August 7, 2020 RCSD Educator Blog

From Deputy Superintendent Jamey Schrey

Happy Friday! 

I know this post comes at the end of a week worth of hard work, learning, frustration, and anticipation. I want to commend you for digging in and doing the work on behalf of children. 

I recently saw a post advocating the public to be patient as educators are busting their booties, working hard while also heartbroken at the current circumstances. I want to acknowledge, as I have had to do throughout the summer both with my team and myself, that we are not going to be perfect, we are not going to satisfy everyone, but that we will get up every morning and put our best foot forward. We did not cause the pandemic, but we must do the best we can because children need an education. This unequivocal belief is why in Board meetings, I share that each of you makes a difference for students.

When the hashtag, #RCSDChampions was first decided on, it was because educators are champions. You all lift the spirits of children, families, and peers each day with your energy, optimism, and modeling of how quality people should act and react. During distance learning, this does not change. You will be able to lift the spirits of children by greeting them, excite them that they will learn and be better off than before your class, and model both the day’s successes and your failures, mistakes, and faults. You will model for children that we are all humans, and together, we are powerful. You will model what champions show us each day when they lose or falter, and show up to the next game or next competition ready to try again. And as one of the parents in this district, I will cheer for you, thank you, and be your partner throughout this tough time!

So get up Monday morning and write yourself a permission slip that something like this: I give myself permission to be seen and heard, to show that even though I am doing my best, I will make mistakes, to embrace new learning, and to laugh and smile because I know that I am making a positive impact on children.

#RCSDChampions

Logging in Help for Students

All the videos in this section of the blog will be shared with parents today.

This was shared with teachers before, but here is a video showing students should be logging in and connecting to Google the first time.

Student Log In- Clever and Otus

If students say they are seeing the image below it means they have not connected their Gmail account to Otus. They have only to do this one time.

Google and Otus Connectivity Help Video. This video will help show students how they can connect their Gmail account to Otus if they get the error above.

Exploring Bookshelf or Classroom, Parent and Student View

This video (How to Get Started in Otus & Zoom as a Student - 7 minutes) is made to help families get logged into Otus, connecting to a Zoom meeting and interacting within the meeting.

We know they also got resources on how to create a family account in Otus, but a reminder our first priority is getting students logged in and working in Otus.

Using Rubrics in Otus for Make a Copy

Some teachers have asked when does Otus make a copy of a document for each student.  The individual copy of the Google document is created immediately when the teacher assigns the assessment, it does not wait for the specified date/time if the teacher chooses to schedule for a later date. 

If students see the error below it might look like the Google Doc is not there when they go to get their copy.  This is a Google issue, not Otus and we are working to find out more from Google.  However, just know they can still get to the doc by clicking on the attachment below.  We have tried it in multiple grade levels and teachers and the error does not always come up but if it does we wanted to show how students can still get to the doc.  Once again this is when using the make a copy feature.

Anyone with the Link Can View

When sharing resources with students and parents, it is best to have the share settings set to anyone with the link can view.

Youtube Setting

Some teachers have asked what Youtube setting to put for videos.  You can put Unlisted and make sure you share the links with students or parents.

Recording in Zoom

Jamey Schrey sent out an email today regarding recording lessons.  On Friday, 8/14, we will provide learning modules for staff to learn more on how to find the link to recordings in Zoom and have a system where students can get those links.  We will then provide live training on 8/17 both during PLC time and after to allow flexibility for staff to attend for those that want to learn more.  Below is the expectation in the email Jamey sent out:

• Beginning on 8/24 teachers will be expected to continue with live lessons and either complete one of two things:

1. Post the live instructional lessons for students and parents to access at a later time              OR            
2. Make a secondary lesson video, with the same instructional content presented live to students that day, and timeframe as the live lesson.

How to See Which Parent Sent You An Email in Otus

If a parent uses Otus to send you an email, it may appear you can't see who sent it.  Here is a video showing you how you can see it.  

Middle School Grading

We will get out next week information regarding the 8 levels.  We will send it to teachers first and then parents.  

To get to Learning Behavior standards, go to Custom Standards, Other, then select your subject.  1 is Engagement, 2 is Work Completion (example Math Learning Behavior is MA.LB.1 for Engagement).  Here is a spreadsheet that gives more information on the standards that we imported into Otus.

Educational Services- and ELA

Due to current deficit spending in the district, Educational Services downsized, and Melissa Duncan is now the principal at Kaseberg Elementary School. While we are thrilled for Melissa and the Kaseberg team, Educational Services must reorganize that we are down a coordinator position in our department. We also have to learn and adapt to such things as the ELPAC that the state has still not wholly agreed to how to implement in distance learning. With that being said, for the next month, ELA curriculum questions will be followed-up on by Julie Murdaugh, and ELA assessment and OTUS issues will be followed-up on by Joe Clark, while Jennie Ruvacalba is assisting with our EL students and ELPAC.

Middle School ELA Teachers

This summer, a group of very dedicated middle school teachers joined a committee to identify Essential ELA Standards for our RCSD middle schools. The following link will provide you with more information on the RCSD Middle School ELA Essential Standards Committee Work. Please also review the  RCSD Middle School ELA Essential Standards & Pacing Guides  to support your planning for the 2020-2021 school year.  

iReady
As we begin the year, here are some resources to help you plan for, and support administration of the iReady Diagnostic. The Diagnostic will be for all K-8 students and will be taken from home this year!
(Window for assessment: 8/10 - 10/09)

Starting the Year Resources for iReady

IMPORTANT Middle School Second Step Update: 

Teachers: Please WAIT on teaching any Second Step lessons/curriculum until after 8/28!  The company is doing an update for your curriculum and if you start before the 28th, it will delete your classes after the update.  This will be extremely frustrating!!  The program has made a few changes in several units.  This new RCSD Scope and Sequence calls for starting Second Step on Monday, 8/31.  With this in mind, it is recommended that you spend the first Monday building community and classroom culture and the following two Mondays can be used for more community building or Digital Citizenship (based on your site’s plan).  

Zoom As a Teacher

We know a lot of teachers used Zoom last spring but this video (How to Get Started in Otus & Zoom as a Teacher - 6 minutes) is a video showing how to connect to a Zoom meeting and interact within the meeting.