What is a hybrid school, and what makes lesson planning different for a hybrid school teacher? Hybrid schools meet one, two, three, or four days a week. This model of education has been growing in popularity for many years now, and it presents a unique opportunity for teachers and parents to work together to support the education of their students. Students in a hybrid school spend part of the week in class with a teacher for instruction, and the other part of the week is spent at home with their parents facilitating the instruction. Since the teacher and parents work as a team in the education process, lesson planning can be a challenge for the teacher.
Teachers who choose to instruct their students with IEW’s video-based program Structure and Style for Students (SSS) can adapt the Suggested Daily Breakdown in any one of these three ways:
Option 1 Teachers watch the SSS video and then use it as a guide for teaching the lesson live.
Option 2 Students watch Part 1 of the video in class and complete the assignment as directed. Any work not completed
in class will be finished at home. The remaining class day(s) can be used to watch Part 2 of the video and
complete the assignment as directed. Class time will also be used to collect homework, return graded
assignments from the previous week, and reinforce what Mr. Pudewa taught on the video.
Option 3 Parents purchase the SSS program, allowing students to watch the video and complete the assignment at
home. Teachers use class days to collect homework, return graded assignments from the previous week, and
reinforce what Mr. Pudewa taught on the video.
When planning for teaching time in the classroom, spend the instructional time modeling the new structural unit or stylistic technique. Andrew Pudewa’s article “Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing” offers excellent guidance that will prepare both you and your students’ parents to provide the optimal support for students.
Regardless of how the videos are used, during class time reinforce the concepts taught in the videos. As you begin to plan for your academic year, you will need to consider what your instructional week will look like. What days will students attend class versus what days will they be working from home? Using that knowledge, review the Suggested Daily Breakdown that appears on the first page of every lesson. As much as possible, have students follow the schedule and check off each assigned task. An alternative 30-week schedule, which can be accessed through the blue page of the Teacher’s Manual, is provided as a free PDF download.
Keep in mind writing allows for the application of progressive skills. Andrew’s article “Process versus Product” reminds us to relish the process. When we can take a step back and enjoy the journey, our students will benefit as well.
Enjoy the unique partnership with your parents that a hybrid school offers. Communicating with parents is essential as both teachers and parents work together to help students become confident and competent communicators and thinkers. For more help teaching IEW’s method of Structure and Style in a hybrid school, please visit our Hybrid Schools Help page.
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Renee Vasher has over twenty years of experience teaching in co-ops and hybrid schools. She is passionate about encouraging families who are educating their children. In 2004 Renee heard Andrew Pudewa speak about IEW’s unique Structure and Style approach to writing. IEW’s method changed how she approached teaching and writing with her students. In addition to serving IEW as an Educational Consultant and the Hybrid Schools Manager, Renee also teaches at a hybrid school. Renee has a BA in psychology and enjoys reading in her free time. |
