Superintendent Update 4/14/2020

Dear North Smithfield Families, 

Last we sent to our teachers and support personnel a summary of Instructional Guidelines for Distance Learning.  These Guidelines are based on parent and student feedback and best practices seen and suggested by North Smithfield’s teachers and administrators. 

We are sharing the guidelines with our families for review as well. Please take a look.  At the end we are including a link to a brief survey form for your direct input and feedback. 

General Considerations

• Family Situations - We have to be considerate of the wide range of time, support, and pressures our families are facing during this period. Don’t overwhelm either them or yourself.  
• Design for Independent Learning -  Not all students have parents to support their learning during the day and/or they may lack the confidence in their ability to learn independently. 
• Allow Extra Time - Without the teacher present to immediately answer a student’s direct questions, it will take students longer to complete an assignment. 
• Avoid Technology Overload - Be consistent with virtual meetings, web apps, and services to avoid technology overload.  Use Google Classroom to streamline information in one place for all the assignments, schedules, and expectations.  Leverage the consistent set of applications and capabilities of Google’s GSuite and other NSPS purchased and endorsed systems and services. 
• Encourage Personal Connections - Working remotely does not mean working alone. Give assignments or projects that encourage students to work collaboratively. 

Grade Level and Content Areas

• Organize -  Help students and families organize their time: 
  • Start the week with an agenda and framework for learning. This will help our students and families to better navigate their time and schedules. 
  • Give assignments at a consistent time (such as by 8am) or by intervals (such as every other day). Don’t drop assignments on students during the middle of the day.
  • Coordinate with your school, departments, and teams when you are scheduling virtual meetings to avoid overlapping. 
• Record your virtual meetings, discussions, demonstrations, and direct lessons and post to Google Classroom for review and replay. Capturing recordings will help accommodate all students and families no matter their schedules or circumstances. 

Itinerants/Electives

• De-emphasize written assignments - With Distance Learning, the content area teachers will have to focus more on reading and written assignments due to limited time for classroom discussion. 
• Emphasize the creative and experiential - This is an opportunity for students to engage in creative exploration and enrichment. Students can work on daily and weekly fitness goals. They can build or fix something with/for a parent. Students can draw, model, or create using any media, they can visit virtual museums, watch great performances and record performances of their own. There are so many opportunities and resources out there for students to explore, experience, and be active and creative. Lend them your guidance and encouragement.

Specialists and Support 

• Maintain connections and availability to students and families: Call, conference, check-in, connect students and families with local, state, and federal organizations and resources. Continue to do whatever it takes to ensure student physical and emotional  health, safety, and success. 

We welcome any further input by completing our brief survey: https://forms.gle/YdBAWPAfBfYcsT5c6


Michael St. Jean,
Superintendent

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