Supporting Teachers, Students, and Our AmeriCorps members During COVID-19
4.8.20 Update
Supporting Teachers, Students, and Our AmeriCorps members During COVID-19
As we enter the fourth week of Boston Public School closuresandcontinue tofollow recommendations from the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention, Governor Baker, and Mayor Walsh to stay home to limit the spread of COVID-19,we’veshifted our service virtually to meet the needs of Boston Public School students and our AmeriCorps members.
Our service model during the school closures supports teachers and students as they shift theirinstruction andlearning to a virtual environment. We’re also continuing to prepareAmeriCorps members for their career and educational goals through virtuallearning and development opportunities.
Virtual Classroom Support for Teachers
Our Boston Public School partners are focused on creating distance learning opportunities for students.鶹Ƶ Boston is committed to plugging intotheseonlinespacesasfullyaspossible.As our partnerschoolstransition to distance learning, AmeriCorps memberswill provide academic support through –
- Whole Class Support: AmeriCorps members monitor questions in the chat function, assist with lessonplanning anddelivery, and participate in office hours to answer students’ questions.
- Small Group Support: In platforms that allow smaller breakout spaces within a larger meeting, AmeriCorps members lead small groups to support teacher-designed core instruction orhold small group-based tutoring.
- Facilitation Support: Virtual community spaces can make it difficult to both run a lesson or meeting and manage the technical space. AmeriCorps members support lesson delivery in this way, including managing the chat, sharing resources, and communicating questions from the class.They also lead warm-ups and breaks.
Whether in-school or virtually, 鶹Ƶ AmeriCorps members support teachers as partners, co-planners, and collaborators,and serve students as mentors, role models, and tutors.While the transition to distance learning can be challenging,our AmeriCorps members can continue serving Boston Public School students and teachersby creating meaningful activities thatkeep students and the school community connected, support the curriculum, enrich the experience, andbring joy to the space.
Virtual Learning for AmeriCorps members
In addition to serving students and schools, 鶹Ƶ Boston is also committed to developing the next generation of leaders. Throughout their service year, AmeriCorps members participate in training and workshops thatprepare them for in-school service. They also participate inlearning and professional development opportunities to prepare them for their post-service career and educationgoals.
Our Virtual Learning Plan includes a mix ofvirtual trainings,self-guided content, andprofessional development opportunities, in addition toonline community-buildingactivities with their school teams.
As we continueto navigatethroughthese uncertain times, we appreciatethe understanding, patience, and flexibility of our 鶹Ƶ Boston community, especially our AmeriCorps members and the students we serve. Be sure to follow us onandfor updates.
To learn about our initial response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, read more here.
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