Dear Teacher
By Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts
Learn About what Is Happening in Classrooms This Year
Parents: There are definitely a lot of unknowns about how your children’s classes will look like when they return to them this fall. It is expected that most schools at all levels will have students back in person in the physical classroom. However, many schools will also have a virtual option for families whose children have immune disorders or other problems. It is expected that most virtual learning, especially at the elementary level, will be done by a fully virtual teacher rather than a classroom teacher. Furthermore, children who are exposed to COVID and need to quarantine may still need access to online learning to keep up with their peers. We advise parents to keep up to date with what is happening in their local schools. It could vary widely from district to district! No matter what your children’s schools will look like, it is clear according to all the experts that most will not have learned what they would have learned without the disruption of the Pandemic! This is especially true for those children who have a special education diagnosis. Many were not able to receive the accommodations that they were entitled to on their Individual Education Plans (IEP).
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Family • August 2021
It is very important this year for parents to attend Back to School Nights to learn first-hand how their children’s teachers are planning on handling any learning deficiencies their children may have suffered. There has been a wide variance in how much students have learned in online programs. Teachers are potentially in the dark about what their students learned last year because of the lack of standardized testing data. For all of these reasons, you really need to hear directly from the teachers on Back to School Nights about what their curriculum will look like for your children and how they plan to close any learning deficiencies. There are two things that can help you see where your elementary and middle children currently are academically. One is to determine their reading level. The San Diego Quick Assessment test will quickly provide you with this information. You can find it online and on our dearteacher website. Two, you will find it to be helpful to know what your children should have learned last year in most of their subjects. It is easy to find this information. Just go to your state’s education department website. Type in curriculum or content standards and the grade you are looking for.
Our 100th Issue!
