Bright Spots in Distance Learning

Dear SFUSD Colleagues,

We're almost a month into the new school year, and I know it's difficult to still be physically apart from our students and colleagues. I want to commend each and every one of you for tirelessly navigating new ways of working, disrupting systems of oppression, and actively working toward being anti-racist. I appreciate you.

As we look toward the rest of the fall semester, I hope you'll find inspiration -- just as I am -- in the creative lessons and bright spots happening in our virtual schools, from math escape rooms to our Equity and Inclusion Bitmoji Library. Do you have a fun lesson or bright spot to share? Send it to newsline@sfusd.edu and we may highlight it. Also, if you're on social media, post it with the hashtag #WeAreSFUSD. I look forward to celebrating our collective work!

Warmly,

Vincent Matthews, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

This Election Day, San Franciscans will vote on Proposition J, which addresses a legal loophole to continue providing funds to SFUSD and Proposition 15, which would increase revenue for public education and other services.  Learn more about these measures.

ZOOM SAFETY TIP VIDEO

In less than two minutes, refresh yourself on Zoom safety and security with our Top 7 Zoom Safety tips video (1:44). If you’d like to learn more about Zoom and its safety features, you can watch a recording of our Zoom Security Basics webinar (17:18) or check out our Zoom for Educators playlist on YouTube.

GOOGLE: YOUTUBE INTEGRATION WITH GOOGLE SLIDES

Wondering if your students are getting lost in a YouTube rabbit hole? YouTube links take learners to a video’s YouTube page, with related videos, suggestions for what to watch next, and comments/discussions on that page, which can sidetrack even the most focused student!

Instead, try inserting the video into Google Slides. It can be part of a larger deck or just a single, stand-alone slide with your video. Then, to have students watch the video, give them a link to the slide or deck. If it’s a YouTube video, they just need “viewer” access to the deck to be able to watch it. If it’s a video you recorded yourself (saved in Drive, not on YouTube), you’ll need to make sure your students also have “viewer” access to the video file in Google Drive. Watch a video on how to insert a YouTube video into a Google Slides deck.

Need help with sharing videos via Slides? Visit any upcoming Digital Learning Team office hours listed on the district’s PD calendar.

SEESAW

Invite families to join your Seesaw class by clicking on the wrench icon in the upper right of your Seesaw class. Click on “Enable Family Access” and then on “Invite Families.”  Families can be invited by email or mobile number. Once they join, they can view only their own child’s work. This is a great way for families to stay involved with their student’s classwork.

With new announcements every day about some schools opening to in-person instruction, we know there are a lot of questions about when SFUSD will be offering in person. SFUSD is actively preparing our school sites, having discussions with staff and monitoring health data closely so that when data and science suggest it is safe to do so, the district can begin to offer in-person options for students. Please read these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding in-person/hybrid learning.

School buildings are being utilized now in a variety of ways including as work spaces for educators who have requested a place to provide distance learning as well as meals and learning materials distributions.  The intent of distance learning is and continues to be to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The success of our reopening will depend on the behavior of our community members in observing the SFDPH’s guidelines now so that we can decrease the spread of COVID-19.