{"id":7788,"date":"2020-03-04T20:15:10","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T20:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/?p=7788"},"modified":"2020-03-05T06:38:53","modified_gmt":"2020-03-05T06:38:53","slug":"starting-virtual-school-off-on-the-right-foot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/starting-virtual-school-off-on-the-right-foot\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting Virtual School Off on the Right Foot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Insights from a Middle School Teacher at Saigon South International School <\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we head into our fifth week of Virtual School in Vietnam, I think back to the day it was\nannounced that students would not be returning to campus due to the \u200bCOVID-19 Coronavirus\u200b.\nThis was late on a Sunday evening, but the next day, teachers came to campus as usual. By\nthe end of that Monday, our middle school had our Virtual School platform up and running.\nThe credit for such a successful start goes to the organization and communication of our\nprincipal, as well as the willingness of our unified staff to tackle the challenge together. We\nwere fortunate to have positive support and clear direction from Day 1.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are quite a few structures and strategies that have helped us be successful. The\nuniformity across our middle school at Saigon South International School has helped create\nstability and positive experiences for our students and staff. For those of you just getting\nstarted, I\u2019d like to share some of the approaches that have worked well for us:\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Preparation\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

–For those of you who have not started Virtual School, make sure students take home their\nnotebooks\/books every day. You likely won\u2019t know in advance if your school will close.\nLikewise, as a teacher, take your needed items home each day. We’re allowed on campus to\nwork, but in some countries, no one is allowed on campus.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–Determine if there can be a pick-up location for students or parents to get materials, books,\nor other items they may need from the classroom. For our school, this is outside of our\nsecurity and health checkpoints, not in our secure campus grounds.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacing\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

–Realize that you can\u2019t keep to the same lesson pace as you would in the classroom. It\u2019s okay\nto have lessons that extend over two classes. It\u2019s okay to change pacing to fit your students\u2019\ndigital capabilities and digital access. It\u2019s okay to have check-in days to make sure students\nare ready to move on to the next teaching point. As professionals, we are always modifying\nfor our students\u2019 needs and if pacing has to adjust, we have to tell ourselves that it\u2019s okay!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–Give estimated times for completing each part of a lesson. Having these as guidelines will\nhelp students with understanding expectations and help them with time management. It also\nhelps teachers plan better. \u200bWe don’t really know how long it will take kids in their home\nenvironment – and we can’t see how long it is taking them. This allows us to figure out what\nadjustments need to be made.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Simplicity\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

–Definitely keep it simple. Estimate that students can do about 1\/2 of what they can do in\nclass for the time given. Some students may need more time, or 1-1 instruction through video\nconferencing.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–Give clear, simple, numbered directions for each assignment. Remember that not all of our\nstudents speak English as a first language, and even for those that do, simple, short directions\nare best. For example:\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Open this \u200bslideshow\u200b.
\n2. Find the document called: \u201c5. Narrative Ideas\u201d in your Google Drive.
\n3. As you read the slides, complete the matching sections in your document.
\n4. When you are finished, submit your document through PowerSchool Learning.\n5. Due Date: 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10th.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formatting\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

–Keep your format for delivery the same for each lesson. For my own Virtual Classroom\nlessons, I have slideshows for each lesson which are uploaded to PowerSchool Learning, our\nschool\u2019s online learning platform. I\u2019ve found that keeping my slideshow presentation for each\nlesson and creating a matching document in their Google Drive is easiest for my students.\nThe slideshow often includes a video of me teaching as one of the slides.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–Start a numbering system in their Google Drives. I suggest your first virtual assignment\nbeing called: 1. (And whatever it\u2019s name is). You\u2019ll thank yourself later when you\u2019re going\nthrough 10+ documents for 100+ kids!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—-Have all class lesson directions delivered in the same format for all subjects. Unify the\nlayouts of pages where students will find information for each class. This was managed by\nour IT director and administration. On our first day, every teacher immediately created a\n\u201cVirtual School\u201d page that every student would land on when they went to any PowerSchool\nLearning class. This page has identical layouts for all subjects, making it easier for students\nto find what they need.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consistency in Times\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

–Consistent timing across a division is important. At our middle school, all teachers post their\nlessons at the same time each day. This time is between 7:30-8:00 a.m. All assignments are\ndue at the same time as well (9:00 p.m. to allow students to help younger siblings at home\nduring the day.) This allows for students, whether in or out of country, to access information\nat the same time each day, as well as only having one time to remember for submission\ndeadlines.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–We\u2019ve encouraged our students to stay on a school schedule, and to check in with their\nclassroom teacher at the beginning of each class block. We know how important it can be to\nhave routines in an abnormal situation, for both physical and emotional well-being. The\nfeedback we have received is that having a routine as close to regular school as possible is\nhelping our students to view this experience as Virtual School, rather than, \u201chaving a lot of\nhomework.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–Students are asked to check in for the first 20 minutes of each block via Google Meet. I go\nover the new lesson, answer questions, and clarify directions. More often than not, students\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

are desiring interaction. They love to see their classmates online, and even though it isn\u2019t the\nsame, seeing their faces virtually always makes my day better as well! After the first 20\nminutes, anyone can stay and work via video conference with me.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Structures for Feedback\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

–The structures we have in place for feedback have been incredibly helpful. Our\nadministrator sends weekly surveys to students and we use these to monitor who we can\nreach out to on a regular basis. We track responses week-by-week to see change over time,\nto determine how our students are feeling about their learning, and to see where we can\nimprove. We know that our students have academic needs and socio-emotional needs, and\nour feedback systems focus on both. If your school has an advisory system, I\u2019d encourage\nyou to capitalize on advisory teachers’ relationships with students as you ask students for\nfeedback.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Structures for Tracking and Helping Students\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

–Our administration also has systems in place for monitoring which students need help,\ntracking missing assignments, and setting up \u201ccase managers” for students who need extra\nsupport. These have worked very well. From using the analytics of PowerSchool Learning, to\nkeeping track of contact with every student in Google Sheets, we can see the history of\npersonal outreach to each student in our middle school.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–All of our teachers and staff reach out to individual students each day by video chats or\nphone calls, but we are also case managers for students who are struggling. We reach out to\nthese students more frequently. For the three students I help, I talk with them 3-5 times a\nweek. We set up plans for learning together, and I cheer them on as they finish assignments.\nI also encourage them to join their class chats with other teachers. The more contact we have\nwith our students, the better it is for all of us!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping Up the Fun!\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

–We’ve kept up what makes middle school fun for our students, too. House Leagues are still\nhappening, our latest trivia being, \u201cWhich Teacher Sang That Song?\u201d A weekly video on\nMondays is sent out for House Leagues, with jokes, wigs, funny hats, and point results all\nincluded.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–Videos are loved by our students! We are sending weekly fun videos on Fridays to the\nstudents from our entire MS staff. So far we\u2019ve had TikTok challenges, \u201cSSIS Without You,\u201d\nand a video montage that included Marz, the science classroom lizard. Our principal is the\npositive force behind these videos, and they are a huge hit.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–Our librarian has set up a system for daily library book check-outs. She has even wrapped\nup books as “blind dates” for students to enjoy, and there were a plethora of pink and\nred-wrapped books on Valentine\u2019s Day! Students could pick them up in a delivery area outside\nof school grounds from 9-3, and they are disinfected upon return. Our Book Bingo reading\nchallenge continues as well.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–In my own classroom, we are going to have a “Battle of the Memes” next week with\nstudent-generated memes connected to their analysis of Greek literature. I also have a joke\nready for my class each day when they log on for our Virtual Class. When students finish all\nof their assignments, I\u2019ve been known to dance on our video chats.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wellness\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

–Wellness for our staff is highly encouraged and supported. People care for each other at\nSSIS. We invite each other to go off campus and eat lunch. We get each other out of the\nclassroom to take walks outside. Our P.E. department organizes daily activities to get us\nmoving. Our Sunshine Committee provides healthy snacks and smoothie vouchers at a\nnearby cafe. We meet at the coffee pot, and we take breaks as needed. We listen, cheer\neach other on, and understand that this is tough and that we are there for each other.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–As a staff, we recognize that some days are great and we\u2019re super productive, and other\ndays it\u2019s hard to even open up another student folder to give feedback. These are the times\nwhen we reach out to the teacher next door for perspective (and perhaps some chocolate).\nLots of grace for others and for ourselves is encouraged.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, I have to say that the support and clear direction from my administrators has been\nfantastic. Our middle school leadership team is strong and unified. They are a critical\nconnection between administration and teachers, as we are not allowed to have large-group\ngatherings. I am very fortunate to have such a positive and supportive school in an uncertain\ntime.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we all eagerly await for the day our students can return (I have promised to throw paper confetti and dance, much to the delight of my students), we know that the structures we have in place are working, and we are modifying all the time to improve them. While we may only see our students through a screen for the unforeseen future, I\u2019d like to think that our relationships with them are even stronger, as we face this unique situation together. I wish the same for you and your students as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Erin Johnson is a Language Arts and Digital Literacy teacher at Saigon South International School. Along with her husband, she taught in China, Indonesia, South Korea, and the U.S. prior to coming to Vietnam. Erin is involved in leading students in Global Issues Network Club and believes that Service Learning should be a foundational component of a K-12 curriculum. Her interests include curriculum development, strategy board games, reading, and coffee. You can connect with her at <\/em>\u200bejohnson@ssis.edu.vn<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Insights from a Middle School Teacher at Saigon South International School As we head into our fifth week of Virtual School in Vietnam, I think back to the day it was announced that students would not be returning to campus due to the \u200bCOVID-19 Coronavirus\u200b. This was late on a Sunday evening, but the next […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7800,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[12],"tags":[2764,32,2780,2769,2770,2781,2765,416],"class_list":["post-7788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-highlighted-articles","tag-health-emergency","tag-international-schools","tag-international-schools-in-vietnam","tag-online-teaching","tag-remote-teaching","tag-saigon-south-international-school","tag-shut-down","tag-vietnam"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Students-receive-books-non-digital-assignments-and-extension-activities-to-complete-at-home.-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2flVT-21C","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1343,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/comments-and-information-about-hiring-policies-on-international-school-community-6-saigon-south-intl-school-amer-school-of-the-hague-changchun-amer-intl-school\/","url_meta":{"origin":7788,"position":0},"title":"Comments and information about hiring policies on International School Community #6: Saigon South Int\u2019l School, Amer. School of the Hague & Changchun Amer. Int’l School","author":"ISCommunity","date":"September 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Comments and information about hiring policies on\u00a0International School Community: Every week members are leaving information and comments about the hiring policies at international schools around the world.\u00a0 Which ones go to the Search Associates Recruitment Fairs?\u00a0 Which ones hold interviews over Skype?\u00a0 Which ones have hiring restrictions imposed on them\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools"","block_context":{"text":"Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/hiring-policies-at-intl-schools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/09\/images.jpeg?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8941,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/the-journey-to-school-united-nations-international-school-hanoi\/","url_meta":{"origin":7788,"position":1},"title":"The Journey to School: United Nations International School (Hanoi)","author":"ISCommunity","date":"November 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The journey to work is indeed an important one. \u00a0The journey though is not so clear for international school teachers when they are looking for jobs at schools in cities\/countries to which they have never been. \u00a0So let's share what we know! One of our members, who works\u00a0at the United\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Journey to School"","block_context":{"text":"The Journey to School","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/the-journey-to-school\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screen-Shot-2022-11-12-at-11.25.41.png?fit=1200%2C898&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screen-Shot-2022-11-12-at-11.25.41.png?fit=1200%2C898&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screen-Shot-2022-11-12-at-11.25.41.png?fit=1200%2C898&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screen-Shot-2022-11-12-at-11.25.41.png?fit=1200%2C898&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screen-Shot-2022-11-12-at-11.25.41.png?fit=1200%2C898&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2067,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/using-the-school-profile-search-feature-on-international-school-community-search-result-11\/","url_meta":{"origin":7788,"position":2},"title":"Using the School Profile Search feature on International School Community: Search Result #11","author":"ISCommunity","date":"June 20, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Only on\u00a0International School Community\u00a0will you be able to search for the perfect international school for you.\u00a0 You get the possibility to search (using our unique search engine) for international schools based on the type of school that best fits your criteria.\u00a0 There are many different kinds of international schools: ones\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "School Profile Searches"","block_context":{"text":"School Profile Searches","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/school-profile-searches\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"asdfsdf","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/asdfsdf.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":139,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/international-schools-that-were-founded-in-1988-budapest-johor-berne-bordeaux-hanoi-rome-etc\/","url_meta":{"origin":7788,"position":3},"title":"International schools that were founded in 1988 (Budapest, Johor, Berne, Bordeaux, Hanoi, Rome, etc.)","author":"ISCommunity","date":"December 25, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Random year for international schools around the world: 1988 Utilizing the database of the 1018 international schools\u00a0currently listed\u00a0on\u00a0International School Community, we found 10 international schools that were founded in 1988 (excepts about their founding are taken from the schools\u2019 websites): Koc International School (Istanbul, Turkey) \u201cFounded in 1988 by the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Highlighted Year for Int\u2019l Schools"","block_context":{"text":"Highlighted Year for Int\u2019l Schools","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/highlighted-year-for-intl-schools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/12\/screen-shot-2011-12-23-at-5-04-54-pm.png?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":414,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/blogs-of-international-school-teachers-backpacking-teacher\/","url_meta":{"origin":7788,"position":4},"title":"Blogs of International School Teachers \u2013 \u201cBackpacking Teacher\u201d","author":"ISCommunity","date":"May 28, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Are you inspired to start up a blog about your adventures living abroad? Check out the experiences of another teacher from the moment they signed the contract to what they are writing about after a few years working abroad. Our 2nd blog that we would like to highlight is called\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs of International Teachers"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs of International Teachers","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/blogs-of-international-teachers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2465,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/using-school-profile-search-feature-international-school-community-search-result-13\/","url_meta":{"origin":7788,"position":5},"title":"Using the School Profile Search feature on International School Community: Search Result #13","author":"ISCommunity","date":"November 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Only on\u00a0International School Community\u00a0will you be able to search for the perfect international school for you.\u00a0 You get the possibility to search (using our unique search engine) for international schools based on the type of school that best fits your criteria.\u00a0 There are many different kinds of international schools: ones\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "School Profile Searches"","block_context":{"text":"School Profile Searches","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/school-profile-searches\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/asdfasdfasdf.png?fit=402%2C270&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7788"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7788\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}