What do the instructional models look like at Charm City Virtual?

Students in grades K-8 who participate in the virtual learning program, will receive virtual instruction from Maryland certified teachers 5 days a week. Synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities will be embedded throughout the school schedules. Students’ schedules will be comparable to the instructional blocks used in traditional settings 4 days of the week. Student schedules will allow for participation in core content instruction, intervention/enrichment services, special education/related services, office hours, counseling services, college and career planning and clubs/extracurricular activities. One day a week, students’ schedules will include more opportunities for personalized learning through teacher-lead small group instruction. In addition, once a week, students’ schedules will include extended time for intervention and enrichment learning experiences.

In general, the amount of screen time with online instruction increases as we move from our younger learners to our adolescent students. The kindergarten-second grade model will have 255 minutes per day in synchronous online instruction, along with an additional 60 minutes of asynchronous instruction and individualized learning to round out a typical student day of 6 hours total. The third through fifth grade model will have 300 minutes, along with an additional 60 minutes of asynchronous instruction and individualized learning to round out a typical student day of 6 hours. The sixth through eighth grade model will have 305 minutes, along with additional asynchronous instruction and individualized learning to round out a typical student day of 6 hours. Students will engage in a more traditional schedule Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

These K-8 schedules include time for English / language arts, mathematics, intervention/acceleration, social-emotional learning (SEL) and resource classes, including physical education and the arts, daily. The time for resource classes will be scheduled in a flexible manner throughout the day, serving as breaks between core content areas. An emphasis on small group instruction is placed daily; this is essential for ensuring that all students receive targeted support based on their unique needs.

On Wednesdays, students will be provided additional opportunities in Health and Social Emotional Learning through advisory, intervention/acceleration,, personalized/individualized learning plans, student-led conferences along with opportunity for core instruction.

During Wednesday schedules, additional professional learning and planning time will be provided for educators. Additional targeted intervention and enrichment will be provided to students who need intensive support or enrichment opportunities.