Parent Resources

Parent/Guardian involvement is essential to the success of students. For any educational system to run efficiently, and provide effective learning, all stakeholders must be invested and this includes parents/guardians. In a brick and mortar building, parents are charged with making sure that students are in attendance on a regular basis. In a virtual setting, this responsibility is just as important, if not more.

Attendance, in a virtual environment, can be tracked based on time-stamped login information, completion of various assignments and activities, and communication with the teacher through email and messaging. When lessons are delivered online, students are still expected to be in attendance and engaged with learning activities.

Stafford MSD appreciates the continued support of our parents and guardians in ensuring the success of our students. The resources provided here can aide in the process of continuous, ongoing learning outside of the classroom.

Student iPad Agreement

Technology Resources

ClassLink and Office 365 Resources

Did you know that your student has access to our single sign-on, Office 365, and other helpful apps from home? Click the link below to download this quick guide with step-by-step instructions for ClassLink and Office 365.

From home, use the following url to access ClassLink.

Parent-Student Tech Access Handout

Connecting OneDrive to Classlink

Accessing Outlook Email & MS Stream

Accessing and Navigating OneDrive

ParentSquare Resources

Please note that most of the following resources will require a log in to view.

ParentSquare Overview for Parents & Guardians

Helpful How-Tos

Use the following links to access helpful guides for performing various tasks in ParentSquare.

Manage Your Account Settings

Parent Dashboard

Switch Schools or Switch to the District

Complete an Online Form/Permission Slip

Submit an Attendance Note

Manage Your Notification Settings

Open LMS Parent/Student Resources

Open LMS (formerly Blackboard) is our district Learning Management System where students (grades 2 through 12) can interact with their teachers, complete custom learning activities, track grades and progress, and participate in live virtual sessions. The following video library contains videos to help students and parents get started with Open LMS. Check back periodically for updates as more videos will be added as the need arises.

Joining a Collaborate Session

Uploading from OneDrive

Uploading from OneDrive on iPad

Organizing Classes

Submitting Assignments

Seesaw Parent/Student Resources

Seesaw will be used this year for our Early Childhood (PK3-K) and 1st Grade students as their asynchronous learning platform. Students will be able to login through our single sign-on system, Classlink.

Classlink log in credentials are as follows:

Username: first initial + last name + last three digits of ID#

Password: Computer password

Seesaw Parent-Student Quick Guide

Introduction for Families

Seesaw Family App Overview

Troubleshooting WiFi Connections

District computing devices are configured to allow connections to home and public WiFi networks. The NSD Technology Department is unable to provide support for home networks. However, here are a few basic troubleshooting steps you can try before checking with your ISP or network hardware manufacturer’s website for support links.

Restart your computer or mobile device.
Try connecting to your home Wi-Fi network again.
Ensure that you are entering the correct Wi-Fi password.
Try connecting to another wireless network such as a coffee shop Wi-Fi network or public library Wi-Fi network and see if you can connect successfully.

If you are still unable to connect to your home Wi-Fi, please check with your ISP or network hardware manufacturer’s website for support links.

Support Links to Local Internet Service Providers (ISP)

Support Links to Network Hardware Manufacturers

Netgear
ASUS
Linksys
D-Link
TP-Link
Google Nest Wi-Fi

Technology Procedures and Support

Learning Guidance and Resources for Parents and Guardians

Parent Expectations for Online Learning

Parent Expectations

Access parent resources through the Stafford Learns website to learn about online learning platforms, including login information.
Encourage your student(s) to be prepared and join live virtual sessions at the scheduled time.
Have your student(s) test their credentials by signing into their designated learning platform with their username and password.
Get to know your student(s) online learning platform.
Create a learning space for your student(s) that minimizes distraction and noise.
Place all usernames and passwords in a visible location for easy access.
Create a visual of your student(s) daily schedule and display it in their workspace.
Make sure that your student(s) have all their necessary materials (e.g., textbooks, writing tools, notebooks, etc.).
Ensure students log in at least 10 min. before the start of each class period for attendance purposes.
Maintain breaks and snack times throughout the day.
Check in with student(s) to monitor completion of homework and other assignments.
Sign into the Ascender Parent Portal to check student grades.
Stay in communication with your student’s teachers.

Creating a learning schedule and space

Sustained periods of virtual education are successful when students have a routine to follow and a space in which to work and learn. As you consider how to support your child's online learning, be clear about the time of day any online video sessions will be held as well as the extent of the assignments your student will be asked to complete. If you're not sure, ask your child's teacher(s). Once you have an idea about daily time commitments, plan a schedule for your child to follow. Stick to as predictable a daily routine as possible. Don't forget to include times for breaks and lunch.

In addition developing a daily learning schedule, it is important to identify an at-home learning space. Ideally, this space should have:

A computer, iPad, Tablet, Chromebook or other device
Good lighting
Ready access to learning materials and tools

A dedicated learning space for virtual learning should ideally be located in a shared area of your home such as at the kitchen table, a large kitchen counter, or a desk in a living room or family room. When your student's learning space is separate from their bedroom and distanced from the television, it sets the expectation and tone that the space is for work and not play. Additionally, an online learning space in a shared area allows parents and guardians to readily support learning while also monitoring online activity.

Sample Daily Schedule

When your student learns virtually, they're going to need parent support to think about how to establish a regular routine. To develop your child's daily schedule, ask them about a typical school day. Consider their ability to stay focused and how long they can reasonably devote their full attention to a task. Below is a sample daily schedule. Your student's schedule will look different depending upon your family dynamics and your child's personal learning needs.

Sample Daily Schedule K-6

Sample Daily Schedule 7-12

Distance learning is just as challenging and rigorous as a day of learning in the classroom. Teaching and learning just happens in a different place. There will be certain things such as stretch and nutrition breaks as well as lunchtime that should probably be kept consistent, but other components may differ from week to week. The times your child hops online for video sessions or online chats may change. Ultimately. the more time your student spends learning virtually, the more you and your student will know about what works best in terms of keeping focused, on task, and engaged in meaningful academic endeavors.

Providing Learning Materials and Tools

Nothing disrupts a person's ability to do planned tasks than having to stop and find the materials and tools that are needed for the task. Virtual learning experiences don't just require a device. Students who are learning virtually should also have the following materials and tools available to them:

Paper, pencils, and pens
Calculator, ruler, compass, counters (e.g., dry beans), or other items to support math
Textbooks, composition notebooks, instructional packets, and other necessary curriculum resources provided by your student's teacher
Phone, iPad, tablet, or computer with camera for taking pictures of work and/or recording videos of learning demonstrations

The above list is not exhaustive. As Stafford MSD educators get smarter together about providing online learning as an option for students, this list will grow and guidance will be provided to parents and caregivers about how to access such materials and tools.

Additional Supplemental Resources

In an effort to provide continued support during this time, the district has developed some supplemental resources that you can use at home to assist with learning content. Our primary means of online learning consist of Study Island for grades K-6, and Blackboard for grades 7-12. While teachers are working hard to ensure that students are receiving necessary content through these platforms, we know that additional resources are sometimes needed. Click the links below to view addition resources for Middle and High School campuses.

Grades 7-8 Additional Resources

Grades 9-12 Additional Resources

Innovation at Home

Crucial Conversations

During this time of uncertainty, we all want answers, and our children are no exception. It can sometimes be difficult to talk our kids about situations like the one we are currently facing. Stafford MSD wants to help with those crucial conversations. View the videos below, with your children, to get answers to those pressing questions about Coronavirus.

Coronavirus Information for Kids

How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus

Family Engagement

Management at Home

Instructional Tips

Virtual Filed Trips

Imagine being able to travel the world and visit remarkable places without ever having to leave home. No permission slip required! Discovery Education offers just that with their wide selection of virtual filed trips that allows you to visit polar bears in the Tundra, behind the scenes during Super Bowl LIV, Tech Companies in Silicon Valley, and more! Check out some the virtual filed trip offered by visiting Discovery Education.

Also, check out these other awesome resources for virtual field trips!

Anne Frank House – Take a 360-degree tour of Anne Frank’s home in Amsterdam.

Buckingham Palace – Tour the famous London palace virtually.

Farm Tours – Learn about agriculture through these virtual tours of farms in Canada.

Great Wall of China – This panoramic virtual tour allows you to walk the Great Wall.

Houston Zoo – Watch animals in several of their exhibits via live webcam.

Mars – Explore the surface of Mars in a 360-degree view while learning about the planet and space exploration.

Monterey Bay Aquarium – Watch sea creatures in this California aquarium with the live animal cam

Special Education Toolkit for Parents

Understanding COVID-19

Social Emotional Learning

Mind Yeti

A library of research-based guided mindfulness sessions that help kids and their adults calm their minds, focus their attention and connect to the world around them. Created by nonprofit Committee for Children.

Mind Yeti Playlist

NBC News Learn – Parent Toolkit

Parent Toolkit is a one-stop resource developed with parents in mind. It’s produced by NBC News Learn and supported by Pearson and includes information about almost every aspect of your child’s development, because they're all connected.

Parent Toolkit

General Academic

PBS KIDS For Parents

PBS KIDS is dedicated to offering free access to media content and community-based experiences that support learning for young children. Our mission is to use the power of media to open worlds of possibilities for all children, so that every child can reach their
full potential in school — and in life.

PBS Kids

BrainPop, BrainPop Jr.

Engaging learning games, animated movies, and activities. Designed with relevance, depth, and humor to encourage kids on their unique learning paths.

BrainPop

Khan Academy

A nonprofit with the mission to provide a free, personalized world-class education for anyone, anywhere.

Khan Academy

Room Recess

Online games reinforce important skills that are vital to elementary students and their educational process.

Room Recess

ADHD

Autism

Easter Seals – School Closure Toolkit

This toolkit includes visual supports for children with autism to use during the COVID-19 school closures.

Easter Seals

AFIRM - Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules - Support Understanding Strategy Packet

Individuals with autism may have varied levels of understanding about the COVID-19 virus, how it spreads, and how to reduce risk of exposure. This site includes several strategies to use to provide additional meaning to this complex scenario.

Support Understanding Packet

AFIRM - Opportunities for Expression

Consider providing multiple opportunities for family members to express their feelings as they are able—through family and individual discussions, writing activities, movie making, or play.

Opportunities for Expression

AFIRM - Prioritize Coping and Calming Skills Strategy Packet

The Prioritize Coping and Calming Skills Strategy Packet contains content and resources related to self-management skills for individuals with ASD.

Coping and Calming Skills

Cognitive Challenges

Dyslexia

Learning Ally – Engage at Home Audiobook Activities

Tips to help you help your child become engaged with enriching human-read audiobooks.

Learning Ally

Reading Bear

Reading Bear, a project of WatchKnowLearn.org, is the first free program online to teach beginning readers vocabulary and concepts while systematically introducing all the main phonetic patterns of written English, all using innovative rich media.

Reading Bear

Reading Theory

Hand crafted original reading passages that give students opportunities to practice reading comprehension. Set up an account in order to track your child’s progress.

Reading Theory

Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Rocky Mountain Deaf School

A free public charter school in Jefferson County that offers a bilingual education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students Preschool-12th grade. A language rich environment in American Sign Language (ASL) is available in their ASL video library.

Rocky Mountain Deaf School

YouTube Channel – ASL Support for Books Read

View popular stories with ASL support.

ASL Support YouTube Channel

Baby Sign Language

Sign language dictionary include over 600 common signs. For each word, there is a video, diagram, and teaching notes to make learning new signs easy.

Baby Sign Language

Reading

Story Online

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Readers include Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Betty White and dozens more.

Story Online

Audible

Kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids. All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet. Explore the collection, select a title and start listening.

Audible