Virtual Academy School Day
Full Day - 9:20 - 4:10
Half Day - 9:20 - 12:24
Harvey Attendance Line - 797-5199
Starting this school year, you will not call your home school for attendance issues.
Please call Harvey to let us know if your child will not be in school.
Scheduling Information below is a work in progress and will continue
to be updated as information is provided from the school district.
Specialist Schedules - 11:10 - 12:00 every day.
Monday - Music
Tuesday - Media Center
Wednesday - ISM
Thursday - Art
Friday - Gym
Monday - Music
Tuesday - Media Center
Wednesday - ISM
Thursday - Art
Friday - Gym
Daily Routines are an important part of our day. Here is the general schedule we will follow ...
9:20 - 9:30 - Article of the Day & Attendance
9:30 - 9:50 - Morning Meeting
9:50 - 11:00 - Math Block
11:00 - 11:10 - Snack and Bathroom Break
11:10 - 12:00 - Specials
12:00 - 12:30 - Journals & Writing
12:30 - 1:10 - Lunch
1:10 - 1:30 - Documented Silent Reading
1:30 - 1:50 - Chapter Book
1:50 - 3:15 - Language Arts Block
3:15 - 3:30 - Afternoon Break
3:30 - 4:10 - Science or Social Studies
4:10 - Dismissal
9:20 - 9:30 - Article of the Day & Attendance
9:30 - 9:50 - Morning Meeting
9:50 - 11:00 - Math Block
11:00 - 11:10 - Snack and Bathroom Break
11:10 - 12:00 - Specials
12:00 - 12:30 - Journals & Writing
12:30 - 1:10 - Lunch
1:10 - 1:30 - Documented Silent Reading
1:30 - 1:50 - Chapter Book
1:50 - 3:15 - Language Arts Block
3:15 - 3:30 - Afternoon Break
3:30 - 4:10 - Science or Social Studies
4:10 - Dismissal
COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY!
There are several ways for us to communicate. Hopefully these directions will get you "connected".
Email - This is probably the best and quickest way to get ahold of me. To start, I am asking that everyone email me at Edward.Fromm@uticak12.org I will then add you to my contact list and to the "22-23 Fromm 4th VA" group. This is how you will receive group messages, daily updates, assignment/project directions, and other communications. Please provide email address of any family members you want included in our class email. For example, if your child will be spending days with a grandma and grandpa, you may want to add them to the group so they get any updates too. Your email address will be kept private and not seen by other families in the class.
Phone - My phone number is 797- 5136. It will ring directly to the room before and after school. During the school day, your call will be redirected to the office. I am usually to school by 7:15 a.m., but there are no guarantees for after school.
Remind - This texting service will be used for last minute reminders or in the rare case when the school district's Internet service goes out. This is a way that I can reach you quickly without depending on the school computers or Internet. Simply text "@2223from" to 81010 to enroll. I will do my best to make sure every family is enrolled in our Remind text group.
Email - This is probably the best and quickest way to get ahold of me. To start, I am asking that everyone email me at Edward.Fromm@uticak12.org I will then add you to my contact list and to the "22-23 Fromm 4th VA" group. This is how you will receive group messages, daily updates, assignment/project directions, and other communications. Please provide email address of any family members you want included in our class email. For example, if your child will be spending days with a grandma and grandpa, you may want to add them to the group so they get any updates too. Your email address will be kept private and not seen by other families in the class.
Phone - My phone number is 797- 5136. It will ring directly to the room before and after school. During the school day, your call will be redirected to the office. I am usually to school by 7:15 a.m., but there are no guarantees for after school.
Remind - This texting service will be used for last minute reminders or in the rare case when the school district's Internet service goes out. This is a way that I can reach you quickly without depending on the school computers or Internet. Simply text "@2223from" to 81010 to enroll. I will do my best to make sure every family is enrolled in our Remind text group.
You can also follow the directions on this page to set up push notifications.
| remind_directions.pdf |
TIME MANAGEMENT & FLEXIBILITY IN LEARNING
The flexibility of online learning can be a great advantage, when and if we all have good time management skills. This time management will be a main focus the first month of school. Knowing how and when to complete our work is the most important aspect of a successful online learning environment. Routines, communication, asking for help when it is needed, and accepting that we are all going to make mistakes are the four main ingredients of a successful virtual academy experience.
In a traditional classroom, we spend lots of time at the beginning of the year learning routines: how to line up in the correct order for lunch, when is the right time for bathroom breaks, pushing in our chairs to help with movement around the classroom, the correct way and expectations on how we gather in the “carpet area” of the classroom, keeping our desks clean, and how, when and where to turn in paperwork. These are things we don’t need to worry about in the virtual classroom.
Effective time management, online expectations/behaviors, learning new technologies, and personal responsibility will all be our main focus. Success with these aspects of our education will allow for greater flexibility in our school day and allows us to not be in front of a computer screen for six hours a day. These skills are learned behaviors that take practice and are enhanced by focusing on a daily / weekly schedule that everyone can become familiar with. Tasks will take longer at the beginning of the year but with repetitive practice, effective record keeping, and non-stop communication, will get us to a point where we can spend less time staring at a computer and more time actually getting meaningful work done.
In a traditional classroom, we spend lots of time at the beginning of the year learning routines: how to line up in the correct order for lunch, when is the right time for bathroom breaks, pushing in our chairs to help with movement around the classroom, the correct way and expectations on how we gather in the “carpet area” of the classroom, keeping our desks clean, and how, when and where to turn in paperwork. These are things we don’t need to worry about in the virtual classroom.
Effective time management, online expectations/behaviors, learning new technologies, and personal responsibility will all be our main focus. Success with these aspects of our education will allow for greater flexibility in our school day and allows us to not be in front of a computer screen for six hours a day. These skills are learned behaviors that take practice and are enhanced by focusing on a daily / weekly schedule that everyone can become familiar with. Tasks will take longer at the beginning of the year but with repetitive practice, effective record keeping, and non-stop communication, will get us to a point where we can spend less time staring at a computer and more time actually getting meaningful work done.
PAST PARENT PERSPECTIVE
I've learned a lot over the last two years. Most importantly, I learned to listen to my parents even more than when we were in a traditional classroom. While my goal is to have my students do 90% of their work without parent help, they are still in your home, and you will be the first adults they go to when they need help when I am not available. Past parents gave me the following advice for what I should change and not change for the 22-23 school year. As I plan for this year, I hope I have addressed everything in the second section below.
Things that went well or that they liked best...
MrFromm.com for ease of use, easy to get to and clear view of what was done / due that day.
Morning meetings to set daily expectations.
Constantly changing things up while keeping the same routine.
The use of different technologies to make learning fun and meaningful.
Individual meetings when individuals and groups need extra attention.
Expectations, pace and time on screen was appropriate.
It still felt like the kids were in school. The schedule, and the way the class was lead, helped the kids stay on task and directed throughout the school day.
What needed improvement...
A "camera on when class is in session" requirement.
Physical handwriting of some kind.
PowerSchool was a nightmare.
Students talking/texting when they should be working.
Regular parent / teacher meetings.
Social development of some kind.
PAST STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
Here is what past students had to say about our VA class....
What was the one thing we did that you liked best that I need to keep doing?
- Fun Fridays!
- All of our online tools: Nearpod, Dreamscape, Gimkit, Blooket, Prodigy, and Boddle.
- Escape Room Challenges.
- Playing 20 questions.
- Reading novels to us and then watching the movies.
- Morning meetings so we can still talk and learn about each other.
- Journal writing and sharing.
What was the one thing we did that I should probably stop doing?
- NWEA Testing (not an option, sorry).
- Hard math assignments.
- Fewer math and reading puzzles.
- Nothing! (47% of the class).
What is one piece of advice your would give to an incoming 4th grade VA student?
- Stay off YouTube when you're supposed to be working, he sees everything!
- You are going to learn a lot and have fun.
- You'll love Fun Fridays so get your work done.
- It's always okay to make mistakes.
- He likes to joke around a lot but stay away from Ohio!
Is there anything you wish we would have done this year that we didn't do?
- Field Day!
- More free time.
- Class parties.
What was the number one thing you liked about our class?
- Fun Fridays
- Working in breakout rooms with our friends.
- Being at home and learning even more.
- Making new friends and playing games with them.
- Everyone was nice.
- I liked that everyone was kind and no one bullied anybody.
- When Mr. Fromm read books to us after lunch.
- That we came from all over Utica.
What was the one thing we did that you liked best that I need to keep doing?
- Fun Fridays!
- All of our online tools: Nearpod, Dreamscape, Gimkit, Blooket, Prodigy, and Boddle.
- Escape Room Challenges.
- Playing 20 questions.
- Reading novels to us and then watching the movies.
- Morning meetings so we can still talk and learn about each other.
- Journal writing and sharing.
What was the one thing we did that I should probably stop doing?
- NWEA Testing (not an option, sorry).
- Hard math assignments.
- Fewer math and reading puzzles.
- Nothing! (47% of the class).
What is one piece of advice your would give to an incoming 4th grade VA student?
- Stay off YouTube when you're supposed to be working, he sees everything!
- You are going to learn a lot and have fun.
- You'll love Fun Fridays so get your work done.
- It's always okay to make mistakes.
- He likes to joke around a lot but stay away from Ohio!
Is there anything you wish we would have done this year that we didn't do?
- Field Day!
- More free time.
- Class parties.
What was the number one thing you liked about our class?
- Fun Fridays
- Working in breakout rooms with our friends.
- Being at home and learning even more.
- Making new friends and playing games with them.
- Everyone was nice.
- I liked that everyone was kind and no one bullied anybody.
- When Mr. Fromm read books to us after lunch.
- That we came from all over Utica.
SCHOOL SUPPLY SUGGESTIONS
Computer Mouse - I strongly suggest that you purchase a mouse for your child to use with their laptop. It is not required, but using the trackpad can be tricky at times, and a mouse is very helpful. Amazon has wired and wireless models for $10 and that will be the best money you'll spend all year.
Headphones or Speakers - These are also suggested, especially if your child is not going to have a quiet or dedicated place to work.
Headphones or Speakers - These are also suggested, especially if your child is not going to have a quiet or dedicated place to work.
ASSUMPTIONS
One thing I've learned, as a general rule, is that if you think your child is in their room, down the basement, or in the den quietly working for an extended period of time.... they probably aren't! I give lots of breaks and expect lots of communication throughout the day. Kids will be kids and will try and get away with what they can. There will be lots of communication between myself and parents as we establish routines and expectations for how we do things. I would suggest not allowing your child to have their cell phone, or other technology devices, right next them during the school day - just like if they were in a traditional classroom.