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Distance learning guiding Standards

Distance Learning for the 2020-21 school year will meet the requirements of Education Code Sections 43500-43511 to ensure all students receive rigorous virtual instruction. Virtual instruction for students this fall will look significantly different from the remote learning options that were offered last spring during the emergency school closure.

Live instruction: Monday thru Thursday

Teachers will connect with their students each school day through synchronous and asynchronous online instruction for their students

Mondays & Wednesdays: Synchronous: Periods 1, 3, 5, 7
Asynchronous: Periods 2, 4, 6
Tuesdays & Thursdays: Synchronous: Periods 2, 4, 6
Asynchronous: Periods 1, 3, 5, 7
Friday: Asynchronous: Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Teachers may request for students to participate in additional synchronous classroom sessions.

Synchronous

Students learn at the same time
Communication happens in real-time
Live interaction with teacher and students
Allows for timely feedback and clarification

Examples: Google Meet, Classroom Meetings, Live Chat, Live Streamed Videos.

Asynchronous

Students learn at different times
Communication is not live
Allows for flexibility and convenience Students can work at their own pace

Examples: Email, screencasts, Flipgrid videos, blog posts/comments, completing classroom assignments, reading, and research.

Student Attendance

Teachers will adhere to California Education Code Section 43504 requirements for taking and reporting student attendance through student participation in both synchronous and asynchronous instruction, verifying daily participation, and tracking assignments.
Students are expected to participate in all forms of instruction and complete all assignments and activities on synchronous and asynchronous instructional days.

Parent/Guardian Tips

For successful Distance learning environments

Establish a daily routine and schedule

It is important to develop good habits from the start. Create a flexible routine and talk about how it’s working over time. Help your students get up, get dressed, and get ready to learn. Keep normal bedtime routines, including normal rules for digital devices. Adjust schedules to meet your students’ classroom needs and don’t allow students to default to staying up late and sleeping late.

Stay connected

Teachers will mainly be communicating through our online platforms, virtual learning communities, and email. Make sure that your student(s) know how to login to Classlink and their email so that they can be successful. Stay in contact with teachers, counselors, and staff. If you have concerns, let someone know.

Encourage students to “own” their learning

No one expects parents to be full-time teachers or to be educational and content matter experts. Provide support and encouragement, and expect your student to do their part. Struggling is allowed and encouraged! Becoming independent takes lots of practice.

Encourage physical activity and exercise

Students learning from home will most definitely present a need to let off steam. Moving independently and together as a family is vital to health, wellbeing, and readiness for learning. Set fitness goals and plan activities that keep hands busy, feet moving, and minds engaged.

Manage stress & anxiety

We are going through a time of major upheaval to our normal routines and ways of life, and there is a great deal of stress and anxiety in the world right now. Emotions may be running high, and students may be worried or fearful. Parents may be stressed as well and children are often keenly aware of trouble. We have put in place layers of support for PUHSD students, so please do not hesitate to contact your students counselor if you need assistance.

Choose a good place to learn

Set up a physical location inside of your home that is dedicated to school-focused activities. Make sure that it is quiet, free from distractions, and has a good internet connection. Keep doors open and make sure that your student is practicing good digital citizenship & safety.

Begin and end the day by checking-in

Begin and end each school day with a simple check-in with your student. Have a discussion and ask:

What classes/subjects do you have today?
What are your learning goals today?
How will you spend your time?
What resources do you need?
What can I do to help?
How far did you get in your learning tasks today?
What did you discover? What was hard? What was easy?
What could we do to make tomorrow better?

These brief conversations matter and allows for students to process instructions that they receive from their teachers, stay organized, and set priorities. Not all students thrive in distance learning, some struggle with too much independence or lack of structure. These check-in routines can help avoid later challenges.

Monitor time on-screen and online

Distance learning does not mean staring at a computer screen all day every day. Teachers will aim to build in a variety of learning methods, but it will require some patience while everyone finds a balance between online and close-space offline learning experiences.

Connect safely with friends and be kind

The initial excitement of school being closed quickly fades when students start missing their friends, classmates, and teachers. Help your students maintain contact with friends through social media and other online technologies. Remember to monitor your student’s social media use. Remind your student to be polite, respectful, and appropriate in their communications, and to follow school guidelines in their interactions with others. Report unkindness and other problems to your student’s teacher and/or school administrator so that everyone maintains healthy relationships and positive interactions.

Establish a time for quiet learning

For many families, students learning from home and possibly parents working from home has created unexpected chaos. It’s good to build in some time for peace and quiet. Siblings may need to work in different rooms to avoid distraction. Many families will need to negotiate access to devices, priorities for wi-fi bandwidth, and schedules throughout the day. Noise-canceling headphones are a great idea for online learning.