Reaching Absent Students

It was the middle of the school year, and Sarah Krasowski, a fifth-grade teacher in Massachusetts, had a problem.  One of her students was stranded in the Dominican Republic!  To make things worse, the island was experiencing rolling blackouts, and the student was rarely able to join class Zoom sessions.

Fortunately, Sarah -- now one of our Distinguished Modern Classroom Educators -- had a solution.  Sarah had all of her lessons on video, which her student could watch whenever she was able.

This scenario is extreme, but it isn't that difficult from what many of us deal with on a daily basis, especially now.  Students are missing class, and helping them all catch up can feel impossible.

Absences will always be a challenge, but I believe that our model provides educators with several tools that they can use to reach every student -- even (and perhaps especially) those who aren't in school.  

In our most recent webinar, our staff and Expert Mentors discussed the strategies they use to meet students' needs both in school and at home.  In addition to recording videos, these include:

★ Developing efficient procedures for regular check-ins
★ Creating customized progress trackers focused on must-do material
★ Leveraging tech tools for digital mastery checks and feedback
★ Empowering students' families to support their learning at home

Learn more about Sarah's story, and hear from our other expert educators, in the video below. You can also access the presentation slides directly.