The Einstein Academy’s  PANTHER PERIODICAL    volume 1 issue 17 

May 1, 2020    

 

A photo from our teacher in-service. The teachers had an informative day collaborating with one another! The teachers had an incredibly productive in-service last Friday. We want to focus on the social-emotional needs of our students as well as their academic needs. Teaching and learning remotely is a new and unique concept for all of us. We shared ideas and resources available to help make this process as meaningful and enjoyable for everyone without creating too much stress for students, their families, and the teachers. As a team we have decided to focus on reading, writing, and math, as a whole, and to try to integrate the other subjects into these core competencies as much as possible. A parent asked me if it would be possible to let other Einstein parents know exactly how our teaching routine has been impacted due to the stay at home order. Although your child may only be online for a fraction of the time that is typically spent at school with the teacher, please know that the teachers are putting endless hours into adapting their lessons to meet the individual needs of each of their students. Teachers are also researching new and innovative approaches to teaching remotely while engaging the students as much as possible without having them sit in one place for too long. Please read Mr. Savage’s passage below on how his day is currently spent. While each teacher uses their time differently, they are all equally committed to our Einstein students. The teachers have also planned a few fun ways for the entire student body to connect. The 1st activity is a BINGO game this coming Wednesday, May 6, from 7-8PM; the next activity is an all-school musercise on Thursday, May 15, at 8:30AM. We know students and parents are anxious to clean out their desks, lockers, and cubbies as well as pick up their yearbooks and receive their report cards. We have tentatively scheduled a pick-up/drop-off time for mid to late June. However, we are still working out all of the details so this process is as safe as possible for everyone. We will let you know the specifics in a future Panther Periodical. The teachers are currently working on a list of items needed from each student; once all items are returned and accounted for, the teachers will be sending out report cards. Please know that we are consulting several experts prior to finalizing a decision for how to best handle this process because safety is, and always will be, our primary concern.  

 

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER: Tuition Assistance Forms and all required documents are due today Wed, 5/6: #einsteinwackywednesday, crazy hair day...be sure to post a photo! May 6: Einstein BINGO at 7pm via ZOOM  

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PANTHER PERIODICAL Volume 1 Issue 17

 

5/14: All-school musercise at 8:30am via ZOOM (link will be sent next week) Virtual Senior Commencement: Sunday, May 17th at 10am (details to come) 8th Grade Virtual Graduation: Friday, May 22nd at 10am Friday, May 29: Last day of classes for preK-7th grade & VIRTUAL ACADEMY SHOW TBD: textbook drop-off, locker cleanout, & yearbook pick-up (PARENTS ONLY)    

A SHELTER-AT-HOME DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN EINSTEIN TEACHER:  Mirabile dictu! My days are radically different in some ways since we have moved to distance learning, but I think we have done a pretty good job of creating some degree of order in our “school” day! I may not have a 35 mile commute to work now, but I am still up by 6 and working by 7. I may be spending less time in the car, but I am spending at least 8 hours a day teaching, grading, planning new lessons, researching the most effective means of e-learning, and consulting with teachers from all over the country to see what is working for them!  At 8, I get online with students, and I am online most days until after 2, with a break for lunch. Although now I am alternating between the two HS sections, we all get to meet together on Friday for an interactive game or exercise. Right after HS, I teach 4th grade, and we have found an online module (lapis.practomime.com) that gives students a range of multisensory exercises we/they can explore to make sure they are learning as well as possible. With 2nd and 3rd, I am writing simple stories in Latin with visuals, giving them a chance to read and respond along with me in Latin. I don't get to meet with the PreK kids and the 1st and 2nd grade every day, but it gives me such joy to see them and their interactions with webcams. 7th and 8th grade is also alternated, and beginning students are using a new textbook that starts each chapter with a graphic novel story. With MS, I am really having fun exploring zoom! Zoom has some pretty amazing capabilities! I can give control of the mouse to students so we can do sorting exercises, or I can ask them to fill in worksheets, or we can work together collaboratively on a Google doc or form. Most of my students are in “class” with me for less time than a normal school day, but, by breaking into smaller groups and using the breakout group function of zoom, I feel I am able to offer more individualized instruction and am more able to get to the heart of what difficulties students are facing, academically and emotionally.  I am REALLY trying to understand the emotional impact this crisis is having on the kids, and sometimes that takes a back seat to the academic work I had planned for that day. I spend hours a day (and on the weekend) adjusting my lesson plans so that students can interact with me and with others as much as possible...I am really trying to create that feel of a classroom setting! Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I do not. On a personal level, I continue my online guitar lessons through the Old Town School of Folk Music, but that is not working out so well, and I have just begun an online Spanish class for Latin teachers. I am pretty sure this is going to be a blast and will give me even more insight on effective methods of online learning. Even though I am not working with every student every day, I am working harder than ever, and I hope I am making the best of a bad situation. I miss all the kids and parents and especially my colleagues! ~ Magister Savage  

Virtual Einstein Academy Show: Every year on the last day of school we have our amazing ACADEMY SHOW that showcases all of our students’ incredible talents. This year Kloey Mazur, a 5th grader in Mrs. Baldini’s class, came up with the idea of hosting it virtually. The Academy Show is open to all Einstein students prek-12 and their families. A link to a sign-up form is included with this email. Please fill out and submit as possible so we can figure out the logistics for this fun end of the year event.

 

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