Students begin supplemental learning as school districts roll out assignments

It’s an exercise that’s never been attempted before on a scale like this: a supplemental, but optional learning program for K-12 students in both the Saskatoon Public and Catholic School divisions.

Saskatoon Public Schools deputy director of education, Shane Skjerven, says teachers have been in touch with families and plan lessons have been distributed to students. At this point, in elementary school, they’re mainly focusing on math and literacy.

“The vast majority of the activities that students have received to date and will receive…. will really be related to outcomes in the language arts curriculum and the math curriculum, our thinking is…to really focus in on the basics.”

Physical education teachers will also be sending out information to families on how to maintain healthy and active living, while planning is underway on how to continue elementary school band programs through home conferencing or other possibilities.

In secondary schools, all students can extend learning in all subjects. If they choose to take part in supplemental learning, they can only improve their grades, says Skjerven.

“No student will be hurt academically by this, just in terms of their grades. As per the direction we’ve received… any supplemental learning in our high schools – they can use the supplemental learning to improve their mark. But the mark can not go down from what it was before the pause in the middle of March.”

Not all students have access to computers or to wi-fi. For those who don’t have a computer, Skjerven says the school board is working on a plan to try to get the computers, laptops or tablets that are now sitting idle, into the hands of families who need them.

“They would have to have internet access on their own, but we are working on a plan to try and provide them with the device. We’re just collecting feedback from our schools, and then we can work on a plan.”

He adds that for those students who do have or can get access to a computer, teachers want to send exercises home that parents can understand and that don’t put additional strain on a household.

“We don’t expect our parents to become our teachers, but we do know, for our younger students, parents are going to be sitting at the kitchen table helping their child with the homework and with the lessons.”

Above all, Skjerven wants teachers to be able to deliver the best possible lessons in these “uncertain times.”