As our administrative oversight duties for our Online Secondary School have dwindled, I've begun to consider what might be our next challenge. It was exciting supporting teachers as they shifted to a fully-online model, but I am less excited about supporting them as they return to an adaptive or hybrid model in their home schools … Continue reading No Longer School Online
Month: October 2020
School Online – Journal – Days 35 to 41
In my last post I wrote about "gradual release of responsibility", and now it applies to me. Last week was mark reporting, and so we were busy supporting teachers to enter marks, and ensuring that report cards were distributed via email to our students. Among our teachers are some with years of experience, alongside those … Continue reading School Online – Journal – Days 35 to 41
School Online – Journal – Days 31 to 34
Gradual Release of Responsibility This is our goal for our students in their learning. As an administrator, it is also my goal for my teachers. We are now reaching the mid-point of the quadmester, and if my inbox can used as a measure, we have been successful. Teachers are now busy reviewing their assessment data … Continue reading School Online – Journal – Days 31 to 34
School Online – Journal – Day 30
I started Day 30 with my usual trip through my Inbox, addressing questions from our teachers before the school day began. Then our admin team met with one of our teacher leaders, who has been working with us to prepare for next week's planned staff meeting. About 10 minutes into this meeting I was feeling … Continue reading School Online – Journal – Day 30
School Online – Journal – Day 29
After more than a week of delays, then finally a memo outlining our reporting process, there is now an entire "about face". I can't share it, because I'm not the official "messenger", but I know it is making the rounds in Facebook and Twitter. And yesterday's post seems prescient: many of our Ontario school boards … Continue reading School Online – Journal – Day 29
School Online – Journal – Day 28
I began my day with the voice of Stephen Hurley of voicEd.ca, in conversation about "rhythm". And that had me thinking about schedules and cycles within education. Then, when I listened to CBC Radio One, near the end of the day, it was Bruce Sellery talking about Income Inequality in Education with Gill Deacon on … Continue reading School Online – Journal – Day 28
School Online – Journal – Day 27
Fell asleep watching Murdoch Mysteries at 7:00 p.m. MacBook (personal computer) battery at 6%. Cannot find power cord this morning. Know inbox will contain questions that need answers before the day begins for our more than 500 teachers. So, at 5:56 am my day begins. I know that my days are much easier than those … Continue reading School Online – Journal – Day 27
School Online – Journal – Day 26
Today we began week three of our online school, and the nature of my email inbox is shifting. Student Attendance Our teachers are now pursuing students who haven't yet arrived. We ask them to reach out to parents first, then guidance counsellors, and finally to connect with the VP responsible for then student (as determined … Continue reading School Online – Journal – Day 26
School Online – Journal – Day 25
Day 25 was Friday, and Monday is World Teachers' Day, so I have waited until Sunday to post this blog. I have been recognizing World Teachers' Day in many ways over the past couple of decades, but this year has me stymied. How do we recognize how challenging this past year has been for our … Continue reading School Online – Journal – Day 25
School Online – Journal – Day 24
It's Day 24 for me, but Day 20 if you are counting instructional days. And that means that we must notify all of our teachers if they are scheduled to participate in either the Teacher Performance Appraisal process, or the New Teacher Induction Program. The TPA occurs every five years for our experienced teachers. The … Continue reading School Online – Journal – Day 24
