new caney isd’s learning management system skyward new ... · • the work from each grade level...

We encourage our students to continue learning at home with the online support of our teachers and staff while the district is closed to protect our community from the spread of COVID-19.

Teachers are communicating directly with families and students with specific information regarding their classes and required lessons for students. Resources on Canvas will be updated frequently for families to access additional activities to support the lessons assigned by their teachers. Please make every effort to monitor their work, so learning is on-going during the school closure.

Communication during distance learning will take place via:

• Canvas – New Caney ISD’s learning management system

• Skyward – Emails to families

• New Caney ISD webpage: newcaneyisd.org

• New Caney ISD callouts

• Your child’s homeroom teacher Initial support for students began with teachers calling all homeroom students on Friday, March 20, 2020. Teachers were asked to contact all students in their homerooms to check on them and determine instruction needs by the end of the day Monday, March 23, 2020. Teachers will use *67 if calling from their cell phones.

All online content instruction will take place through our learning management system, Canvas. Paper copies of class activities can be picked up at either of our two meal distribution sites: New Caney Elementary or Sorters Mill Elementary weekdays from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

For continuity of instruction the week of March 23 - 27, 2020 - Elementary Specialists created a list of high-quality links to approved educational online learning resources that were shared with parents via Skyward and Canvas on March 20, 2020.

New Caney ISD

Online Instructional Resources

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Language Arts

Reading Assistant + [Clever] CLI

Engage PK-K CommonLit

[Clever]

Sora eBooks [Google Account]

Destiny eBooks [Clever]

World Book eBooks & Learning Center [Clever]

Britannica Online [Clever]

Math

Happy Numbers [Clever]

ABCYA [Clever]



Khan Academy [Clever]

Greg Tang Math Games

Science

STEMScopes [Clever] Mystery

Science [Clever] Kids InfoBits

Science [Clever]



Generation Genius [Clever]

Learn360 [Clever]

Social Studies

Studies Weekly [Clever]

Kids InfoBits Social Studies [Clever]



Tween Tribune [Clever] iCivics

[Clever]

Technology Fine Arts

Learning.com [Clever] Tynker

[Clever] Typing.com [Clever]

MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL

Core Content & Elective Areas

Canvas Courses with Resources

NCISD Research Portal [Canvas]

Clever Portal Resources [Clever]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Art with Mrs.Nguyen

Classics for Kids Chrome

Music Lab

Language Resources

DuoLingo

7ESL Learning English Youtube Channel USA

Learns

Clever Portal - https://clever.com/in/ncisd [log in

with district Google credentials]

Canvas Portal -

https://newcaneyisd.instructure.c

om [log in with district username &

password] Link to Canvas Parent

Directions

Language Resources

DuoLingo

7ESL Learning English Youtube Channel USA

Learns

Clever Portal - https://clever.com/in/ncisd [log in with district Google credentials]

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Language Arts

Reading Assistant + [Clever]

CLI Engage PK-K

CommonLit [Clever]

Sora eBooks [Google Account]

Destiny eBooks [Clever]



Math Happy Numbers [Clever]

ABCYA [Clever]



Khan Academy [Clever]

Greg Tang Math Games

Science

STEMScopes [Clever]

Mystery Science [Clever]

Kids InfoBits Science [Clever]



Generation Genius [Clever]

Learn360 [Clever]

Social Studies Studies Weekly [Clever]

Kids InfoBits Social Studies [Clever]



Tween Tribune [Clever]

iCivics [Clever]

Technology Fine Arts

Learning.com [Clever]

Tynker [Clever]

Typing.com [Clever]

MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL

Core Content & Elective Areas Canvas Courses with Resources

NCISD Research Portal [Canvas]

Clever Portal Resources [Clever]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Art with Mrs.Nguyen

Classics for Kids

Chrome Music Lab

Language Resources DuoLingo

7ESL Learning English Youtube Channel

USA Learns

Clever Portal - https://clever.com/in/ncisd [log in with district Google credentials]

Canvas Portal - https://newcaneyisd.instructure.com [log in with district username & password]

A paper copy of hands-on instructional activities was also provided to families of elementary students via Skyward and posted in Canvas on Monday, March 23, 2020. Copies were also distributed at every elementary campus on Tuesday (March 24th) and Wednesday (March 25th) during the Chromebook device checkout times of 12-7 p.m. Weekly paper copies will continue to be available at both meal distribution locations, New Caney Elementary and Sorters Mill Elementary.

PK - 1 Lessons to Support Instruction At Home (English) PK - 1 Lessons to Support Instruction at Home (Spanish) 2-5 Lessons to Support Instruction At Home (English) 2-5 Lessons to Support Instruction at Home (Spanish)

Student expectations for the week of March 23-27, 2020 are to use their Canvas and Clever credentials correctly to explore and practice their skills through the online resources available to them and have fun using the hands-on learning activities provided at every grade level. Teachers are tasked with simply connecting with their students through phone calls to their parents using the outline that was provided. Make sure students’ parents know how to check out a Chromebook device if they need one, and help students set up and correctly use their Canvas and Clever passwords so they can access the review lessons coming soon. Teachers will support students with this task as well as answer any questions they or their parents have about the online learning resources and the hands-on learning activities.

Instruction for March 30-April 10, 2020 will look very different. Our focus will remain on providing skills review activities through online lessons to keep our students thinking. In order to provide consistent review activities for all elementary students, we have enlisted the help of several Instructional Coaches, EL Coaches and teacher leaders to create grade level content specific review activities through grade level courses built in Canvas. This is where all students will go to receive review instruction for the weeks of March 30-April 19, 2020. Further guidance will be provided to teachers as we transition to the grade level Canvas courses. Teachers are also needed to provide support to parents by answering any questions they may have about the online learning resources page posted in Canvas. Teachers should encourage students and their parents to follow the directions link located through the Weekly Lessons icon and underneath the Week of 3/23-3/27 that directs them to explore various learning topics such as Happy Numbers, Reading Assistant +, eBook Resources, BrainPop and more. There is also a wonderful Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Lesson posted to support our K - 2 and 3 -5 students. They may also have questions about the PK - 1 or 2 - 5 hands-on learning activities shared with them this week. Teachers were also asked to look at their grade level Canvas course to see what is currently there for students.

On March 18, 2020 Elementary Specialists determined the targeted skills for review instruction for the next 2 weeks according to the following assignments: Elementary Math/Science Specialist: PK-5 Science, 3-5 Math

Primary Specialist: PK-2 Math, PK-2 RLA/SS

Elementary Reading/Language Arts and Social Studies Specialist: 3-5 Reading/SS

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yjLynepy0hXT5dO5vBg9egpX1PM3fFewXglyWF5-NV4/edit?usp=sharing


https://docs.google.com/document/d/19pVAuNpu7ExGsVEjERwL8Xvgp_ASnZqjYqOHGIZdzR8/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pSKMwMTmqTdPN9rSPEZOaAVXRDELaakNxLaYDxVRs2E/edit?usp=sharing

The elementary grade level curriculum writing teams who planed instruction for the weeks of March 30-April 10, 2020 included the following members:

PK Team

Michelle Romero - Lead

Maria Castillo

Sofia Davila

Kinder Team

Debbie Smith - Lead

Sherri Abrahams - Co Lead

Lee Ann Marler Sandra Rios

First Grade Team

Debbie Smith - Lead

Maria Martinez Aimee Gilbert

Second Grade Team

Debbie Smith - Lead

Anjelica Price - Co Lead Mayra Andrade

Liliana Valdez

Veronica Ruffier

Third Grade Team

Graciela Canales - Lead

Rochanda Carter Astrid Cordero

Tanya LaMacchia

Fourth Grade Team

Cherie Loyacano - Lead

Meghan Halbrook

Eneida Elizondo

Erin Chesser

Fifth Grade Team

Cindy Luttrell - Lead

Spring Cook

Laura Maricle

Rebecca Estrada

Inside each grade level Canvas course is a suggested daily schedule for PK – 5 grade students for parents to use as a guide for at-home learning. A second version of paper handouts including new hands-on instructional activities was also provided to families of elementary students via Skyward and posted in Canvas on Monday, April 6, 2020. Copies were also distributed at both meal distribution locations, New Caney Elementary and Sorters Mill Elementary.

PK - 1 Lessons to Support Instruction At Home (English) PK - 1 Lessons to Support Instruction at Home (Spanish) 2-5 Lessons to Support Instruction At Home (English) 2-5 Lessons to Support Instruction at Home (Spanish)

Spring break for New Caney ISD will be held during April 13-17, 2020. Following the Texas school closure announcement made by Governor Abbott, New Caney ISD also announced the closure of all campuses through May 3, 2020. At that time, the decision was made to adjust the instruction provided to elementary students beginning the week of April 20, 2020.



https://docs.google.com/document/d/19pVAuNpu7ExGsVEjERwL8Xvgp_ASnZqjYqOHGIZdzR8/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pSKMwMTmqTdPN9rSPEZOaAVXRDELaakNxLaYDxVRs2E/edit?usp=sharing

Below is an overview of the instructional changes made for our PK-5 grade elementary students beginning the week following Spring break (April 20, 2020):

o Lessons will cover new TEKS/skills identified by Elementary Specialists. o Only 3 content lessons per week (Math, Science & RLA with SS integrated), Fine

Arts (1 Art & 1 Music), 3 PE, Technology & SEL lessons. o Canvas courses will continue to be grade level course for PK-2 and shift for grades 3-5

to content specific courses (Math, Science & RLA with Social Studies integrated), o Dual Language and departmentalized teachers will now have access to all of their

students in order to better support distance learning where previously they mainly supported their homeroom class.

o Specials classes will have their own course per elementary campus instead of being listed with content lessons.

o Each grade level curriculum writing team will host district wide grade level zoom meetings every Friday during the times listed below in order to share an overview of the following week’s Canvas lessons. During these meetings teachers are able to ask clarifying questions, provide feedback and share suggestions with each other as another layer of support for all elementary teachers.

PK - 8 am, K - 9 am, 1st - 10 am, 2nd - 11 am, 3rd - 1 pm, 4th - 2 pm & 5th - 3 pm In order to support the quality design of Canvas lessons moving forward, changes were also made to the grade level curriculum writing teams. Every team will now include a Team Leader, two content expert lead teachers to create the 3 new content lessons for math, science and RLA/SLA with social studies integrated, one or two translators for Spanish and one person designated to build the lessons in Canvas for fidelity and consistency. On April 5, 2020 the Elementary Specialists reexamined the district scope and sequence documents to identify the essential remaining TEKS students in PK-5 grade will need to master by the end of the school year in order to be successful in the next grade level. Those TEKS were shared with the curriculum writing teams. The following weekly schedule was developed for accomplishing the work needed to create the new Canvas courses:

• The work from each grade level team (including lesson writing, editing, translating and building in Canvas) is due on Wednesdays by 8 a.m.

• Team member detailed job descriptions: o Writers - Create lessons in Canvas and use Google translate or translate the lessons if

possible. o Translators - Double check Google translated lessons, help with EL supports (sentence

stems, cognates, word banks, etc.), help make sure Spanish resources are comparable if not the same, and create Spanish videos when needed.

o Builders -Check work done in Canvas so it is ready for the final copy - formatted correctly, embedded correctly, all links work and videos include captions.

• Elementary Specialists will proofread/edit Canvas lessons during the day on Wednesdays

• All grade level lessons for the next week will be reviewed on Thursdays at 1 pm by the Elementary Specialists, the Digital Learning Team and the Director of Elementary Instruction.

• The final Canvas courses will be published on Sundays at 8 a.m. so teachers can upload their Nearpod lessons before Monday.

The elementary grade level curriculum writing teams who are planning instruction for the weeks of April 20, 2020 and beyond include the following members:

Overview Video Support Graciela Canales – Dual Language Support & SLA/SS Support Julie Knollenberg PK Team

Michelle Romero – Team Lead & Canvas Builder Third-Fifth Math Team Maria Castillo – Math & Translator Cindy Luttrell – Team Lead

Sofia Davila – Science Rochanda Carter – 3rd Math

Brenda Gutierrez – RLA/SLA/SS Erin Chesser – 4th Math Rebecca Estrada – 5th Math Kinder Team Luissanna Davis – Translator Debbie Smith – Co-Team Leader & Canvas Builder Courtney Garza – Canvas Builder Sherri Abrahams – Co-Team Lead & RLA/SS

Lee Ann Marler – Math & Science Third-Fifth Science Team

Sandra Rios – SLA & Translator Cindy Luttrell – Team Lead Astrid Cordero – 3rd Science & First Grade Team Translator Debbie Smith – Team Lead & Canvas Builder Eneida Elizondo – 4th Science &

Maria Martinez – SLA/SS, Science & Translator Translator Aimee Gilbert – RLA/SS, Science Laura Maricle – 5th Science Laura Frias – Math & Translator Claudia Terrell – Canvas Builder Ashlee Smith – Math Jazmin Gutierrez - Translator

Second Grade Team Third-Fifth RLA/SS Team

Debbie Smith – Co-Team Lead Cherie Loyacano – Team Lead

Anjelica Price – Co-Team Lead & Canvas Builder Tanya LaMacchia – 3rd RLA/SS Mayra Andrade – Math, Science, SLA/SS & Translator Meghan Halbrook – 4th RLA/SS

Liliana Valdez – Science & Translator Spring Cook – 5th RLA/SS

Veronica Ruffier – Math Melanie Johnston – Canvas Jackie Farias – RLA/SS Builder

Monica Figueroa – SLA & Translator

The following guidance was also given to elementary campus principals to provide daily structure for teachers throughout the week in order to make every day purposeful during this time of new distance learning.

Weekly Structure for Elementary Instruction – Making Every Day Purposeful

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Motivation Monday

Team Tuesday Wednesday Wisdom

Thoughtful Thursday

Fri-YAY Celebrations

Teachers should review weekly lessons with students and

motivate them for the week.

Connect with your team today.

We will continue our own

professional learning through

Zoompalooza and PD Zoom

sessions to support distance

learning.

Provide your students with

thoughtful feedback on their

Canvas assignment

responses or quizzes. Contact

parents to communicate how

their child is progressing with

distance learning.

Hold weekly celebrations with

students, give shout outs to

colleagues and reflect on what went well this

week.

District wide elementary grade level Zooms will be hosted by the curriculum writing

teams every Friday at the

following times to preview lessons for the following

week:

PK - 8 am K - 9 am

1st - 10 am 2nd - 11 am 3rd - 1 pm 4th - 2 pm 5th - 3 pm

Teachers must host Zoom meetings at least twice a week with the entire class, but more if they like. Zoom breakout rooms may only be utilized if teachers are present in the breakout room for monitoring and supervision. Teachers should not record Zoom sessions with students. No one-on-one sessions should take place without a parent/guardian present. Teachers must keep the Zoom waiting room feature enabled and use passwords for safety. Only Zoom meetings with adults such as staff meetings and team meetings that are informational in nature must be recorded so that those who miss them can catch up on the information later.

All campuses will continue to utilize Canvas. Teachers may record lessons and tutorials to place in Canvas for students. Review material will be presented the week of March 23-27, 2020. Starting March 30, teachers will provide 30 minutes of instruction daily or 2.5 hours per week per subject. Students will complete instruction through the courses and lessons developed by their teachers in Canvas. Teachers may contact the campus media specialist, instructional coach, district instructional specialists or the technology help desk for technical support.

Students with no internet connectivity will receive paper copies of assignments by department. Campuses will share the responsibility for creating paper assignment documents each week. We will rotate who is responsible for this creation. Paper copies will be available at the meal distribution locations, New Caney Elementary and Sorters Mill Elementary. Each lesson should cover readiness TEKS covered the 4th nine weeks or TEKS that run through each nine weeks (for example, ELA might cover main idea or inference for every lesson since students generally score low on these TEKS) Instructional specialists will sequence the lessons so that they build one another like a mini scope and sequence. Each campus completes the detailed lessons for their week according to the long range (scope/sequence) plan. Teachers will give assignments in Canvas and provide feedback to their students. Feedback can be provided in several ways such as complete/incomplete. Teachers will not sync assignments to Skyward, but keep these assignments housed in Canvas. The assignments in Canvas are providing the documentation required by the state that our students are completing work at home. Your campus media specialist can assist teachers in the assignment creation that will provide documentation of work completed.

All teachers, regardless of subject, should provide content to their students in Canvas. This will provide documentation for credit purposes as well as state auditing that students are working in all courses enrolled online. We want students to know that the work they do at home is being looked at, reviewed, and proper feedback is given so that they continue to master content in all subject areas. We do not want to penalize students for not being able to complete assignments due to circumstances out of our control. We are attempting to track data and monitor student data.

COVID 19 Distance Learning Instructional Support Flowchart

• District Specialists will identify TEKS for instruction and collaborate with grade level curriculum teams to create weekly Canvas lessons by

grade level courses for PK-2 and by content courses for 3-5 (math, science, RLA with SS integrated).

• Designated grade level/content district curriculum teams along with the Specialists will host grade level specific video conferences that all

teachers in the grade level/content will be invited to attend for ongoing support each Friday.

• Elementary/Secondary Specialists will video conference weekly with IC & EL Coaches. Every IC & EL Coach will also receive a support phone

call at least once a week from an Elementary/Secondary Specialist.

• IC & EL Coaches will touch base weekly with campus grade level teams of teachers. They will also join the Media Specialists in monitoring the

teacher Canvas courses and providing feedback to teachers as well as look for patterns indicating where more support may be needed.

• Teachers will provide ongoing support to students and their parents through Canvas, video conferences, emails, etc. They will reach out to

students in their homeroom class at least twice a week to check on them in addition to monitoring the assignments students will be posting in

Canvas and providing students with meaningful feedback.

• Principals will support teachers weekly and address parent concerns as they arise.

• The digital learning team will provide a Canvas course per grade level to support teachers with distance learning through training resources

such as weekly videos, instructional strategies and more following the distance learning PD event Zoompalooza.

• Elementary/Secondary Specialists will video conference weekly with the Director of Elementary Instruction/Director of Secondary Instruction.

• Questions about special services including accommodations and modifications can be directed any of the RTI, Dyslexia, 504, and Special Education staff on the campus or to Evelyn Sifford, Coordinator of Special Programs or Sarah Chase, Interim Director of Special Education.

• Questions regarding instruction for dual language programming may be directed to Dr. Yolanda Rios, Director of Multilingual, and questions

regarding fines arts instruction may be directed to Frank Chuter, Director of Fine Arts.

Kristi Shofner Executive Director of Instruction

Hollie Hanks Director of Elementary Instruction

Dr. Mark Weatherly Director of Secondary Instruction

Gretta Rogne Director of

Digital Learning

Elementary Specialists

Elementary Principals

Secondary Specialists

Secondary Principals

Elementary and

Secondary Teachers

Media Specialists

Instructional Coaches

EL Specialists

Students

Elementary IC & EL Coaches

Elementary Teachers

Elementary Teachers

Elementary Students

Elementary Students

Elementary Parents

Secondary IC & EL Coaches

Secondary Teachers

Secondary Teachers

Secondary Students

Secondary Students

Secondary Students

Device Checkout: March 24 – 25, 2020 on every elementary campus from 12:00 - 7:00 p.m. Secondary students can pick up a Chromebook at the Technology Department located behind Keefer Crossing Middle School. Essential staff members assisting with device distribution will include technology personnel, campus principals and assistant principals, and bilingual staff members.

The technology department sanitized Chromebooks and chargers to ensure there will be enough on hand to check out at each elementary campus. Nearly 4,000 Chromebooks were deployed by NCISD staff on all eleven elementary campuses and the technology building. If any student is still in need of a device for distance learning, parents should contact the NCISD remote support helpdesk to schedule a pick-up time to receive a device. You may contact the NCISD remote support helpdesk by email at [email protected] or by calling 281-577-2973 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You must have a pre-arranged pick up time in order to receive a device.

New Caney ISD is providing internet connectivity at several strategically chosen campus parking lots across the district. These large hotspots are being made available for both students and staff who need internet service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The following parking lots have Wi-Fi access: New Caney High School Annex, Porter High School, Dogwood Elementary, Keefer Crossing Middle School near the Technology building, Kings Manor Elementary and Valley Ranch Elementary. Families and students should remain in their vehicles to practice social distancing. Families will not have to stay in the parking lots with their children to complete all work as much of the work to be done can be downloaded and completed offline at home. More campuses may be added in the future.

Team Instruction has been diligently working to provide support to teachers through this very big learning curve. Friday, March 27, 2020, started our online, on-demand professional learning sessions for teachers. Beginning at 8:00 a.m., teachers could access live Zoom sessions on relevant, distance learning topics. The goal is to provide timely support for teachers throughout this transition. Canvas Community grants us access for how-tos and FAQ regarding Canvas. To gain access to this valuable information, click on the NCISD folder on your bookmark section of your browser. Scroll down and click on Canvas Community for online training and step-by-step support to all of your Canvas-related questions.

All digital learning questions or concerns should be directed to your campus Media Specialists first who will either help you or direct your question to LaSonya Cobbs or Melissa Stolz.

mailto:[email protected]

During the 2020 Distant Learning timeframe, the NCISD Career & Technical Education (CTE) department supports the district in our focus on the students' core classes. That being said, CTE is a vital part of our community and approximately 91% of our secondary students are enrolled in at least one CTE course. Therefore, our CTE staff at all secondary campuses will provide a digital platform through Canvas for all CTE courses that our students are currently enrolled in. Although students may not have the same lab/shop access as they have on our campuses, students will receive information from their teachers that will reference and virtually support those activities while away from our facilities.

CTE’s response to student event cancellations: In addition to the normal disruption of our CTE students’ campus activities, many of our CTE students have experienced additional disruptions to their Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) competitive events. State and National level competitions that the students have worked very hard to reach have been cancelled or have moved to a virtual format. NCISD CTE is supporting our students with the ability to participate in virtual contests within the parameters set forth by governmental and district officials with regards to contact with others. In addition, students participating in livestock shows at Houston, Austin, and Montgomery County have suffered not only emotional loss of not being able to show their animal projects, but they are suffering a financial loss from the cost of purchasing and raising livestock projects for these shows. In regard to these projects, the CTE department along with the Agriculture Science Teachers continue to work with our students to locate and facilitate ways for students to regain some of the financial loss that they have experienced. The NCISD Agriculture Science Center (ASC) has remained open throughout this event to house livestock projects from these cancelled events. Students are required to maintain their livestock while they locate a buyer for the animal. In the event that governmental and/or district officials determine that the ASC needs to be closed to students, the Agriculture Teachers and district level CTE staff will maintain and feed the remaining livestock at the ASC.

Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, New Caney ISD’s curbside meal service will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for both breakfast and lunch. This will be the schedule through Friday, April 17. There is no charge for children 18 and under. Adult meals are $2.75 for breakfast and $4 for lunch. Locations remain New Caney Elementary School and Sorters Mill Elementary School.

Elementary counselors will design and record weekly messages related to specific guidance topics, or social/emotional learning competencies and will post these messages in Canvas. Counselors will call and email students who may need additional support. Zoom sessions with students will only take place with a parent present or with the participation of another counselor. Counselors will act as a resource to students, parents, and staff for questions related to the Social Emotional Learning and emotional wellness content contained in Canvas. Elementary counselors will continue to serve as the campus 504 coordinator and follow all the compliance instructions of the district coordinator. All counselors are encouraged to engage in Professional Development activities at the recommendation of the director. Examples include: Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Training for Schools (CBITS), a TEA-approved, trauma-informed intervention program for at-risk students, and TEC-aligned training on the TX Comprehensive Model of School Counseling.

Social/emotional lessons and supplemental emotional wellness resources and activities for all middle school students will be available through a district-created Canvas course. Counselors will act as a resource to students, parents, and staff for questions related to the Canvas content. Pilot campuses may continue teacher- facilitated lessons or engage in a hybrid of counselor/teacher-facilitated lessons. Counselors will maintain contact with students in need of additional support. They will also publish (via calendly.com) a calendar of their availability for student and/or parent appointments. Face-to-face communication will occur through zoom and will include either a parent or additional counselor or take the form of a recorded session. Additional forms of communication include phone calls, email, or “real time chat” via google chat. Middle School counselors will continue moving forward with refining course requests and collaborating on the master schedule for 2020-21. All counselors are encouraged to engage in Professional Development activities at the recommendation of the director. Examples include: Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Training for Schools (CBITS), a TEA-approved, trauma-informed intervention program for at-risk students, and TEC-aligned training on the TX Comprehensive Model of School Counseling.

Social/emotional lessons and supplemental emotional wellness resources and activities will be available for all high school students through a district-created Canvas course. Counselors will act as a resource to students, parents, and staff for questions related to the Canvas content. Counselors will maintain contact with students in need of additional support. They will also publish (via calendly.com) a calendar of their availability for student and/or parent appointments. Face-to-face communication will occur through zoom and will include either a parent or additional counselor or take

the form of a recorded session. Additional forms of communication include phone calls, email, or “real time chat” via google chat. Counselors will continue to monitor senior student’s graduation status and make recommendations for academic intervention for those who are not on track. They will continue to provide CCMR support including college applications, providing FAFSA and scholarship information, and assisting with transcript order processing. High school counselors will continue moving forward with refining course requests and collaborating on the master schedule for 2020-21. All counselors are encouraged to engage in Professional Development activities at the recommendation of the director. Examples include: Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Training for Schools (CBITS), a TEA-approved, trauma-informed intervention program for at-risk students, and TEC-aligned training on the TX Comprehensive Model of School Counseling.

For elementary dual language instruction, each grade-level team that is supporting the development of the lessons includes a Spanish dual language teacher who is creating lessons and finding resources that are comparable to the English lessons. Each lesson in Canvas includes resources that tap into language development and vocabulary. Our elementary distance learning curriculum team has also created videos for parents to watch in both languages to better understand the purpose of the lessons. Dual language students are encouraged to also use Duolingo to support language development in both English and Spanish during this time.

Our ESL students in secondary are already accustomed to working in the Canvas learning platform for their lessons and support. We have added lessons with books that can be read to them using video and closed captioning for language supports. Our ESOL/ELLA teachers are setting up meetings with their students to check-in and ensure that our ELs are supported with all their core instruction. Visuals, graphics, and speaking activities are integrated using Flipgrid and Nearpod.

Teachers PK-12 who serve ELs will also be provided with professional learning opportunities on how to adapt instructional strategies to support English language acquisition through zoom.

Notices will be placed on each campus to direct parents enrolling or withdrawing students to the New Caney ISD central office. New Caney ISD staff will be available to assist parents Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Parents will complete enrollment forms online or on a computer made available by the district. NCISD nurses will review immunizations weekly and send letters home to students who are out of compliance. Our PEIMS department will email campus counselors about creating schedules for students and special programs if the parent or students indicates a need for services. For information or clarification, please email Dan Casteel at [email protected]


Students identified and participating in NCISD's GT program (elementary and middle school) will work on a Genius Hour Project: Pursuit of Passion with the following goals:

• Understand the relationship between personal interests and society

• Become familiar with various career and study opportunities related to their interests

• Learn about the purpose of a field of study within a society

• Develop the essential skills of logical thinking, creative problem solving, intellectual risk taking, and communication

• Explore unanswered questions and generate new questions

• Generate new ideas

• Build and apply critical thinking skills Students will take digital interest inventories to explore their interests to determine several areas of exploration. They will narrow their choice to one area of research and draft a timeline for their research. Students will answer daily reflection questions about what they've learned and what new questions they have as a result. Finally, students will produce a presentation of their research in a variety of ways. Teachers will communicate with students throughout the project but will check in no less than once per week for guidance, encouragement, and feedback. Once students have completed their Passion Project, there are extension activities for all four core areas of instruction, and students may elect to complete another Passion Project by completing the same process as before.

Our student population is a diverse group of students who may have multiple areas of disability. The current supports are designed to provide a remote program that will meet these needs. We will be using Zoom as our communication tool for face to face interaction for instruction, therapy, and meetings. Many of our students are accessing the general education curriculum like their peers, with special education support. We will be utilizing the District curriculum platform, Canvas, for students receiving services in Resource, In-class support and PACES. Support will be accomplished by weekly meetings with parents/students, collaboration with students’ general education teachers and materials being provided through email and US mail. Collaborative planning is occurring, and online instruction is being provided in a shared format. For students with more complex needs, special provisions are being put in place. Students will receive contact from their related service providers, and speech therapists. Students in PPCD/ECSE, Applied and RISE will receive an at-home login to Unique Learning System. Teachers will be monitoring student usage and be providing extended lessons on a weekly basis. When services determined in an ARD cannot be replicated, ARD Amendments will be conducted to describe the specific services that the students will be receiving during this remote learning time period.

ARD meetings will continue throughout the remainder of the year. These meetings will occur using Zoom or over the telephone. Staff is available through email if contact is needed.

Pending Special Education evaluations will be decided on an individual basis, but those that require face to face testing will be conducted upon return in alignment with OCR, OSEP, and TEA guidance. Parents will be notified of this by phone and through a Prior Written Notice.

Continuing to meet our students' needs that are served within Special Programs: RTI, Dyslexia, and 504 is extremely important to NCISD. RTI: Our RTI specialists are assisting classroom teachers with meeting the needs of TIER 2 and 3 students. They are calling parents of TIER 3 students to provide additional assistance and are compiling additional resources for parents to use with their struggling students. Section 504: Our 504 coordinators have contacted parents of students who are served by Section 504, to explain their child’s Interim Accommodation Plan which outlines how their child’s accommodations will look during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A copy of this plan was emailed or mailed to parents and a copy has also been sent to all teachers. 504 staff will ensure that all students have had a meeting within the last three years. Any meetings needed for current students and initial meetings will be held through Zoom. Dyslexia: Students with Dyslexia received an email with a frequently used word list on Monday, March 23 for their students to practice. Each week, Dyslexia teachers are sending a Dyslexia Choice Board that corresponds with the level of intervention they receive. A Notice of Participation in Virtual Groups was sent to all students in Dyslexia Intervention on April 6. For students whose parents agree to participation, students will begin virtual dyslexia intervention the week of April 20. All other students will continue to receive Dyslexia Choice Boards weekly. Dyslexia and Dysgraphia evaluations will be decided on an individual basis, but those that require face to face testing will be conducted upon return in alignment with OCR, OSEP, and TEA guidance. Parents will be notified of this by phone and through a 504 Notice of Action.

Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Elementary Families • Set expectations for at-home learning • Check your child’s assignments and review daily activities • Contact your child’s teacher by phone or email with questions or concerns • Check email and Canvas daily

Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Secondary Families • Set expectations for at-home learning • Check your child’s assignments to ensure completion and the quality of effort • Contact your child’s teacher by phone or email with questions or concerns • Check email daily for information from your child’s teacher or principal

Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Teachers

• Serve as the main contact for the parents and students in your homeroom class or course

• Support your student’s learning from home using the district created lessons based on targeted TEKS and resources in Canvas

• Contact your students at least twice a week via Zoom meetings to support their distance learning through Canvas. These contacts and lessons should take place during school hours. Include your campus leadership on your invitations to Zoom lessons.

• Monitor your students’ participation in Canvas and provide thoughtful, specific feedback to their assignment responses

• Differentiate lesson for students and document accommodations, modifications or enrichments you provide

• Participate in faculty, team/grade level Zoom meetings weekly and attend 504, ARD or other Zoom meetings as requested

• Respond in a timely manner to emails from students, parents and colleagues. Email received before noon should elicit a response by the end of regular school hours. Email received after noon should elicit a response by noon the next school day.

• Collaborate with colleagues providing additional services to students such as Special Education staff, RTI, Dyslexia, and Instructional Paraprofessionals

• Document all communication with parents and students on the NCISD Teacher Contact Log: NCISD Parent Contact Log for COVID-19 Response

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11WN91L2g3UaePqGFdGKi-ue2nbhPSRI3T_FzKRfztVc/edit?usp=sharing

• Document all time worked through this school closure, while instructing, on the district provided ICS 214 Activity Log: COVID-19 ICS Form 214 for documenting activities

• Communicate your needs to your campus leadership throughout this time of distance learning

Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Elementary Fine Arts Teachers

• Support your student’s learning from home using the district created lessons based on targeted TEKS and resources in Canvas



• Be familiar with each grade level lesson and responsive to parent/student questions via district email or clarification as requested by homeroom teacher.

• Produce a (1) weekly video complete with a general introduction to the skill of the week to be published on campus Facebook pages.





• Communicate your needs to your campus leadership/Fine Arts Director throughout this time of distance learning

• Assist campus administration as requested Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Special Education Teachers

• Serve as the primary contact for your students and parents if you teach a self-contained class or serve as the secondary contact for students and parents if you provide inclusion services

• Support your student’s learning from home by accommodating or modifying the district created lessons and resources

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gS8PcmamVU8kanbEQSN1zNbSjmmNJtQoDt8zLWCFY1M/edit?usp=sharing






• Carry out case manager responsibilities and ensure materials are prepared for all staffing meetings and ARD meetings held for your students


• Contact your students at least twice a week via Zoom meetings to support their distance learning through Canvas. These contacts and lessons should take place during school hours. Include your campus leadership on your invitations to Zoom lessons.

• Monitor student participation in Canvas and provide support when needed • Properly document accommodations, modifications or enrichments provided to

students • Collaborate with colleagues providing additional services to students such as

classroom teachers, Instructional Paraprofessionals, Special Education staff members, RTI, Dyslexia, etc.


• Document all time worked through this school closure on the district provided ICS 214 Activity Log: COVID-19 ICS Form 214 for documenting activities

• Communicate your needs to campus leadership throughout this time of distance learning

Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Instructional & EL Coaches

• Provide weekly Zoom support meetings in collaboration with the Media Specialists to every grade level/content team

• Collaborate with campus Media Specialists and teachers to support their professional development with distance learning

• Assist teachers with implementing best practice online instructional strategies to maximize student learning (student collaboration, formative assessments, etc.)

• Assist teachers with implementing strategies to support EL learners digitally • Support teachers with digital learning through the Canvas lessons and resources

made available by NCISD • Provide support to campus administrators, teachers or parents who request help • Provide feedback to Instructional Specialists and campus administrators • Attend campus grade level/course team meetings as requested or needed • Attend weekly Zoom meetings with Instructional Specialists



• Participate in weekly Instructional Leadership Team meetings for specific campuses




Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Media Specialists

• Provide weekly Zoom support meetings in collaboration with the Instructional Coach to every grade level/content team

• Collaborate with campus Instructional Coaches and teachers to support their professional development with distance learning

• Assist teachers with implementing best practice online instructional strategies to maximize student learning (student collaboration, formative assessments, etc.)

• Support teachers with digital learning through the Canvas lessons and resources made available by NCISD

• Provide support to campus administrators, teachers or parents as needed • Provide feedback to Instructional Specialists and campus administrators • Attend campus grade level/course team meetings as requested or needed • Attend weekly Zoom meetings with the Digital Learning Instructional Specialists • Document all communication with parents and students on the NCISD Teacher

Contact Log: NCISD Parent Contact Log for COVID-19 Response



Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Dyslexia Specialists

• Stay in contact with the Coordinator of Special Programs weekly • Check in with general education teachers of those students served to be a

support for the instructional needs while distance learning • Participate in faculty, team/grade level Zoom meetings weekly and attend 504,

ARD or other Zoom meetings as requested • Check in with dyslexia students and their parents weekly to determine needs and

provide additional support. • Document parent support in eSped • Conduct initial 504 meetings via Zoom • Translate for 504 meetings (if bilingual) for 504 meetings








Instruction Continuity Roles for Response-to-Intervention (MTTS) Specialists

• Assist teachers with calls home and translation • Support teachers and parents with strategies to support struggling learners • Participate in leadership, faculty, and team meetings • Assemble additional activities for TIER 3 students in an email to parents. • Check in with TIER 2 and 3 students and their parents weekly to determine

needs and provide additional support • Begin and document end-of-year paperwork for meetings • Document all communication with parents and students on the NCISD Teacher

Contact Log: NCISD Parent Contact Log for COVID-19 Response • Document all time worked through this school closure on the district provided ICS

214 Activity Log: COVID-19 ICS Form 214 for documenting activities • Communicate your needs to your campus leadership throughout this time of

distance learning Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Elementary Counselors

• Serve as a resource to students, parents, and staff for weekly Social/Emotional Learning questions about lessons.

• Serve as the contact for teachers/families as needs arise • Participate in faculty, team/grade level Zoom meetings weekly and attend 504,

ARD or other Zoom meetings as requested • Refer those who need supplemental emotional wellness activities and resources

to Canvas for family discussion time and practice • Provide ongoing communication and check in with parents of students in need of

assistance (backpack buddies, foster care, homeless, previous risk assessments, Response-to-Intervention behavior, “frequent fliers”)

• Communicate availability for counselor contact • Record Morning Meeting topics (Social/Emotional Learning and/or Guidance) to

share with families one day per week • Collaborate with administration, specialists and teachers to encourage student

input and promote community as requested • Serve as campus 504 Coordinator • Pursue professional development opportunities as recommended








Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Secondary Counselors

• Continue college advisements meetings via Zoom • Continue assisting students completing course selections • Continue work on master schedule • Update Career Plans • Serve as a resource to students, parents, and staff for weekly Social/Emotional

Learning questions about lessons. • Set up Calendly.com and be available for email, phone, and Zoom appointments

as appropriate • Set up senior failure options and track graduation status • Pursue professional development opportunities as recommended • Document all communication with parents and students on the NCISD Teacher

Contact Log: NCISD Parent Contact Log for COVID-19 Response • Document all time worked through this school closure on the district provided ICS

214 Activity Log: COVID-19 ICS Form 214 for documenting activities • Communicate your needs to your campus leadership throughout this time of

distance learning. Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Career & Technical Education Teachers

• Serve as the main contact for the parents and students in your course • Support your student’s learning from home using digital lesson plans created by

yourself and/or curriculum resources adopted by NCISD, such as iCEV and/or state required curriculum designated for State certifications. For NCISD, the CTE requirement is 1 to 1.5 hours per week per course.



• Contact your students at least once a week. Zoom meetings are encouraged; as are video lessons that students can watch and respond to via Canvas.





• Monitor your students’ participation in Canvas and provide targeted, specific feedback to their assignment responses





• Communicate your needs to your campus leadership and/or CTE Director & CTE Coordinator throughout this time of distance learning.

Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Campus Leadership (Principals & Assistant Principals)

• As the instructional leaders for your campus, you will supervise and support the distance learning instruction your teachers will provide to their students through daily Canvas walkthroughs to monitor the participation of both your teachers and students and provide targeted, specific feedback to ensure the effectiveness of distance learning.

• Take a weekly distance learning walk and share the reflection with the staff within 24 hours. Celebrate what needs to accelerate.

• Lead weekly Zoom faculty meetings • Join weekly grade level/content Zoom meetings • Conduct weekly Instructional Leadership Team Zoom meetings • Monitor Teacher Contact Logs to ensure that all teachers are communicating

with their students and parents at least twice a week. • Document all communication with parents and students on the NCISD Teacher

Contact Log: NCISD Parent Contact Log for COVID-19 Response

• Document all time worked through the school closure, while instructing, on the district provided ICS 214 Activity Log: COVID-19 ICS Form 214 for documenting activities

• Communicate your needs to your director throughout this time of distance learning

Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for Instructional Specialists • Determine instructional focus weekly and provide support for online curriculum

writing teams (guidance, resources, editing, etc.) • Provide weekly support to Instructional and EL Coaches







• Provide support to campus administrators, teachers or parents as needed • Attend campus grade level/course team meetings as requested or needed • Participate in weekly Instructional Leadership Team meetings for specific

campuses • Continue to work on:

o Updating district curriculum scope and sequence o HB 3 mandates o Power Up Conference



• Communicate any needs to your director throughout this time of distance learning

Instruction Continuity Roles and Responsibilities for District Instructional Leadership

• As the instructional leaders for the district, you will supervise and support the distance learning leadership of principals by monitoring the participation of both your principals and teachers and provide targeted, specific feedback.

• Check the TEA Covid – 19 website daily to ensure we are in compliance with all requirements related to your department.

• Lead weekly Zoom team meetings • Conduct biweekly Instructional Leadership Team Zoom meetings • Monitor Principal Contact Logs to ensure that all principals are communicating

with their teachers weekly. • Document all time worked through the school closure, while instructing, on the

district provided ICS 214 Activity Log: COVID-19 ICS Form 214 for documenting activities

• Communicate updates to your executive director throughout this time of distance learning weekly





Kristi Shofner, Executive Director of Instruction, [email protected] Dr. Mark Weatherly, Director of Secondary Instruction, [email protected] Hollie Hanks, Director of Elementary Instruction, [email protected] Jennie Good, Director of Accountability, Assessment, and Special Programs, [email protected] Loree Munro, Director of Advanced Academics and Counseling, [email protected] Warren Stripling, Director of Career and Technical Education, [email protected] Gretta Rogne, Director of Digital Learning, [email protected] Frank Chuter, Director of Fine Arts, [email protected] Dr. Yolanda Rios, Director of Multilingual Instruction, [email protected] Sarah Chase, Director of Special Education, [email protected]











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