Elementary Online Learning offers school- and district-level leaders and administrators a field-tested approach to developing formal and interdisciplinary online education, in-house and from scratch, for grades K-5. While it is possible today to purchase off-the-shelf online platforms from for-profit companies, many elementary schools have the option of creating their own programs, curricula, and instructional strategies that are deliberately tailored to the strengths and needs of their own communities. This book provides practical and effective approaches to cohesive, data-driven program design, synchronous and asynchronous teaching, professional development, family partnerships, and much more. Each chapter is full of research-based ideas, recommendations, and prompts that will help schools yield online education that is interdisciplinary, socially just, and student-driven.
Author(s): Lana Peterson, Holly Skadsem
Publisher: Routledge/Eye on Education
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 215
City: New York
Cover
Half Title
Series
Title
Copyright
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
Voices from New Code Academy
Spotlight on Practice: Should We Build a K-12 Online School by Fall?
The Conception of New Code Academy
Spotlight on Practice: Taking a Leap of Faith to Online Teaching
A Day We Will Never Forget
Guiding Instructional Research and Framework
Community of Inquiry
Learning Coach
Cognition and the Brain
Spotlight on Practice: Key Aspects of High-Quality Learning Experiences
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Universal Design for Learning
Elementary Learners
2 Establishing a Lens of Equity and Social Justice
What is Equity?
Access
Spotlight on Practice: Knowing Learners Culturally, Academically, and Personally to Build Equitable Instruction
Achievement
Identity
Spotlight on Practice: Sometimes the Best Professional Development Includes ‘Unlearning’
Power
3 Building the Foundation of New Learning
Purchasing vs. Building Curriculum
School Design Teams
Spotlight on Practice: Permission and Compassion
Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Spotlight on Practice: This Is What Teaching Is About
Spotlight on Practice: Building Interdisciplinary Curriculum Provides a High Return on Investment
Building in Parallel
4 Designing an Elementary Online Program
Program Design Development
Brain-Based Learning
Structure
Schedule
Communication
Staffing and Leadership
Spotlight on Practice: Online Physical Education Builds Real-life Fitness and Health
Partner School
Instructional Staff
Leadership Model
Partnering and Program Evaluation
Resources
Spotlight on Practice: Using Materials to Move From Concrete to Abstract Online
Technology
Food
5 Facilitating Teacher Professional Development
Spotlight on Practice: Embrace the Change of Teaching Online
Back to School Professional Development
Instructional Coaching
Spotlight on Practice: Doing More by Doing Less, an Exercise in Glass and Rubber Balls
End of the Year Reflective Focus Groups
Spotlight on Practice: Misconceptions About Online Learning
Curriculum and Lesson Documentation
6 Launching the First 20 Days Online
Planning the First 20 Days
Digital Competencies
Routines and Rituals
Community Building
Spotlight on Practice: Breaking Down Large Digital Learning Goals into Scaffolded Lessons
Lessons Learned in the First 20 Days
Spotlight on Practice: Leading “Meet the Teacher” Conferences to Build Trust and Relationships
Families and the First 20 Days
Spotlight on Practice: Creating Access Points for All Students to Thrive Online
7 Leading Live Instruction
Spotlight on Practice: Developmental Needs for Primary Learners
Active
Participatory
Spotlight on Practice: Breaking Out of Whole Group Meetings into Smaller Discussions
Multimodal
Personal
Differentiated
Spotlight on Practice: Leading Live Instruction with Upper Elementary Students
Cameras
8 Designing Effective Asynchronous Instruction
Spotlight on Practice: Designing Accessible and Effective Independent Learning Activities
Consistent Routines
Types of Independent Work
Lesson Creation
Spotlight on Practice: The Best Tool at Your Disposal Is Knowing Your Kids
Accessibility
Feedback
Spotlight on Practice: Using Different Feedback Loops for Student Academic and Social-Emotional Growth
9 Fostering a Home-to-School Connection
Learning Coach
Spotlight on Practice: A Nana’s Journey as a Learning Coach and Advocate
Onboarding Families
Communication
Student-Specific Emails and Messages
Classroom Peek at the Week
Spotlight on Practice: Communication Is the Key to Working With Families in Online School
All School Weekly Newsletter
Social Media
Volunteering
Spotlight on Practice: Family Contributions to Community Building
Virtual Family Nights
10 Creating a Sense of Belonging in Online School
Daily Community Connection
Morning Meeting
Midday Check-in
Closing Circle
Spotlight on Practice: Investing Time in Social Emotional Learning and Community
School-Wide Community Building
Spirit Weeks
School Identity
School Rallies
Class Parties
NewsBYTEs News Show
Creating Space for Socialization
Spotlight on Practice: Building Community Through Book Clubs
Teacher Moves That Make a Difference
Spotlight on Practice: Scaffolding Play to Build Authentic Connections
11 Evolving and Growing
Priorities for Building K-5 Online Programs
Spotlight on Practice: Driving Reform in a Large System
Next Steps for New Code Academy
Spotlight on Practice: Developing Mutually Beneficial Partnerships to Strengthen Your Online Program
Next Steps for K-5 Online Learning
Spotlight on Practice: A Music Specialists Reflections on Moving Online
Glossary
Appendix
Index
