Twin Peaks Charter tests in-person learning

As much of St. Vrain Valley School District starts an unprecedented academic year by tuning into video calls, Twin Peaks Charter Academy is one of two schools in the district opting to take a different route. The tuition-free charter school is starting with multiple forms of in-person learning, seeking to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 while also trying to keep students on track.

A post on the Twin Peaks website on Aug. 19 explains how the school will modulate between in-person and online learning. Elementary students started the year with full-time in-person learning, but are cohorted with their classmates for the duration of the school day.

Secondary students are starting with a hybrid model, split into two cohorts to minimize class size and student interaction as they move between classes. The two groups alternate in-person and online days so that the two cohorts are never at the school building on the same day.

Twin Peaks also is offering a virtual option for students and families who aren’t comfortable with in-person school. Unlike St. Vrain Valley School District’s LaunchED program, these kids are technically in Twin Peaks classes and follow the same course path as their in-person counterparts, though they get their instruction primarily through pre-recorded videos instead of livestreamed lessons. Students have the option to switch to online-only, or switch back into their respective in-person mode, throughout the school year as needed.

For one language intervention teacher, who asked not to be named, at Twin Peaks, learning in-person this fall hopefully will rectify inequities that students felt last year. After school switched online in March, she said she spent most of the rest of the term “putting out fires.” Many of her students don’t have parents who speak English, so they were confused by the school’s protocol for picking up at-home learning materials. Some didn’t have internet at home, so they frantically searched for wifi-connected, COVID-safe places such as a parking lot. Others simply dropped off the grid as they moved to other states, to be closer to relatives.

Even though some of her students have opted for Twin Peaks’ online option, in-person learning for the fall seemed like the most feasible way to make sure most of them don’t fall through the cracks.

“We’re one school with one responsibility for one community, and that's why we’re able to swing it," this teacher said.

That’s not to say this is any normal school year. While this teacher is still taking count of which students she needs to work with, she’s working to make her lessons more complementary to the students’ other classes than she has in the past. If some kids will learn about a historic person in a week or so, she will upload videos and do activities with them to help “build an academic vocabulary” around the topic.

“I’m really trying to support them in a way that makes this fun and interactive, and doesn't lose what they're supposed to be learning,” she said. “I’m doing what I've always done, just revamping what I’m using to do it.”

Even for students whose first language is English, having in-person classes will hopefully help them stay on track. Little research existed before the pandemic began to demonstrate varying effectiveness of online versus in-person learning, but the general consensus is that in-person is the most effective way. That said, some findings released in the past few months have said that the amount of support a student has, regardless of the learning environment, may be the most impactful factor.

Todd Johnson, an eighth grade language arts teacher, said that he understands why some students and families might want to go with the virtual option, but as a teacher, he struggled during the spring. In a classroom, Johnson said, it’s easy enough for him to help those who are struggling. But online, even if a student may say they understand a concept, it’s harder for Johnson to tell if they actually do.

“I just don't know if they'd have the courage to say “I don't get it” online, if everyone else seems to be getting it,” Johnson said.

From Johnson’s perspective, the school is safer than public spaces like a grocery store. Between school-wide masking, nightly classroom cleaning, small class sizes and a strong emphasis on maintaining six feet of distance, he said he feels like the school is minimizing risk as much as it can.

“The biggest thing is what's important to you, your child's education or safety, and I don't think it has to be either one or the other,” Johnson said. “You can be safe and get your child a strong education, and to me that's what we're doing.”

As for the online-only students, Johnson said that he’s hoping to bring them together with the hybrid kids throughout the semester, such as for book discussion days.

“Bringing the virtual students in to hear other students' perspectives on what they read, as well as hear what I'm saying in real time, that’ll be really beneficial,” Johnson said.

In the event the school has to go entirely virtual, Johnson said he’s more prepared this time around. But he and the language intervention teacher both hope that doesn’t happen, for the students’ sake.

“COVID-19 isn't going away soon, so we have to figure out how to adjust accordingly,” the language intervention teacher said. “I don't think online is the answer long term. At least, I hope not.”