By Lizzie Walje | [email protected]

On Oct. 5, both Salt Lake City School District students and teachers participated in the first of several prescheduled Asynchronous Learning Days. The October learning day marks the first of four, with three to subsequently follow. As for what they entail, these workdays serve as an opportunity for teachers of the district to come together in person and discuss issues ranging from cultivating professional development to the implementation of trauma-informed responses to aid children exhibiting mental health issues. The district describes the day as a way for its teachers to refine their skillset and further develop important methodology.           

The learning day comes on the heels of Salt Lake City School District’s Superintendent Timothy Gadson proclaiming that during the 2021-22 school year, the district will focus on teaching educators evidence-based learning models and helping teachers recognize emotional fallout and fatigue in their students. When addressing parents at a Title VI town hall meeting earlier this fall, the Superintendent said, “[The district] will be focusing largely on community outreach and sustainable self-governance. We want more collaboration opportunities for our educators, and doing the right thing even if it’s sometimes the harder or more laborious option.”

While the Asynchronous Learning Day will see teachers collaborating in-person, students will be at home working on tasks and assignments provided by their instructors. For some, it is a welcome change, and for others a reminder of an unpleasant not-so-distant past. Even so, it’s been a rocky few months as students balance the return of in-person learning with new Covid-19 regulations.  

The four learning days were initially proposed by the Utah State Board of Education, although they only required teachers who taught grades K-3 to participate. As the Salt Lake City School District deciphered how they were going to fulfill the requirement, they decided to make it mandatory for all teachers, regardless of the grade they taught. 

Naturally, in-home learning days may prove more difficult for some students who rely on school lunch programs and do not have reliable computer access at home. On the four Asynchronous Learning Days, the district said, “All school kitchens will provide a free grab and go combination breakfast and lunch meal service during the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.” Proper signage will be posted at each school directing those who are picking up to the destinated receiving area. Regarding potential technological limitations, the majority of the work students are provided will not require computer access. However, students are encouraged to speak to their teachers if they foresee access as an issue. 

The dates for the remaining asynchronous workdays will be the same for all schools in the Salt Lake City School District. Parents will be given ample time to prepare with reminders alerting them to the upcoming workday. However, if you wish to prepare in advance and mark your calendars, below are all the workdays taking place throughout the 2021-22 school year.

• Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021
• Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022
• Tuesday, April 19, 2022

The learning day comes on the heels of Salt Lake City School District’s Superintendent Timothy Gadson proclaiming that during the 2021-22 school year, the district will focus on teaching educators evidence-based learning models and helping teachers recognize emotional fallout and fatigue in their students. When addressing parents at a Title VI town hall meeting earlier this fall, the Superintendent said, “[The district] will be focusing largely on community outreach and sustainable self-governance. We want more collaboration opportunities for our educators, and doing the right thing even if it’s sometimes the harder or more laborious option.”

While the Asynchronous Learning Day will see teachers collaborating in-person, students will be at home working on tasks and assignments provided by their instructors. For some, it is a welcome change, and for others a reminder of an unpleasant not-so-distant past. Even so, it’s been a rocky few months as students balance the return of in-person learning with new Covid-19 regulations.  

The four learning days were initially proposed by the Utah State Board of Education, although they only required teachers who taught grades K-3 to participate. As the Salt Lake City School District deciphered how they were going to fulfill the requirement, they decided to make it mandatory for all teachers, regardless of the grade they taught. 

Naturally, in-home learning days may prove more difficult for some students who rely on school lunch programs and do not have reliable computer access at home. On the four Asynchronous Learning Days, the district said, “All school kitchens will provide a free grab and go combination breakfast and lunch meal service during the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.” Proper signage will be posted at each school directing those who are picking up to the destinated receiving area. Regarding potential technological limitations, the majority of the work students are provided will not require computer access. However, students are encouraged to speak to their teachers if they foresee access as an issue. 

The dates for the remaining asynchronous workdays will be the same for all schools in the Salt Lake City School District. Parents will be given ample time to prepare with reminders alerting them to the upcoming workday. However, if you wish to prepare in advance and mark your calendars, below are all the workdays taking place throughout the 2021-22 school year.

• Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021
• Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022
• Tuesday, April 19, 2022