Moving to remote learning (disaster learning actually) in March was tricky but at least we knew our students. When we started 25 new kids at quarter 4 in April it was challenging but some things worked well so I offer them as suggestions as we head towards August:

All new students do an orientation- we offered multiple sessions at multiple times and multiple means to participate (phone, watch video, zoom) and did paperwork in multiple ways as well. Zoom was not an option for all families due to lack of internet, devices etc

We asked teachers to hold weekly Advisory classes synchronously to build community and create space to talk and then instruction looked different for different classes. Videos, screencasting, Google apps, assigned readings etc

But key- we broke up the schedule and had students concentrate on one class at a time for two weeks- so they were not tasked w/managing multiple classes, assignments, projects during this very stressful and scary time. Lightening the cognitive load to allow for deeper learning

We also did weekly “group” with our therapists and kids and teachers (and me sometimes!) and we played games and chatted via zoom. Kids who had individual services continued with private calls or zooms

Also key- involving teachers in the ideation and iteration process and families and students to the extent possible. We collected a lot of feedback from teachers and students at the end of the year to help us plan for fall. #designthinking helped us a lot

I think I screwed up the thread but basically- relationship building, chunk the learning, keep curriculum relevant and create multiple ways for students to engage and demonstrate learning. Six discrete classes a day is not going to work long term- be flexible and responsive.

Most students were not into large zoom classes but took advantage of “office hours” offered throughout the week- accessible via text, phone or zoom.