The Extra Yard, Vol. 4, Issue 1

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AUGUST 2020 | VOL. 4, ISSUE 1

UNPARALLELED DEDICATION

Teachers are Determined to Help their Students Learn, No Matter the Setting

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ugust means the beginning of a new school year. Some schools have already started; many more are opening in the coming days. Teachers have been preparing for this moment, as millions of kids start back

be instructing classes, one way or another. School never stops.

Teachers will continue to teach.

And we need their leadership in our schools, more than ever.

Teachers were caught by surprise when COVID-19 grinded classroom instruction to a halt back in I want students to be able to say March. Many educators had these things to me when they to scramble to leave me: I am a worthwhile learn best ways person; I deserve a place on this to hold classes online and keep earth; I am successful; I am ready their students for whatever the world throws at learning.

The summer me — today or tomorrow.” provided an ROBERTA FORD opportunity for with virtual learning or a hybrid teachers to receive much-needed version of in-person and online. development in how to make online Teachers across the country will learning more effective.

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What many educators learned in preparation for returning to school is that online education, when done right, can be just as rewarding and impactful as in-person teaching.

According to distance learning experts, the key is about using technology in meaningful ways that engage kids to think and apply it in relevant ways.

“My colleagues and I have worked very hard preparing for this upcoming school year virtually,” said Lindsay Sulik, a kindergarten teacher at Maricopa Elementary School in Arizona. “We had an entirely new curriculum to learn and it was all computer-based so it

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took us two weeks of training and a lot of extra hours of research on our own to figure things out.”

Sulik and her colleagues are no different than many schools across the country. Young teachers like Sulik have gone out of their way to help train some of the others who may not be as tech-savvy.

Sulik also made sure her students’ families were ready to go; she was determined to set a standard, and did so personally.

“I made Power Points for my families with step-by-step visual directions of how to log into everything and use it,” Sulik said.

“I also shared these resources with our staff. I called each of my families personally to go over everything and set up Google classroom. Many digital learning Meets with each of them. I make environments for middle school weekly schedules for the parents and high school so they can see operate on a exactly what the “flipped classroom” assignment and model — students activity is for each learn the material designated time. on their own first My kindergarten via videos and team (of teachers) other online links, goes out of our then come together way to connect with their teacher with parents in to work through it the evening who and ask questions. have questions, to “The traditional talk with daycare I made Power Points classroom setting coordinators so they can help kids who for my families with is different when it comes to are at daycare all step-by-step visual managing the day get connected directions of how to group,” said Brian to school from there.” log into everything Ford, who teaches high school English Dedication is and use it” in Sacramento, the name of the LINDSAY SULIK California. “In an game, no matter the online setting, age group. Online teachers are able to turn the teaching requires a different set blackboard over to a student.” of skills than that of an in-person

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Teachers are learning that the material has to be adapted for different grades, matching the content delivery based on the technological aptitude of the student, not just their age.

“It’s really about engaging with the students, and that can be difficult virtually,” said Suzanne Hamilton, a middle school math teacher in Chatham, New Jersey. “I learned in the spring that creating interesting videos and content impacted more of my students, so I recalled what I would do during the normal school year and tried

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to translate those methods to fun math videos. Then I challenged them to make their own videos, asking questions and exploring the material. The entire class would get involved in the discussion.”

Hamilton said she spent the last few weeks of the summer learning more about TikTok, Instagram Stories and other forms of digital engagement.

It’s about empowering them to think on their own… Engaging using the tools they already use meets them halfway and they are more apt to want to participate.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS GOING GOING BIG BIG FOR FOR IS

TEACHERS 9.14.20 9.14.20

SUZANNE HAMILTON

“It’s about empowering them to think on their own,” Hamilton said.

“Engaging using the tools they already use meets them halfway and they are more apt to want to participate.”

Parents around the country recognize how hard teachers are working as well. According to a USA Today poll, seven in 10 parents say teachers are “working harder now than they ever have.”

Despite the challenges of a pandemic, teachers’ commitment to their jobs seems to have strengthened, not shaken. A USA Today/Ipsos poll of teachers in January 2019 found that 92 percent loved their jobs, while the results of this summer’s poll came in at 90 percent. Seventy-seven percent say that if they could pick a career all

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over again, they would still decide to be a teacher. That’s higher than the 73 percent result who expressed that last year.

We need teachers now, more than ever... They came to our kids’ rescue in the spring, adjusting on the fly to do what it took to keep them learning.”

BRITTO​N BANOWSKY

“We need teachers now, more than ever,” said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britto​n Banowsky. “They came to our kids’ rescue in the spring, adjusting on the fly to do what it took to keep them learning. Now millions have stepped up this summer, getting extra training on virtual learning tools and methods so that students don’t miss a beat. It’s remarkable.

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SEVEN WAYS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO WIN AT ONLINE LEARNING Check out this article from CNN that focuses on some of the best practices to pass along to your colleagues, students and families.

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“No matter what happens with football this fall, our work at the CFP Foundation to support teachers continues. It’s too important.”

“As this new school year began, I was worried, overwhelmed, and

anxious, but settling into our third week now, I am feeling a sense of calm and routine,” Sulik said. “With the hard work at the beginning of the year, my parents and scholars are now at a point where they know the expectations, they know the routine and I have 100 percent of them participating in live lessons and learning! That is an amazing accomplishment. My goal for this year is to get these kindergarteners where they need to be with the obstacles of online learning, in-person learning and most likely having to juggle between the two for a while. I want my scholars and their families to be safe and healthy this year and their mental health taken care of.”

Sounds like something that Roberta Ford would be proud of.

The CFP Foundation sure is.

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BRINGING IT HOME: Veative is making it possible for children at home to have access to the same content that has been delivered to schools through the Extra Yard Makeover Project. These Virtual Reality headsets allow students to have the same learning experience at home on their own computers.

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VIRTUALLY EQUIPPED

Indianapolis Teachers are Prepared to Return to the Virtual Classroom

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chools are reopening their doors this month for a new school year, and for many their door is virtual, at least for the time being. Since the COVID19 pandemic continues, many students are having to take part in eLearning again.

When the problem first hit in the spring, many teachers and schools had to adjust on the fly. There was no time to train, no time to study up on best ways to teach virtually.

They simply had to figure it out.

In Indianapolis, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and the Indianapolis eLearning Fund have come together to announce details of the Indiana eLearning Lab, a new resource for teachers.

for teachers to learn from each other, share best practices and trouble-shoot issues.

Like many districts across the state and across the country, Lawrence Township Schools in Indiana is offering both in-person It’s huge because we believe and online options for students this that some degree of eLearning year. Smith will be a part of Hoosiers’ reality school said the lab is a for the foreseeable future.” critical tool to help support teachers.

SHAWN SMITH “It’s huge The Indiana eLearning Lab will because we believe that some offer free professional development degree of eLearning will be a for teachers across the state. Its part of Hoosiers’ reality for the main benefits — lesson plans that foreseeable future,” said Shawn teachers can adapt for their own Smith, superintendent of Lawrence classroom and create communities Township Schools.

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The Indianapolis eLearning Fund, a collaboration of Indianapolis civic, philanthropic and corporate partners working to address gaps in internet connectivity and device access, developed the lab and will invest $1.6 million in its operations.

The CFP National Championship is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis in January 2022. The event’s local host committee and the CFP Foundation will make an $800,000 gift to the Indiana eLearning Lab as part of the CFP Foundation and host committee’s $1.5 million total community investment through its legacy program.

The Indiana eLearning Lab aligns with the CFP Foundation’s longstanding focus on elevating the

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teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four core areas: resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development.

“We are proud to support an initiative that helps meet a need to support teachers and families during this critical moment in our nation’s history — and in education,” said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. “We thank all of the great teachers who are real heroes going above and beyond to educate our kids.”

The Lab will help meet pressing needs among educators in Indiana.

A May survey of public and private school teachers from across the state showed 90% of teachers are interested in accessing virtual professional development and 93% are interested in connecting with other educators to discuss approaches or resources for eLearning. More than 80% of respondents reported challenges keeping students engaged in eLearning, highlighting why it’s critical to prioritize resources, connectivity and training.

For educators, the Indiana eLearning Lab will curate enriching content and flexible lesson plans, provide communities of practice for sharing ideas, and offer webinars and remote learning courses in areas such as remote instruction and social and emotional learning.

SETDA, a national nonprofit focused on eLearning, and Five Star Technology Solutions, an Indianabased education technology provider, were chosen to launch and operate the Lab through a competitive RFP. Indianapolis

education nonprofit The Mind Trust is overseeing the first year of implementation in partnership with the Indianapolis eLearning Fund. The Lab is now available to educators and families across the state, free of charge.

“As eLearning becomes part of the new normal, educators and families across the state need enriching content, opportunities for collaboration, professional development and technical assistance so they can address common challenges and help students thrive in a remote learning environment,” said Claire FiddianGreen, president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, who serves as an advisory member of the Indianapolis eLearning Fund and an executive member of the Indianapolis College Football Playoff National Championship host committee. “The Indianapolis eLearning Fund developed the Indiana eLearning Lab as a way to address these needs on a statewide scale. We’re so grateful that the CFP Foundation has partnered with us to make possible this hub to support Hoosier teachers and students.”

Keith Thomas Jr., a secondary mathematics specialist at Paramount Schools of Excellence, knows the challenges of virtual teaching, as he had to transition to virtual teaching overnight when schools were closed in March. While he still enjoys teaching remotely, Thomas Jr. said

he missed the connection with his students and fellow teachers.

“I’m looking forward to the community element,” he said.

Already, one Indianapolis school district has said it will restart the year with remote learning. The other 10 public school districts in Marion County are offering both in-person and virtual options for families.

Thousands of students are expected to start the school year online.

“As districts throughout Indianapolis and across the state make decisions about how to approach this upcoming school year, one thing we know is that eLearning will be part of the new normal.” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett.

The lab is designed to provide teachers with specific resources, professional development and a place where they can go to find their peers, to help best identify best practices in eLearning for their particular subject area and their grade level. Students, parents and teachers can access the hub online and go there for resources during this new era of learning.

“The vision for the hub really came from Indiana educators and leaders who were looking for a place where they could find high quality resources and supports that are aligned with Indiana standards,” Fiddian-Green said.

A virtual ‘tour’ of the eLearning Lab is available for download here.

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