges the brain\u2019s central vision, forcing it to decode so many people at once that no one comes through meaningfully, not even the speaker.\u201d One psychologist called this attempt to multitask \u201ccontinuous partial attention,\u201d like trying to cook and read at the same time. A regular telephone conversation is much less taxing because we\u2019re only expecting the voice and we\u2019re not looking for visual cues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interestingly, says Sklar, video calls can be a boon for people for whom in-person conversations are challenging \u2013 for example, many with autism. However, for others on the spectrum, video calls can be disconcerting because of sensory triggers such as loud noises and bright lights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s possible, concludes Sklar, that \u201cZoom fatigue will abate once people learn to navigate the mental tangle video chatting can cause.\u201d In the meantime, one trick is turning off your camera and concentrating just on the words, saving video images for when they\u2019re really necessary \u2013 or when we want warm fuzzies from a loved one. Another idea is using a phone for a chat and walking around. There\u2019s evidence that meetings on the move can improve creativity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018Zoom Fatigue\u2019 Is Taxing the Brain. Here\u2019s Why That Happens\u201d by Julia Sklar in National Geographic<\/em>, April 24, 2020, https:\/\/on.natgeo.com\/2Wxl0BI<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Julie\u2019s Weekly Update from 5\/8\/20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once again you have traveled through the week with resilience and grace. Below are some resources and ideas to support you in the coming weeks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teacher Appreciation Week – <\/strong>https:\/\/teachersbooksreaders.com\/2020\/04\/29\/dear-educators\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some ideas to shelter instruction during Distance Learning.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are not just working from home\u2026We are at home during a crisis trying to work.\u201d Through the HDESD Culture of Care Coaches, learn how to create an online Wellness Circle for your school team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAny time we are presented with change, our stress response is activated.\u201d \u2013 Bruce Perry<\/p>\n\n\n\n More resources from Bend La Pine Behavior Coaches and Culture of Care Coaches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teacher\u2019s lifeline <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Culture of Care Coaches Wellness Circles Presentation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Staff Wellness Circle Materials<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some ideas<\/a> to engage students in some fun activities to keep them coming back to meetings during this warm weather. Continue to add your ideas to this document.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Happy Mothers Day to all you moms!! I hope you took some time for yourself for whatever you need this weekend. You deserve it. The following quote really struck me; \u201cDistance learning requires us to be humans in an inhuman … Continue reading 5\/15 Friday – K – 1:00.<\/s> Changes to Mondays @ 1:00<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nWhy Teaching in a Virtual Space is Draining<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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