This and That:
Remote Learning Preparation: (This information was shared on Wednesday, but it is again.) If you’ve following the national news, you have heard about school districts nationwide that have been reverting back to remote learning. Here in Bend-La Pine, we are committed to in-person instruction and currently have no intention of moving to this delivery model. However, we need to be prepared with this new Omicron Covid strain spreading rapidly. Below are resources to help prepare:
- Targeted Remote Learning (Ready, Set, Go) document: This document was shared early in the school year and now is a good time to review it again. This document will be helpful in case a specific class has to be quarantined. Below are some specific parts of this document to quickly review:
- Ready set Go information from TLC along with a Ready, Set, Go checklist.
- Remote Learning Schedules – No need to think too much about schedules right now. We’ll cross that bridge if it is needed. I am shring these shedules for inquiring minds that want these kids of details now. The link above has sample schedules that teachers can use or if last year’s schedule worked well for you and your students, please feel free to resurrect those.
- K-2 iPads – would your team want to deploy iPads or leave them at school?
- Hot Spots – what families have connectivity issues or challenges and would need assistance? Let site tech know your needs if you need to go remote.
- SeeSaw, Google classroom, Google Docs, Gmail, and WebEx – Are you and your students familiar with these systems and programs?
Again, we don’t have any intention of transitioning to remote learning. But if we’re using the “Ready, Set, Go” model, this is our time to review our “Ready” status. In short, if it looks like it might rain, you bring your umbrella with you. It’s time to find your umbrella.
The Dos and Don’ts of Celebrating MLK Day: Follow this link for some thoughts and great ideas regarding MLK Day.
Reading Intervention Support: Debbi sent a couple of emails last week with updates regarding our reading intervention support plan. In short, we will be moving forward with the schedule shared last week with a couple of small tweaks to kindergarten and grade 2 (these are the changes that Debbi already spoke with K & 2 about last week). These are now updated in the master schedule. We will only start with grades 1 and 2 on Monday and Tuesday this week. On Wednesday, we will assess our readiness to add more grade levels for Thursday and Friday.
SIW Agenda: SIW this week is a district “Educator Network Professional Learning” day. Below is the information shared in the TLC Update:
Please check to see what you signed up for in Performance Matters or sign up for a session in Performance Matters
- K-1 teachers and Reading Specialists will attend the Foundational Skills training in your building. Time: 1:30-3:00. Your administrator will facilitate this session.
- ALL OTHER SESSIONS WILL BE VIRTUAL
- Webex: 1:30-3:00
- Session Options
- Be sure to sign up for a session on Performance Matters!!
ICCL Meeting: Canceled this week.
Focus on Excellence and Equity:
TLC Update: Here is a link to this week’s TLC Update.
Language, Culture, and Identity Newsletter: Each month, administrative and ELL staff are sent the Language, Culture, and Identity newsletter. There is always a lot of great information in these newsletters that I often highlight with you. In addition, I will start linking these newsletters in our staff newsletters for those of you who would like to read them in their entirety.
Reading Article- “Teaching Reading IS Rocket Science“: 2020 version: I will highlight small chunks of this lengthy report over the next few weeks to try to nudge everyone to read it in small pieces. Pages 5-7 are the executive summary and preface. Below are a few excerpts from these sections:
“… the scientific community has achieved broad consensus regarding the questions: How do children learn to read? What causes reading difficulties? What are the essential components of reading instruction and why is each important? How can we prevent or reduce reading difficulties?”
“Unfortunately, much of this research is not yet included in teacher preparation programs, widely used curricula, or professional development, so it should come as no surprise that typical classroom practices often deviate substantially from what is recommended by our most credible sources. As a result, reading achievement is not as strong as it should be for most students, and the consequences are particularly dire for students from the least advantaged families and communities.”“For the past five decades, research studies in classrooms and clinics have repeatedly and consistently found that explicit instruction teaching in foundational skills (phonological awareness, phonics, oral reading fluency, spelling) provides students with a clear learning advantage.”
“Moreover, since the first version of Teaching Reading IS Rocket Science was published in 1999, many of its recommendations have become ‘setttled’ science – that is, researchers are no longer debating the importance of systematic multiyear phonics and word analysis instruction or of a large academic vocabulary.”
COVID/ Safety Related Information:
COVID Resources Update: Below is some COVID-related resources that will repeat in each of our newsletters for easy access.
- Flowchart for COVID-19 Questions and Concerns: Please follow this flowchart. If in doubt about what to do, you can always check with Frank or Kelle. Frank is our Safety Team Lead, and Ann Hollenberg is our School Nurse.
- BLS Return to School Website: – There is A LOT of great information on this webpage including quarantine and isolation information for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
- EME COVID Anonymous Safety Concern Form: Link here.
To Do:
Student Masking Issues: Please let Frank or me know if you have a student(s) that is consistently NOT masking. We will need to work on a plan to remedy this situation ASAP.
SIW Educator Network: Be sure to sign up for an Educator Network training in Performance Matters before Wednesday 1/12.
YouthTruth Survey: Currently, just under 50% of our staff have taken the survey. I’d love to have 100% from our staff. Please follow this link and take the survey if you haven’t already. Every voice is important.
Important Dates:
- SIW Schedule for the year
- Tuesday: ICCL meeting CANCELED
- Wednesday: SIW/ Educator Network
- Thursday: Fire Drill, Grade 2 EBISS