September 25 Update

Happy Friday, Distance Learning Teachers!

I hope you had another great week of learning and relationships!   It's been great to see the routines and relationships continue to strengthen...

Google Meets - Virtual Whiteboard:

Below is a tweet from our Technology Department regarding a virtual whiteboard that is built into Google Meet.  If you need assistance with this, feel free to connect with Brent or Libby.  Also, if you aren't on Twitter yet, now is your time!  Twitter is an amazing spot to learn new ideas, share resources, and collaborate. It's free- join today! 

Mindset:

Please don't forget about the power of your mindset.  I recently came across the below quote - "deficit mindset is like an oil spill - it coats every organism, it obscures beauty, it does great harm to the environment, and it's tedious to clean up."  Please remember this as we enter into the 20-21 school year.  If your mindset looks for deficits, you will find it.  But, your thinking also impacts the environment and "beauty" of McKinley.   You are responsible for the mindset you bring to McKinley each day!  :)

Student Concerns:

Thank you for your flexibility as we teach and support students (and families) on distance learning.  Our big rock was getting families on during live times; this has become more routine.  We are now moving into supporting those students who are having issues - engagement, not joining all live sessions, and those not doing independent work.   Based on our meeting yesterday, we are asking you to complete the spreadsheet with those students you are most concerned about.  Next week, Ann and I will be meeting to go through the students and develop plans.  

Making Phone Calls: 

Thank you for your committment to making sure our students are present and engaged.  I know this is a new struggle - we appreciate you not giving up on these learners!

Just a friendly reminder to try another communication tool if families are unresponsive to email.  If you email and a family doesn't respond within 24-36 hours, please call home.  I know this isn't always something ideal; however, we really need regular communication with families (including phone calls).  If you have concerns, please use the Check and Connect time to establish a meeting with the family.  If you want Ann or I to attend, we'd be glad to.  

If you have called and a family is still not responsive, we will assist you.  However, Ann, Steph, Selena, or I should not be the first call home - unless it's a unique situation.  We do need you to call.  

Upcoming Events:

9/29 - Distance Learning Staff Meeting @ 2:30pm

9/30 - Justin out at meeting, 8:30-10:30am; Common planning times for K, 1, 2, 3, and 5th Grade

10/1 - Justin out all day at U of MN; 4th Grade common planning

10/1 - Distance Learning Picture Day (for those who have not taken pictures) @ 2:30-5:00pm at McKinley

10/2- Justin out all day at U of MN; Child Collaboration Team Meeting @ 7:25am

I hope you are able to relax and recharge this weekend - enjoy your weekend!

-Justin

September 18 Update

Happy Friday, Distance Learning!  

I hope you've had a great week of learning with your students! 

Student-First Language:
Have you ever heard people say that your words and beliefs become our actions?  Well, it's true.  There is research to support that the way a teacher talks about a student becomes the belief they have of that student.  And, as we know, your beliefs are translated to action as an educator.  One of my favorite quotes is below - something I live by each and every day.  

You may think - "oh, it's just words".  Well, you are right and wrong.  It is words.  However, those words program your brain to think a certain way - and start to act in a certain way.  I'm going to challenge each of you to watch the words you use over the next week, particularly when describing students.  I'm going to challenge you to use student-first language.  Instead of saying "EL Student", or "Special Education Student" or "low student", think about the student first.  It's a "student who receives EL services" or a "student who is on IEP" or a "student who is struggling with a concept".  If we believe every one of our scholars is a student-first, the services or labels come second.  This alone wires you brain to see them as a student which raises the expectations for our learners.  

I challenge you - watch the words you are using this week.  If you use "student first", you start to see each of our learners as a student, with the services second.  This thinking will ultimately become your beliefs which become your actions!  

Fun Virtual Games & Activities:

I found this on Twitter last week.  There are some fun games and activities for morning meetings or transitions.  Use if you'd like (click pic to enlarge)! 

Student Engagement:

As we know, students need to find relevance in their learning.  This can often times be a big challenge when instruction is done virtually.  We want learning to engage students from the minute they begin.  Please remember the Teaching and Learning Coaches are available to help you with this.  Engagement requires a lot of planning and preparation!

If you have students you are struggling with to engage, let us know.  I'm hoping that my visit to morning meetings will help remind students that this IS school and that there are grades.  However, we are here to help you if a student is not completing learning activities or not engaging in the live sessions.  Let us know!  

Self-Care:

We give and give all day long.  Often times, our battery light is flashing by the end of the day.   Please don't forget to take care of you!  Please monitor and respond to your own needs  - you can't pour from an empty cup!  If you are looking for ideas, here's a great graphic..

Upcoming Events:

9/21-9/28 - Justin is joining morning meetings (sign up!)

9/21- Grading and Assessment Discussion (2-2:40pm, virtual)

9/21 - PLCs 

9/22- DL Collaboration, 12:00pm

9/23 - Common Planning for Kdg, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Grade

9/24 - Common Planning for 4th Grade

9/24 - DL Collaboration, 12:00pm

9/25 - Child Collaboration Team (CCT) Meeting, 7:25am

9/29 - Distance Learning Staff Meeting, 2:30pm

October 1 - Guided Groups begin!  

I hope you have a great, relaxing weekend! Do something to take care of YOU! 
-Justin and Ann

September 11, 2020 Update

Happy Friday! 
I hope you've had a great week building relationships and setting up your virtual classroom.  It's so fun to walk around as you are teaching and hear the excitement and energy!  

Setting Up a Consistent Work Room(s):

Below is a graphic from a teacher who uses the same links to meets/rooms for small group support.  Students know to navigate between, depending on the support they need.  Creative idea!  

How Can Families Help with Online Learning?

Another graphic I stole from Twitter - how families can help with online learning.  It's available in English and Spanish only.  Use if you'd like!  

Twitter:

If you aren't on Twitter, you should be.  I HIGHLY encourage you join and start to follow - even posting things, if you feel comfortable.  Twitter is a great way for educators to build learning networks - go join today!!! 

Staff Absences:

Below are some guidelines on staff absence(s):

If you need to go home during the day, please let Justin or Ann know.  We are going to first see if we can cover it internally or possibly cancel your live instruction (depending on the time of day).  

If you do not report to work (wake up sick, family emergency, can't report), you will put your absence into AESOP (with "NO SUB" clicked).  If you are able to, I would also love an email just saying you are gone.  We have specific distance learning subs that I will reach out to - once I know who that is, we will add them (or ask you to) your classroom for the day.  Please have sub plans created for the subs so they know the layout of your classroom, but also the plan for the day.   Just posting into Google Classroom won't be enough.  They need a plan for the day.  

If you have a planned absence, let Steph know.  She will contact Cheryl Summer to secure a distance learning sub.  

If you have questions about being gone, let us know!  

Upcoming Dates:
9/14 - School Board Work Session, 5:30pm
9/16 - Year 1 Forum/All Mentor Meeting, 3:15pm
9/17 - Justin out at meeting, 3:15-4:15pm
9/18 - CCT Meeting, 7:15am (Child Collaboration Team) 
9/21 - PLCs, 2:40pm
9/23 - Staff Mindfulness Activity in art room, 2:45pm
9/25 - CCT Meeting, 7:15am

I hope you had a great first week of school!  It's great to have kids back into our virtual classrooms!

Justin & Ann

Principal's Update - September 3, 2020

Welcome to our Distance Learning Staff Blog! 

The purpose of this blog is to update you on what is going on in the building, as well as the Distance Learning Program.  I will send out a link on Friday mornings when the blog is updated - so watch for this on Friday mornings!   The purpose of the blog is for general information, but also informal professional learning and sharing of resources.  

We appreciate you taking on this new adventure with us.  We know this is something that has completely re-arranged many of your lives - different teaching, sitting all day, etc.   We want you to take care of YOU, too.  Make sure you pick times during your day to get up, walk around, stretch, etc.  Don't forget to take care of YOU!  

Google Classroom - "From the Distance Learning Office"

I have added a topic under each of your classrooms called "From the Distance Learning Office".  This will be a spot we post general information.  Today, I posted directions on ordering lunch.  Watch that area regularly for updated information!  

Attendance:

With us transitioning to distance learning, our attendance processes had to be changed.  I have been working with Meghan Jewison & Kenneth Griswold on how exactly this process will look.  Meghan worked to create a process so we can use Infinite Campus without having to switch between four schools.  So, a change of plans (that's my new phrase for the year) - we will be using Campus for attendance.

We will meet the first week to go through the details of attendance.  Below are some basic guidelines to help you until we meet:

• Attendance will be taken after learning blocks (twice a day).  You will want to keep track of who you have "seen" in your classroom in the morning, as well as the afternoon.  
• You will go into Campus and click "A" or "P" - absent or present.  
• We have to distinguish showing up for class and the engagement.  If a student is present, they should be marked P.  If they are showing up and not doing anything, or showing up for a short period of time, we need to figure out the why and how to support the student.  This will be a work in progress as we navigate this process. 
• Ann and I are here to help you process individual students and their attendance.  We will check in - feel free to ask us about situations and how we should proceed.  We will learn together! 

Child Collaboration Team: 

This summer, the elementary buildings came together to create one unified process on our child study and/or Problem Solving Teams.  The elementary team moved away from the word "problem" to "Child Collaboration Team".  This team is an assistance team if a student is struggling with academics, behavior, engagement, and/or other needs.  Basically, if you have exhausted your options and still need help, you would complete a form to meet with this team.  This is NOT the gatekeeper for Special Education.  This team is open and available for ANY student who has needs - not just those who are in need of special education services.  More information will be shared on the form.  Below is the process outlined, which follows the other elementary schools.  Our contact at Distance Learning for this team is Libby Zeman.  

CCT Process Outlined 

Leaving the Building:

If you leave the building during the day, you need to check out in the workroom.  There is a sign in/sign out sheet.  This starts Tuesday, September 8.  If we have a lockdown or emergency, we need to know where staff members are.  Please check in and out there if you leave the building during the day!  

Beginner's Guide to Shifting Toward Online and Distance Learning:

Joanne Harmsen recently shared this online book with me - it's a great quick read on how to shift instruction to online.  Check it out!  https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:66fab7fc-bb47-48f1-809f-d4834787e235

Upcoming Events:

9/7 - NO SCHOOL

9/8- First Day of School (Morning Meetings start at 8:05am)

9/11 - McKinley has a fire drill at 8:45 

9/15 - Staff Meeting, 2:40pm 

9/18 - Child Collaboration Team Meeting, 7:25am

Don't forget, EVERY interaction that we have is either a culture BUILDER or a culture KILLER.  Which do you to do?  

I hope you have a great, relaxing weekend - go enjoy that last weekend of summer!

-Justin