Using multiple digital resources, learning continues for students at Northwest Elementary School. Children remain connected with all of their teachers through video chats and other online platforms.
To support online learning, students have been provided with Chromebooks. Beginning with the first week that schools were closed, parents could pick up the devices that children were already using in their classrooms and were familiar with. All students can access their work through Google Classroom, including special subject areas.
Many teachers use Google Meet to chat with students in videoconferences. Teachers can meet with their entire class or with small groups to provide targeted instruction. It also maintains face-to-face connections.
“We were so happy to see each other that we were speechless and we couldn't contain the big smiles on our faces,” second grade teacher Nancy Davi-Ortiz said of the first Google Meet session. “The smiles said it all. I miss them as much as they miss me.”
For third grade teacher Victoria McClafferty, Flipgrid has been a valuable tool for math, reader’s workshop and writer’s workshop. Each day she posts a lesson and students respond with a video to showcase the work they have completed. They can tell her what they did or write it down and show her. Some students also do a screen share of their work which she can view on her computer.
“With so many new aspects to learning, I am so incredibly impressed with my students and all of their hard work,” Ms. McClafferty said. “They are really embracing the technology aspect of it. It has been amazing to watch them use these programs in ways that meet their specific learning needs and goals.”
Reading teacher Jennifer Bianco is continuing to support her first grade students in their literacy development. She provides them with leveled reading passages, and students can answer comprehension questions either in written responses submitted through Google Classroom or by creating a Flipgrid video.
Librarian Christine Bloom created a site where students can access hundreds of ebooks from online resources such as Epic, Mackin and Scholastic. She has also been sharing STEM lessons with building challenges that students can do at home, such as a Lego structure of the day. First graders made musical instruments from household objects.
Nightly read aloud videos also give students a chance to remain connected with Northwest. The videos, posted to YouTube, began with Principal Kathleen Hyland, Assistant Principal Sonia Rodrigo and instructional coach Abbey Hunter reading books before mystery reader nights were introduced with teachers and staff from the school. Stories included “Corduroy,” “Saturday,” “The Thank You Book” and other children’s books.