Teaching/Learning Ahead: Virtual School Week Seven

Students at-home science learning this week included watching videos about composting and then to make their own inside or outside composter. After that they had to add an image and description of their composter on a shared slideshow. 

Before I get busy with today's activities, I want to think about the busy teaching/learning week ahead. What will I do?

Biography Project Coaching
I'll read through students' reports early Monday morning, make comments, and then meet with those students for a virtual coaching meeting and whole class project meeting for about an hour and a half Monday morning. I'll also meet with my small coaching group again on Friday and continue to check in on their daily work with regard to the fifth grade Global Changemakers Biography project.

Small Group Math Meetings
I'll continue to meet with small groups of math learners to review and teach concepts related to fraction and mixed number operations and problem solving this week. Students' at-home practice sets and videos review these concepts too.

Class Meeting
Our class meeting will include an open circle led by the school counselor related to feelings about this stay-at-home learning time as well as a discussion led by the music teacher about the annual fifth grade play which will now be a fifth grade virtual performance featured on the Town television station.

PLC and Staff Meeting
I'll meet with our school staff and my professional learning group to review how students are doing, troubleshoot with regard to students who may not be keeping up with expectations, and plan for the days ahead.

Students have been asked to share examples of their at-home
learning and fun on a shared slideshow. 

Curriculum Prep and Planning
I'll spend some time planning for the week ahead including students' practice sets related to multiplication and division of fractions and more math meetings focused again on mixed number and fraction operations and problem solving. For science, I'll prep lessons related to life science with a focus on plants.

Student Learning Review
I'll continue to check in on students' at-home practice/projects, comment on those study efforts, and reach out to students who seem to need reteaching or specific hints and help with regard to specific concepts and expectations.

We've got a good pattern in place for virtual school now. The job is to stay the course and give each day the typical teaching, prep, and planning I would do during typical school. Overall children are making progress which is wonderful. I am appreciative of the many families who are working with us to keep the positive learning moving forward.