Distance Learning Plan

COMMUNICATION

In the case of any emergency school cancellations an announcement of a Virtual Instructional Day will be relayed through the Burrillville School Department’s SIS (Skyward) alert system via phone and email. Announcements will also be posted on the district’s website, Facebook page, and local television and radio stations.

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Analog Model: Grades Pre-K-1

  • Hard copy trade books and work packets will be sent home.

  • Activities will mirror the activities that are done on a daily basis in the classroom (word work, writing, reading, math); some activities will be tracked with a log (sight word practice, independent reading, etc.)

    • IF students have devices at home, they may be able to access web-based learning through Lexia or Zearn. Teachers will send home login information.

  • Depending upon the length of the school closure, teachers will update work expectations and adjust assignments by emailing or calling families or communicating through Skyward. They can also post assignment changes and additions on their personal websites or through platforms such as Class Dojo if those are already in use, so long as this is clearly communicated to families.

  • Teachers will make individual calls (phone calls) to students to check in on work; teachers will be available digitally (by email or instant message) to respond to questions from parents and caregivers.

  • Students will turn in completed work/practice logs to teachers upon return to school.

  • Teachers will maintain records of student completion of work at the end of the leave.

Hybrid Model: Grades 2-5

  • Instructional delivery will include digital platforms that are currently in use at these grade levels such as Lexia (reading), Scholastic (reading), Zearn (math), Great Minds (math), and FOSSWeb (science). Teachers and students have experience using these district-vetted resources and platforms. Students may also have trade books and work packets.

  • Students submit homework/classwork to their teachers through a variety of channels (most submissions will be through Google Classroom)

  • Teachers track and record student completion and mastery (i.e. daily grade) through Google Classroom and our district SIS Skyward.

  • Depending upon the length of the school closure, teachers will update work expectations and adjust assignments by emailing families or posting in Google Classroom. They can also post assignment changes and additions on their personal websites or through platforms such as Class Dojo if those are already in use, so long as this is clearly communicated to families.

  • Teachers interact with students through Google Classroom using the messaging function as well as the class stream. Collaboration and feedback are an integral part of using G Suite for Education’s shared document features. Students can communicate with each other this way as well.

  • Teachers check in one-on-one with a caseload of students or students who were not able to join the class through various channels (e.g. phone) to review their homework, talk through hard questions, prepare them for the next set of assignments, and ensure they are still progressing.

  • Alternate paper-based work/copies will be available for those without internet (or for students who are otherwise unable to access Google Classroom).

Digital Model: Grades 6-12

  • Instructional delivery methods will include district approved and purchased and open source digital platforms that are currently in use at these grade levels such as :

    • Gizmos, FOSSWeb, Open Up, Lexia, Mustang Math, Project Lead the Way (online curriculum) and Khan Academy instructional videos. Students will also have access to PDF and online textbooks. Teachers and students have experience using these district-vetted resources and platforms.

  • Students submit homework/classwork to their teachers through a variety of channels already in use and familiar to teachers and students (most submissions will be through Google Classroom).

  • Teachers will post assignments daily for each of their classes, and track and record student completion and mastery (i.e. daily grade) through Google Classroom and our district SIS Skyward.

  • Teachers interact with students through email and Google Classroom using the messaging function as well as the class stream. Collaboration and feedback are an integral part of using G Suite for Education’s shared document features. Students can communicate with each other this way as well.

  • Teachers check in one-on-one with a caseload of students or students who were not able to join the class through various channels (e.g. phone or email) to review their homework, talk through hard questions, prepare them for the next set of assignments, and ensure they are still progressing.

  • Alternate paper-based work/copies will be available for those without internet (or for students who are otherwise unable to access Google Classroom).

ATTENDANCE

In order to determine attendance for all staff, a Google Form will be sent out on each Virtual Instructional Day by central office administration. Teachers will communicate with students, co-teachers and administrators throughout the day via email, utilizing collaborative documents and/or video conferencing.

Teachers who are ill will put in sick days through Frontline (formerly Aesop) according to the usual procedure when school is in session. Teachers will communicate with students if they are unavailable for the day.

Certified Staff members are expected to work from home on Virtual Instructional Days from 8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

The daily schedule will be as follows:

8:00 - 8:45

      • Monday-Wednesday = Common Planning Time (CPT) with grade level or content teams;

      • Thursday - Flexible CPT or prep time - principals may use this time to check in with teams

      • Friday - All staff meeting, facilitated by principals through G Suite

8:45 - 9:00

      • Teachers post assignments and respond to emails

9:00 - 11:00

      • Teachers are on call, responding to student and parent questions, calling families to check in, posting work on Google Classroom, interacting with students through Google hangouts, providing feedback on submitted work, etc.

      • Emails received during this time frame will receive a response as follows:

  • received before 1:00PM will receive a response by the end of the school day

  • received after 1:00PM will receive a response the next school day

11:00 - 12:00

  • Teachers have lunch and unassigned time

12:00 - 2:00

  • Teachers are on call, as above


Instructional Assistants will have options to choose from on Virtual Instruction Days and will make their principals aware of their choices in advance. Instructional Assistants’ options for Virtual Instructional Days include:

  1. The employee may use a Personal Day.

  2. The employee may participate in instructional activities as directed by administration and cooperating teachers at the discretion of administration.

  3. The employee may participate in at home/online professional development.

Accountability for students will rely on submission and assessment of work. Students in grades 2-12 are expected to log into Google Classroom every day; their teachers will take attendance based upon login and record attendance in Skyward. Pre-K-1 Teachers will determine attendance based on their student check-ins and record their attendance in Skyward. Teachers will assess each student’s work and determine if the student has met the instructional goals for the day. The actual amount of time online is less important than the work produced and/or created by the student to demonstrate learning and mastery of learning targets.

Administrators, clerical staff, and custodians will report to the extent that they are able, dependent upon the circumstances surrounding the emergency closure.

ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL STUDENTS

Instruction will be provided through Google Classroom/Google Suite. All teachers, including itinerants and special educators will develop and implement standards-based lessons for Virtual Instructional Days. Service providers and teachers will ensure that individual supports, services, and accommodations for students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP), Individual Learning Plan (ILP), or a Section 504 Plan are available. Special Educators will make necessary accommodations and modifications for students with IEPs. Accommodations may include changes in the following: presentation of a lesson, instructional strategies, student response format and procedures, time/scheduling, and/or assignment structure. Modifications are the changes made to provide a student with opportunities to participate meaningfully and productively. Modifications may include changes in: instructional level, content/curriculum, and/or performance criteria.

Accessibility features are built into our 1:1 devices and information on how to access and use them is included in both our Employee Guidance Document and our Frequently Asked Questions Document. Parents and students may contact their teachers through email or through the Virtual Instructional Days Information Line: 401-651-1901 or email virtualinstruction@bsd-ri.net.

We are aware that some students, including those with the most significant disabilities, may require individualized alternate plans. Students who are not able to participate in the virtual instruction due to the severity of their needs will be afforded alternative instruction provided by their special education teachers and related service providers to the greatest extent possible.

There may be exceptional circumstances that could affect if and how particular services are provided. If a child does not receive the services detailed within their IEPs during a closure, upon returning to school, a child’s IEP team shall reconvene to make an individualized determination whether and to what extent compensatory services may be needed, consistent with applicable requirements, including to make up for any skills that may have been lost.