Distance Learning

Dear Hayfield Elementary Families:

As we continue to prepare for Distance Learning, which begins Tuesday, April 14, we wanted to give you a few more details about what you can expect. Please review the information below and continue to communicate with your child’s teacher, counselor, and administration about any questions you might have. Thank you for your continued flexibility and understanding as we continue to navigate these unchartered waters together.

GRADING

No fourth quarter grades will be assigned to elementary students due to equity issues of access to technology and limited student ability to submit work during distance learning.  Teachers will provide ongoing feedback to students through the Distance Learning experience.

PACKETS

Elementary students will engage in teacher-led and independent learning.  Learning packets will continue to be distributed by mail to all PK-6 students on a weekly basis through the end of the academic year. Both review material and new content in literacy and math will be included in the packets. In the coming weeks, science and social studies content will be added. There is no expected order or schedule to begin working on the packet. Teachers will not be collecting or grading them; however they may be referenced from time to time during virtual instruction. 

CABLE LESSONS

Content lessons in math & literacy are available on FCPS Cable Channel 21. Families can also access these programs online at www.fcps.edu/tv. Read alouds will be available in different languages. 

TEACHER INSTRUCTION

What’s most important to remember is that this instruction will never be as powerful as our classroom experiences. We’ve shared with our teachers that they are moving from a role as a facilitator to a coach. Students have moved from a highly structured daily schedule at school to a fluid, more self-directed schedule. Our expectation is that families will continue to work in ways that best support their entire family’s needs. 

Please expect adjustments as teachers are learning to teach in this new “classroom.” One day may look different from the day before as teachers figure out how to meet the many needs of students and families. Here are some ways your child’s teacher will be providing instruction and learning activities:

• Leading instructional activities for up to an hour via Blackboard Collaborate. Each teacher will email a link to enter their live video-conferencing session. Instruction might be a discussion or a morning meeting or reading a story together or solving a math problem together. These sessions will be recorded and can be watched later if a student cannot access them at the scheduled time for the live session.
• Posting tasks & activities on the Blackboard website that support learning. Specialists in Art, Music, STEM & PE will also be posting activities. Again, there is no schedule for completing these. Your child’s specialist teacher will be available during posted office hours for questions/check-ins.
• Some teachers have set up Google Classroom for their students. If your child has tasks to complete in Google Classroom, they will post that in Blackboard first.
• Here are the 1-hour blocks that each grade level will be on Blackboard Collaborate for synchronous learning time:

COMMUNICATION

Teachers will provide a scheduled time when they are available to connect with students and families (aka “office hours”). It’s a time to ask questions and share any updates, not for individualized instruction. Teachers may use Blackboard Collaborate, the telephone, or email to connect with students/families and to answer questions.

7633 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, VA 22315  |  Phone: 703.924.4500

Attendance: HayfieldElem.Attendance@fcps.edu | Web | Twitter