Distance Learning FAQs Updated 3/26/20 • This document may be frequently updated. |
My child’s only access to the internet is on my smartphone - will physical work be sent to students?
- Paper copies of materials and activities will be made available to students. These are designed for families who anticipate limited to no access to devices or wifi. Please contact each individual teacher to make arrangements for paper copies. All teachers will be posting assignments online through either Seesaw, Google Docs/Classroom, and/or e-mail.
Will teachers provide video or live instruction?
- Some teachers may choose to provide students with video or live instruction. Creating video or hosting live instruction is new for most teachers and not required.
Will there be instruction in non-core curriculum classes (art, music, P/E) online?
- Yes. All teachers are posting instruction/assignments for students.
What about standardized tests such as MCA?
- At this point, the US Department of Education has suspended standardized testing requirements of students for the current school year. Minnesota is in the process of deciding on how to approach this.
My child receives support services - am I expected to replicate that at home?
- Classroom support teachers are working very hard to provide students with continued supports in the distance learning environment. Any student that was receiving support services will be contacted by the student’s case manager. Please do not hesitate to reach out to them with questions.
Should my child follow their current daily schedule when working on assignments?
- Students can certainly follow their typical schedule if this works best for them. All teachers will be posting their weekly assignments by 8am each Monday. Students and their families have flexibility in how they structure their days to complete this work and should make a schedule that works best for them. Please note that teachers are available each day and may offer live instruction or conferencing opportunities throughout the week.
What happens if my child is sick?
- Teachers will monitor all student attendance. Parents will be expected to report their child absent via the online form.
How can my child stay connected with friends and feel part of the school community during social distancing?
- Social interaction is an important part of students’ lives and we encourage students to use technology such as face time to interact with friends. As parents, you still may want to limit access to social media sites or be mindful of how your child is using social media with their friends. We are actively planning ways to make both students and teachers feel connected to the school community. This will develop over time, but some early ideas include daily morning announcements, Google Hangouts lunch waves, study sessions hosted by teachers, etc.
If I am worried about how to feed or support my children during this closure, what resources are available for my family?
- River Grove will still be operating our daily lunch program for those in need. Cold lunches are available to families on the Free or Reduced Lunch program. As circumstances might have changed in the last few weeks, if interested please feel out the following application to see if you eligible: http://www.marineareaschool.org/wp-content/uploads/Application-for-Educational-Benefits-Packet-19-20.pdf
How do I contact a teacher?
- The best way to contact a teacher will be email, since teachers will be working from home. You can find all the teachers’ emails on our Contact page or in the Distance Learning Handbook.
----------------- Page • River Grove Distance Learning FAQs • 3/26/20 -----------------