Supporting Teachers, Students, and Our AmeriCorps members During COVID-19

4.8.20 Update

Supporting Teachers, Students, and Our AmeriCorps members During COVID-19 

As we enter the fourth week of Boston Public School closures and continue to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Governor Baker, and Mayor Walsh to stay home to limit the spread of COVID-19, we’ve shifted our service virtually to meet the needs of Boston Public School students and our AmeriCorps members. 

Our service model during the school closures supports teachers and students as they shift their instruction and learning to a virtual environment. We’re also continuing to prepare AmeriCorps members for their career and educational goals through virtual learning and development opportunities. 

Virtual Classroom Support for Teachers   

Our Boston Public School partners are focused on creating distance learning opportunities for students. City Year Boston is committed to plugging into these online spaces as fully as possible. As our partner schools transition to distance learning, AmeriCorps members will provide academic support through –  

• Whole Class Support: AmeriCorps members monitor questions in the chat function, assist with lesson planning and delivery, and participate in office hours to answer students’ questions. 
  
• Small Group Support: In platforms that allow smaller breakout spaces within a larger meeting, AmeriCorps members lead small groups to support teacher-designed core instruction or hold small group-based tutoring. 

• Facilitation Support: Virtual community spaces can make it difficult to both run a lesson or meeting and manage the technical space. AmeriCorps members support lesson delivery in this way, including managing the chat, sharing resources, and communicating questions from the class. They also lead warm-ups and breaks. 

Whether in-school or virtually, City Year AmeriCorps members support teachers as partners, co-planners, and collaborators, and serve students as mentors, role models, and tutors. While the transition to distance learning can be challenging, our AmeriCorps members can continue serving Boston Public School students and teachers by creating meaningful activities that keep students and the school community connected, support the curriculum, enrich the experience, and bring joy to the space. 

Virtual Learning for AmeriCorps members 

In addition to serving students and schools, City Year Boston is also committed to developing the next generation of leaders. Throughout their service year, AmeriCorps members participate in training and workshops that prepare them for in-school service. They also participate in learning and professional development opportunities to prepare them for their post-service career and education goals. 

Our Virtual Learning Plan includes a mix of virtual trainings, self-guided content, and professional development opportunities, in addition to online community-building activities with their school teams. 

As we continue to navigate through these uncertain times, we appreciate the understanding, patience, and flexibility of our City Year Boston community, especially our AmeriCorps members and the students we serve. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for updates.  

To learn about our initial response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, read more here.