School Reopening Snapshots
The Parabola Project is working closely with leaders to learn and capture insights as they return to in-person learning. This page offers brief Snapshots around school reopening, featuring recent examples and perspectives from the field. Have a powerful learning of your own to share? Tweet us at @LearningAccel, @AriadneLabs, #ParabolaProject or send us an email!
Virtual Oral Assessments
Accurately assessing students in a hybrid setting is challenging since not all students are in a quiet, controlled classroom to administer traditional assessments like tests and quizzes. The math team at Uxbridge High School has adjusted to assessing students in a hybrid model by encouraging collaboration, and some teachers have allowed the use of notes during assessments.
Bring Clarity and Consistency with Virtual Notebooks and Color-Coding
For students in a hybrid model who attend classes both in person and remotely, clarity and consistency are key. Building clear structures that help students understand expectations, what needs to get done, and how to engage as they move back and forth between learning modes ensures true engagement, rather than simply attendance.
Cedar Rapids’ Approach to In-Person Learning
In addition to prioritizing teaching and learning this year, schools and districts across the country have to focus on reducing health and safety risks for their students and staff.
Mask-Wearing to Reduce the Risks of COVID-19
Mask-wearing is a powerful way of reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19. Schools returning to in-person learning have been working diligently to create expectations, routines, and norms to ensure that masks help keep their students safe.
Self-Screening Protocol for Parents
Callahan Elementary School’s nurse Maureen Gearty developed this flowchart for families in the Norwood, MA community to determine if students should attend school.
Revamp High School Schedules to Minimize Contact
Milford High School switched to a 4x4 schedule for the 2020-2021 school year to minimize risk of spreading COVID-19, believing this schedule would benefit students academically in response to the conditions caused by the pandemic.
Getting Staff Input on Safety Procedures to Get Them Meaningfully into the Game
Reopening relies on having all staff meaningfully bought into plans creation and implementation. Leaders are developing practices for ongoing staff engagement and feedback to build and offer clarity on plans.
Welcoming Students Back With Joy
The closure of school and navigation of COVID-19 felt traumatic for students and adults alike. As they reopen school doors, leaders are focusing on how to welcome students back with joy and celebration (while also implementing new safety policies).
Early Lessons in “Productive Overcommunication”
Educators leading school reopening talk about the importance of repeated, transparent, humanizing overcommunication of plans and expectations.