Remote Learning Resources

Intermediate School

  • Our distance learning program, informed by best practices for remote learning engagement rather than attempting to replicate an in-person school day, has two goals: engage students meaningfully in interesting and challenging academic work (skills and concepts) to fulfill their full potential, and promote the social-emotional well-being of every child. Our mission remains the same, even as our platform has changed: to accomplish these goals within the context of a supportive community that is empathetic, optimistic and inclusive.

  • Intermediate School Grade Heads and Spanish and science teachers use Google Classroom to communicate and assign work and Google Meet for live synchronous teaching sessions.

  • All 4th and 5th graders have two to three live teaching/learning sessions per school day (in addition to independently completing assignments), including a morning session and an afternoon session with their Grade Head and/or Assistant Teacher and peers (some whole-group, some small group), and beginning the week of April 13, two live sessions per week in science and two live sessions per week in Spanish. Thus, all Intermediate School students now have three live synchronous sessions with teachers and peers four days each week and two sessions one day each week.

  • Departmental teachers (art, music, drama, physical education) are currently sharing content with the Grade Heads to distribute to their students (this process is evolving and may change in the future).

  • Best practices in distance learning do not seek to replicate a traditional in-person school day, as that volume of synchronous screen time would be unhealthy, overwhelming and unsustainable for children, families and faculty/staff. Instead, we aim to maximize the live interactive time with students and teachers and curate interesting and meaningful work in which students engage more independently around the live sessions. Click here if you are interested in more about our balanced approach.

  • Students should not be overwhelmed with work. They should work at a pace that is healthy for them and in harmony with their family's in-house daily schedule throughout this period of social distancing due to the pandemic, unless there is work the teacher determines is essential to complete by a certain date. We continue to be thoughtful in the amount of time we expect students to spend in live sessions and engaged in schoolwork.

  • Grade-level teams continue to discuss curriculum, pedagogy, observations and reflections with one another to stay aligned for the benefit of the student experience. The 4th and 5th grade teams meet weekly with our Director of Studies and Division Head for this purpose, and the teams themselves connect even more frequently for the same purpose.

  • Please note this update to our Responsible Use Policy (effective March 31) for students 4th–7th grade related to school-issued devices/apps and social gatherings without Parker employees supervising.

  • Encourage your Intermediate School student to explore our new social-emotional well-being site, The Quarantine Chronicles, and submit their original art, poetry, musical performances or short videos about what they've learned through the social distancing experience for inclusion on our IS and MS Pop-Up Gallery

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Questions?

Intermediate and Middle School Head
John Novick
jnovick@fwparker.org

Dean of Intermediate and Middle School Student Life

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330 West Webster Avenue | Chicago, Illinois 60614 | 773.353.3000
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.