Virtual teaching guide for the Bronx
BY ALEX MITCHELL
As teachers and students become
more and more situated to remote
learning, a group of Bronx public
charter schools recently released a
guideline on the best practices for
distance education.
Titled “Best Practices for School
Continuity During COVID-19,” it is a
guidebook demonstrating that “academic
success can and must remain
a high priority for schools in a time
of distanced learning,” something
claimed to have seen recent success
at Bronx charter schools as New
York State test scores showed the
academies skyrocket between 12 and
15 percentage points last year.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic
hit, Bronx charter schools were determined
to continue the story of
their students beating the odds,”
the charter school group stated in
a release.
In order to beat those odds,
these educators advise the
following guidelines:
Balancing Full-Grade Classes
and Small-Group Instruction
Claiming that distanced learning
provides “the unique opportunity for
large groups of students to receive education
from a school’s most skilled
teachers and educators,” it is advised
that schools can start instruction
with large class lecture-style learning
from a lead instructor prior to
breaking out students into smaller
groups led by same subject teachers.
Ensuring a Feedback Loop
The schools claimed one benefi t to
virtual classes is allowing instructional
coaches to seamlessly dip in
and out of online classrooms.
“That enables instructional
coaches and master teachers to witness
lessons more frequently. Teachers
can get feedback electronically
and in real-time, improving instruction
almost immediately.”
It is that feedback loop where “observations
are celebrated and growthoriented,”
that has importance for
both long-term instructional success
and developing a “healthy virtual
school culture.”
New Virtual Tools and Field
Trips
Let’s be honest, fi eld trips are
the best days of the academic year
for students and these Bronx charter
schools emphasize that virtual
instruction doesn’t have to prevent
schools from engaging in their regular
trips and site visits.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,52 NOVVEMBER 6-12, 2020 BTR
Students across the borough — and their parents and teachers — are adjusting to remote
learning. Photo via Pexels
At Classical Charter Schools in
the south Bronx, teachers invited
guests like Harlem Globetrotter Hebert
“Flight Time” Lang, Navy Blue
Angel pilot Scott Moyer and a local
newscaster to diversify instruction
and continue to expose students to
real world professionals.
Embracing Arts and Music
One of the most diffi cult challenges
for schools has been incorporating
arts and music learning into
remote instruction, but the Bronx
schools say they are “indeed critical
to differentiating the day and keeping
students engaged.”
Bronx and upper Manhattan based
Zeta Charter Schools offers violin lessons
to all of its students and worked
with New York Philharmonic violinist
Kuan Cheng Lu to offer a virtual
lesson during the height of the pandemic
in New York City.
Cultivating Community and
Virtual Celebrations
“Schools are truly the anchors of
the communities they serve, and the
only way to navigate the COVID-19
crisis emotionally is to make sure
students, teachers and families feel
a bond within that community,” the
charter schools claimed.
They recommend educational
events, family trivia nights, movie
nights, can offer academic benefi ts
while simultaneously bringing your
community closer together at a time
when families need it most.
“Having families fi lm and photograph
their students describing
different academic projects
they’re working on at home encourages
academic curiosity, connects
school communities, increases attendance
and motivates students to
continue learning.”
Social Service Supports
The COVID-19 pandemic has
shined a bright light on how schools
act as a plethora of social services
and supports for families in need, the
charter schools said.
“During a remote learning period,
just as schools may conduct an inventory
of families’ technological needs,
it’s important to constantly gauge
how families are weathering this
public health and economic crisis.”
The schools suggested regular
check-ins with parents to help ensure
that families and children have
what they need, especially with
food insecurity.
“If needed, schools should work
with food vendors to deliver or provide
pick-up days for families to get
their meals from a reliable location
during the week.”
The Bronx charter schools said
that communicating ways to get access
to meals alleviates a real burden
for families and allows children to
focus on learning.
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