As schools have resumed with distance learning this year due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), teachers and psychologists at Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School have worked to help students and families optimize their homes for remote learning, addressing issues that could hinder the process. Students from the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) campus have also been receiving regular home visits from the school’s Behavior Management Technicians.
Home visits have become an integral part of the distance learning process, especially for horticulture and culinary students in the Sustainable Environments Learning Program. Teachers in the program—which promotes food literacy, builds career skills, and covers a range of subjects like science, math, reading, nutrition, and business—prepare weekly video lessons for their students. The teachers then work closely with the technicians to schedule times to visit the students at their homes so things like meal preparation kits and plant growing materials can be supplied.
Deliveries include the materials students need to apply what they learn in the video lessons. The in-person interaction with staff also provides the opportunity to help resolve technical issues. Because students have been uploading photos and videos of their work to demonstrate their progress, visiting staff can also reward them for their online participation and achievements.
“Families are appreciative of the additional support we provide,” said Principal Lauren Roth. The school plans to continue the home visits until it can return to in-person classroom instruction.