Learning Experience

Scheduling

All schools follow a common schedule arc to ensure a more consistent experience for all students.

Click to see sample schedules.

Grading

Grading is currently under development for all grade spans.

Attendance

Attendance will be measured by both participation (checking in, etc) and engagement (completion of assignments).

Attendance will be taken by the classroom teacher at elementary, the advisor at middle school, and for each course at the high school level.

Consistencies

Every student has a designated Portland Promise Point Person.

Every student experiences a regular advisory/morning meeting.

Every student experience a set of consistent learning experiences.

Educators prioritize essential standards to focus learning in remote and hybrid scenarios.

Educators streamline use of technology platforms to simplify and strengthen effectiveness.

All students will receive regular, meaningful feedback, in-person and remote.

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

  • Prioritize students’ social-emotional learning.

  • Streamlined use of technology platforms to simplify and strengthen effectiveness for staff and families.

  • Each grade span has a consistent approach to taking attendance.

  • Consistent School Kick-Off aligned to scenario and mindful of student needs coming off the spring.

  • All students will have access to developmentally appropriate physical materials for remote learning.

Every student has a designated Portland Promise Point Person.

Elementary (PK-5)

The classroom teacher is responsible for ensuring that every student on their roster has a point person and coordinating communication and support for all students using a team approach.

Middle School (6-8)

All students will have a designated “Advisor”. This person serves as a student’s primary SEL (social emotional learning) point person and stays attuned to their advisee’s academic growth, attendance, social emotional engagement and communicates with families (bi-weekly at minimum).

High School (9-12)

All students will have a designated “Advisor”. This person serves as a student’s’ primary SEL (social emotional learning) point person and to check stays attuned to their advisee’s academic growth, attendance, social emotional engagement and communicates with families (bi-weekly at a minimum).

Every student experiences a regular advisory/morning meeting.

Elementary (PK-5)

All students will experience a daily class meeting with their peers. In the remote or hybrid scenarios, these class community building meetings will be held synchronously and asynchronously.

  • Remote: daily, mix of synchronous and asynchronous (recorded)

  • Hybrid: daily, synchronous for students in person, asynchronous for students in remote

Middle School (6-8)

All students will have an advisory group (of approximately 15 students). Students will experience at least two synchronous advisory group meetings per week for 60 minutes each.

Advisors will facilitate daily attendance check-ins by 10:00am.

High School (9-12)

All students will have an advisory group (of approximately 15 students). Students will experience a facilitated meeting with their advisory group at least twice per week. These will ideally be held synchronously but asynchronous options will be provided so all students are able to access the group meetings.


All students experience a set of consistent learning experiences.

Elementary (PK-5)

Students’ learning experiences will be more consistent in the fall. A week will include:

  • Daily class meeting focused on SEL and community building (mix of synchronous and asynchronous)

  • Facilitated instruction from a teacher

  • English Language Arts, Math, integrated Science and Social Studies content and specials

  • An opportunity for students to discuss their thinking with peers and/or a teacher on a consistent basis

Middle School (6-8)

Students’ learning experiences will be more consistent in the fall. A week will include:

  • CREW/Advisory/Lions Pride time. In the hybrid scenario, this will occur in person for interaction with peers.

  • During In person time: Skill building around collaboration, using feedback and relating to one another.

  • Consistent opportunities for discussion and collaboration among students as a priority.

High School (9-12)

Students’ learning experiences will be more consistent in the fall. A week will include:

  • Bulldog Block/Deering Coaching/CREW focused on SEL and community building (mix of synchronous and asynchronous)

  • Facilitated instruction from a teacher

  • An opportunity for students to discuss their thinking with peers and/or a teacher on a consistent basis.

All students will have access to developmentally appropriate physical materials for remote learning.

Educators prioritize essential standards to focus learning in remote & hybrid scenarios.

Elementary (PK-5)

All students will experience the new math curriculum, Illustrative Math. Careful consideration is being given to prioritize the most essential standards (the “major work of the grade”). Literacy standards will be prioritized in a consistent way across schools. Science and Social Studies content will be woven into the literacy block.

Middle School (6-8)

All three middle schools will focus on prioritized standards and learning targets that are most essential for the progression of learning over time.

High School (9-12)

All high schools will focus on Graduation standards in each course and key standards to support next level coursework.

Educators streamline use of technology platforms to simplify and strengthen effectiveness.

Elementary (PK-5)

Students in grades PK-3 will experience the SeeSaw platform. Students in grades 4 and 5 will have their instruction and assignments organized in Google Classroom. All elementary students will experience google meets or zoom for full class, small group and targeted supports in remote settings. Finally, many will experience FlipGrip as a tool for supporting student collaboration. Schools will have tailored instructional programs and are working to streamline programs so as to reduce complexity for students and families.

Middle School (6-8)

All students will have their instruction and assignments organized in Google Classroom. All middle school students will experience google meets or zoom for full class, small group and targeted supports in remote settings. Finally, many will experience FlipGrip as a tool for supporting student collaboration. Schools will have tailored instructional programs and are working to streamline programs so as to reduce complexity for students and families

High School (9-12)

All students will have their instruction and assignments organized in Google Classroom. All high school students will experience google meets or zoom for full class, small group and targeted supports in remote settings. Finally, many will experience FlipGrip as a tool for supporting student collaboration. Schools will have tailored instructional programs and are working to streamline programs so as to reduce complexity for students and families.

All students will receive regular, meaningful feedback in person and remote.

Elementary (PK-5)

3-5: Provide an ELA diagnostic at the beginning of school aligned to priority standards.

Teachers enter reading benchmark into IC and End-Of-Unit Illustrative Math Assessments into LearnZillion

Teachers/Point Person will report out informally (every other week) and at the end of trimester on HOWLs.

Frequent feedback on assignments will be provided.

PreK will use Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG) to report out expected developmental progress towards the benchmark or, if in remote, “Not enough evidence yet”.

Middle School (6-8)

Summative Assessments will be entered on IC

Use 1-4 scale for academic assignments.

IC will be updated at least every 2 weeks for academic standards.

HOWLs feedback will be given weekly.

Shorter academic assessments, including performance tasks will be given.

Google Classroom will be used to:

  • Engage students with learning/launch learning, reflection and synthesis

  • Complete assignments

  • Provide daily agendas for all students

  • Give formative feedback on work in progress - from peers/teacher(s).

High School (9-12)

Time built into day & schedule for regular feedback

  • Students will receive regular, formative feedback on work in progress.

Regular, consistent communication with families regarding progress on course assignments and standards

Maintain current records in IC to allow students, staff, and families to monitor progress.

All schools will design a School Kick-Off that is responsive to the scenario context and mindful of student needs coming off the spring.

We will provide a virtual orientation to the school year including school protocols. School reopening will take time for building relationships with teachers/point people and classmates, learning the new protocols, including the expectations for health and safety as well as the tools for remote learning (technology platforms, take-home packets, etc.) We will emphasize students’ social and emotional needs. Schools will offer ongoing virtual meetings to review aspects of the school operations.

Wednesday Expectations

Click here for a breakdown of elementary, middle, and high school Wednesday expectations.