Google Doc version to view or share: A Starting Point for Educator New School Year Planning
This resource provides a checklist of ideas that educator can consider as they prepare for the 2021-22 school year.
Virtual Open House
Areas addressed: Communication and Feedback, Roles and Responsibilities,
Hosting a virtual open house provides an opportunity for families to engage with the school community and child’s teachers.
Family/Student Tech Tip of the Week
Areas addressed: Technology Tools
Providing a tech-tip of the week for families/students will help them navigating the different technologies students are utilizing.
Virtual Field Trips
Areas addressed: Attendance and Engagement, Instructional Tools, Learning Environment
In-person field trips aren’t possible during the pandemic, but virtual field trips offer fun learning experiences for students.
Student Emotional Stress
Areas addressed: Communication and Feedback, Roles and Responsibilities, Student Wellbeing, Support Structures
Plan ahead to be able to respond/help students through another year of remote learning.
Shorter Breaks
Areas addressed: Student Wellbeing, Organization and Study Skills
Plan for possible shorter breaks/holidays due to COVID or remote learning.
Plan Fun Virtual Events for Students
Areas addressed: Student Wellbeing, Attendance and Engagement
Heritage High School in Brentwood, CA, used Instagram Stories to livestream a Virtual Senior Banquet featuring video highlights from the last four years at school, speeches from staff and students, and “Best of the Best” (superlatives) award winners. They followed that with a shared, fun movie experience using Netflix Party—a Google Chrome browser extension that creates a shareable link to access a movie synchronously and provides a real-time chat feature. Scroll to Netflix Party FAQ’s to learn more.
Consistent Communication
Areas addressed: Communication and Feedback, Roles and Responsibilities, Instructional Tools, Learning Environment
Soliciting parent/family input to get to know each student better and gather feedback: what is working, what they may need assistance with, what questions they have.
Adjust and Adapt
Areas addressed: Student Wellbeing, Attendance and Engagement, Learning Environment
Be prepared to change routines if something is not working. School will still look different from what it was before the pandemic.
Create Small Bank of Remote Lessons
Areas addressed: Organization and Study Skills, Instructional Tools
Even if school resumes in person, it’s good planning to have a bank of remote lessons to go to, just in case.
Virtual Check-ins
Areas addressed: Communication and Feedback, Student Wellbeing, Support Structures
If a student is struggling, provide an option for a brief virtual meeting with the parent/family at the beginning or end of the day.
“Make-up” special projects
Areas addressed: Student Wellbeing, Attendance and Engagement
If there was a special grade-level project you had to skip because of the pandemic, see if you can incorporate it into your class. Students may have missed out on things that are seen as “rites of passage.”
Community Building
Areas addressed: Student Wellbeing, Support Structures
Focus on in-person classroom community building and think of ways to adapt this to a remote or hybrid learning environment.
Think Online First
Areas addressed: Organization and Study Skills, Support Structures, Instructional Tools
By making sure everything is available online you put equity first and are best prepared to pivot to remote learning if needed.
Collecting Information
Areas addressed: Support Structures, Technology Tools
Gather information about students to assist with developing personalized learning goals and plans. Some information may be collected one time (e.g., internet access) and others may be collected several times (essential learning).
Identify Opportunities to Connect
Areas addressed: Student Wellbeing, Support Structures, Attendance and Engagement
Identify ways to connect with each student, individually.