Remote Learning and Socialization "Pods"

​Hello moms, there has been a lot of talk about schools and remote learning and worries about socialization and isolation. I researched a ton about this idea, looking at ODJFS guidelines for child care, ODE recommendations, what Green has released about returning to school, and the discussions I've had with other moms who want to know their kids are getting the best education possible. I finally was able to sit down with my husband last night and come up with a plan of how this could work.

Please feel free to ask questions, PM me, or tell me concerns your family is facing with the upcoming school year options.

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Depending on how Green structures their online program, this could look a few different ways:

1. Option 1: Cohorts at homes (AKA pods, micro-schools) - a designated group of students (less than 10 per home) are dropped off each morning at the home, either as parents go to work, or before “live teaching” begins. They are picked up “after school ends” or parents can make arrangements.
   1. The Remote Learning Coach will wear a mask when directly interacting with students (per social distancing guidelines of wearing a mask if you will be in contact with a child for more than 10 minutes and less than 6 feet away) .
   2. The first floor of the home will be available for students to choose where they work best - they can sit at the dining room table with the coach, in the living room or family room on the couches or the floor, or work on the porch if they want to be outside. I even have a standing desk. They must position themselves at least 6 feet apart while working.
   3. School providing internet hotspots for students who have slow or no access to internet? This is a question for Green - if the internet signal can support all the devices on a network.
   4. Students should bring their Chromebooks, any pens or paper that they like, their own water bottle, packed lunch and any snacks they prefer, a favorite blanket (in case they get cold), and any sports equipment they would like to play with (I have a basketball hoop, and they can play baseball, or whatever they like).
   5. The Remote Learning Coach will make a work plan with students each morning, so that they can plan for live teaching, breaks, time outside, science experiments together as a group, art projects, and independent learning projects (each student will develop a project about something they are interested in, and we will research together). Each student’s pace and classes may differ, and we will have different grade levels, so it’s vital to have a work plan with due dates for assignments, progress on work, communication with teachers, and any concerns they have so that the coach can help them solve problems (for example, if they need to communicate with the teacher because they don’t understand an assignment, didn’t receive the correct grade, they need more time for an assignment, or are having trouble with any peers).
   6. If the student has an IEP, 504, or other special need, the coach will monitor the student to ensure they are receiving the services they need. We can also accommodate students with illnesses such as diabetes or epilepsy, or who take medication.
   7. We have security cameras all over the house. The Coach can “check in” on students who are in other rooms from my computer, so if they are asleep or there is a problem, we can always go back and review the video. If parents have any questions or concerns about the day, we can view the video together.
   8. Students can have their phones, and can listen to music (as long as they have headphones), but there may be times the coach asks them to put them away so they can focus. They can do social media during breaks, at lunch, or after the coach verifies they have completed their work, but they can’t be staring at Tik Tok while they are supposed to be doing live learning.
   9. The coach will check each student’s temperature with a scanning thermometer as they arrive in the morning. We will ask that each parent “self certify” their child each morning that they haven’t been sick, no one in their family is sick, and that they haven’t been exposed to the virus. If one of the students does get sick, we will ask all to self-quarantine for two weeks. We will also ask that parents sign a waiver.
   10. Parents can check in on the student work plan for a daily report. If there are any concerns, we can reach out to parents via phone, text, or Facetime.
   11. I am still unsure of pricing. I am looking at the costs I will incur, along with typical camp, child care, and tutoring costs. I want this to be affordable and cost effective. - I’ll be asking ??? per week, with discounts for multiple family members, essential employees, or financial hardship. If only attending three or four days a week, it will be ?? a day. I believe the service I offer will be very valuable in that your child will be monitored, in a safe home, with a former teacher and professional who has run an entire online school district, who can help them learn and navigate remote learning, is not going to be in a building with 400 students, but will still have a fun, active, socially active, low stress environment.
2. Option 2: Remote Learning Coach - I will be actively monitoring your child from wherever they are working. We will come up with a weekly schedule, and I will check in on their completion of their work plan daily. I would be available online, via phone or text, or I can FaceTime them. I will make sure they are logged in every day, completing assignments, know when assignments are due, and helping them talk to their teachers about any issues or concerns. I will provide a parent report each day. No more emergencies to deal with homework when you get home from work, no more whining and crying, and no more nagging! This option would be ??? a week, with discounts for multiple family members, essential employees, or financial hardship.

Thank you for all the interest and questions! I want the next school year to be awesome for my kids, and all the students and families navigating this "new normal" that is not so normal!

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