Good day. How are you managing?
There is a lot to manage, for us and our students. We will help by sifting through the vast amounts of information related to COVID-19 and to distance teaching and learning. See the ELA Connections page for useful resources, and check back often. Like the other SABES centers, the ELA C&I PD Center will also continue to provide relevant high-quality PD during this time, all online, of course. See our Upcoming Events, and check back often.
Keep in mind that "remote learning is not synonymous with online learning," as Commissioner Jeff Riley writes in a March 26th update from the MA DOE:
"Remote learning is not synonymous with online learning...we must be conscious of the effects of increased screen time and seek balance between learning through technology and remote learning that happens offline to support students’ curiosity and understanding."
"We recommend that districts support students to engage in meaningful and productive learning for approximately half the length of a regular school day. We expect this learning to take place via a combination of educator-directed learning and student self-directed learning."
From a teaching adults point of view, hear this advice from some community college teachers:
"The feedback from... students is the struggle they are having in managing the quantity of emails and keeping up with the various types of instruction modes being used. Where we want to work to ensure the learning objectives are met, we need to be careful not to overcompensate with too many materials which students will be unable to absorb when balancing multiple remote sections."
Two thoughtful articles on this topic:
- Education Week: Remember, Online Learning Isn't the Only Way to Learn Remotely
- Edutopia: Teaching Through a Pandemic: A Mindset for This Moment: Hundreds of teachers, many of them operating in countries where teach-from-home has been in place for weeks, weigh in on the mental approach you need to stay grounded in this difficult time.
Questions? Thoughts? Suggestions? Write to us. And remember to check our Connections and Upcoming Events pages for relevant resources and PD.
Wishing you some simplicity and balance,
The SABES ELA C&I PD Center
