Rachel Freeman

Kindergarten Teacher & CMU MALDT Student

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

@chrissyteigen https://t.co/oneqz28JQT I work in a Title 1 district that provides free breakfast and lunch to every student.

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

#ESVideo suggests good ideas for ways to make lessons easy to work through for students. I have to challenge that the activities were mostly rote activity with no meaning-making for the student. How can we raise the quality of prerecorded lessons for our students? #ES #643Su20wk3

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

As much as I think synchronous class meetings are meaningful for students, creating pre-recorded videos for parents to help students work through at a time that works best for them seems to be what would be most accessible for families in my district. #ESVideo #ES #643Su20wk3

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

In the spring, most of our video calls were time for the students to see each other & chat. In the fall, I aspire to do more synchronous video calls with an academic focus - which will require practice, modeling, creating norms for this to work with kinder #ESZoom #643Su20wk3 #ES

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

Responsibility of facilitating online learning falls largely on the parents of students too young to read/write independently. How do we set up a system where parents are motivated to assist these young learners? And be held accountable when they don't? #ESZoom #ES #643su20wk3

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

A huge component of effective online learning is allowing spaces for students to be makers and creators. I need to start brainstorming ways for my kinders to do this! Any great ideas out there? #7BigIdeas #643Su20wk3 #ES

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

I have been thinking of how to bring my typical classroom activities to an online platform. #7BigIdeas stresses that you can't just translate ftf learning to online - you have to be willing to transform your teaching. It won't look the same as it does in person. #643Su20wk3 #ES

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

@krollpatrol I agree 100%. Parents not knowing how to engage with LMS tools (even when I did post tutorials) was one of the biggest hindrances this past spring. I hope districts realize they need to help if online or blended learning is going to be effective at all ages!

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

@LenaOliver_ Or, if districts mainstream LMS, they should communicate this at the time of enrollment!

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

@Ms_Samonek Some might feel that way at first! But I think breaking down that barrier of formality could be key to creating a meaningful relationship which is best for the student.

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

@mrheinz906 Yes, so true! How do we make sure parents aren't feeling overwhelmed - esp. families who don't speak English as their primary language?

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

@PanoffMoCI I did give families my personal number this past year, and luckily didn't have any parents try to contact me outside of normal hours. I have heard stories where giving your personal number doesn't go well though!

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

FERPA protects student information, but that doesn't mean districts don't need to screen online platforms/data storage that they plan to use. Does this fall solely on a tech director? That's a big responsibility for one person! #StudentPrivacy #ES #643Su20wk2

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

As learning moves online, we have to be transparent with our students' parents about what info about their student is being stored online. When possible, they can sign waivers to allow this - although not necessarily needed. #StudentPrivacy #ES #643Su20wk2

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

If we sign a student up for an online program, any info we add is protected under FERPA. If we suggest parents sign students up from home for an online learning platform, are they under the same protection? #StudentPrivacy #ES #643Su20wk2

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

Reading #LMSschool2home advocating for tech-related communication with families, I can't help to circle back to the thought that many families may not have access. Can we push forward knowing we might be leaving some families behind? #TechEquity #ES #643Su20wk2

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

#LMSschool2home says that increased communication between school & families can lead to a decrease in overall absenteeism. Are parents just more comfortable to send students to a teacher they can easily talk to? What other factors affect this? #ES #643Su20wk2

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

School-Home communication is a key to a strong education. While email & phone calls are still widely used, applications like Remind/SeeSaw/ClassDojo make it easy to communicate with parents on the fly. #LMSschool2home #ES #643Su20wk2

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

#LMSperceptions shows that instructors rate LMS as valuable, but I wonder how long these instructors had been using the system before being asked to rate it. Surely seasoned profs would find it helpful but what about those who weren't as familiar with the tech? #ES #643Su20wk2

[Rachel Freeman @freeman_kinder]

#LMSperceptions shows that many university professors and students rated features of LMS to be valuable. I wonder how this data would look different for K-2? #ES #643Su20wk2