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Shamokin Area School District

Dedicated To Excellence In Education

September 9, 2026

SPEAR Program Highlight: Buzz Notifications, Observer Accounts & Learning Coaches

A SPEAR student and Learning Coach review school progress together on a Chromebook.
A circular Spear Virtual Learning Academy logo featuring a purple and black shield with a stylized arrow symbol inside, set against a bright blue gradient background.

Program Highlight: Buzz Notifications, Observer Accounts & Learning Coaches
A SPEAR student and Learning Coach review school progress together on a Chromebook, with the SPEAR shield on the laptop and a Buzz email-notification logo beside them.
 

What Are Buzz Email Notifications?
Online learning works best when students, families, and school staff each understand their role. This Program Highlight explains the email notifications families may receive from Buzz, what a Pearson Connexus Observer account can show, and what SPEAR expects from a Learning Coach at home.
 
Pearson Connexus uses the Buzz learning platform for its course dashboard and notification tools. Because of this, some Pearson Connexus screens or automated emails may display the name Buzz.
 
Depending on the settings available for an account, Buzz may send an alert when a student receives a score or teacher feedback, earns a badge, submits work, receives a message, falls below the passing level, or has an enrollment-status change. Families may be able to choose immediate alerts or a daily or weekly summary.
 
An email notification is a helpful prompt—not the complete record. Open Pearson Connexus to review the full details. Not receiving an email does not necessarily mean there is nothing to review, so Learning Coaches should still check the Observer account regularly.
 
Select the Buzz image above to open the official Buzz instructions for managing Observer notifications.
 

What an Observer Account Shows
A Pearson Connexus Observer account gives a parent, guardian, or other approved Learning Coach read-only access to a student’s learning information. Observers can review:
 
• Current courses and course announcements
• The Calendar and upcoming or past-due work
• The To-do List and recent activity
• Grades, progress, missing work, and teacher feedback
• More than one connected student from the same account
 
Observer accounts are for monitoring and support. Learning Coaches should not sign in as the student, complete assignments, or submit work for the student.
 
SET UP HELPFUL NOTIFICATIONS
 
1. Sign in to the Observer account.
2. Open the user menu or profile picture and select Settings.
3. Buzz notifications are sent to the email address used when the student enrolled. Confirm that this notification email address is correct and verified.
4. Choose useful alerts. SPEAR recommends considering score or feedback alerts, submission digests, and below-passing notifications.
5. Choose the available frequency that works best and save the settings.
6. Check the inbox, spam, and junk folders for Buzz or Pearson Connexus messages. Mark the messages as safe so future notifications reach the inbox.
 
Notification choices may vary by account or course. Even with alerts turned on, open Pearson Connexus each week to see the complete and current picture.

What Does a Learning Coach Do?
A Learning Coach is the trusted adult who helps a SPEAR student build routines, stay organized, and ask for help when needed. The Learning Coach supports the learning process, while the student remains responsible for attending required sessions and completing their own work.
 
 
A Learning Coach does not need to be a certified teacher or know every answer. The amount of support should change with the student’s age, independence, and individual needs.
 
 
WHAT SUPPORT LOOKS LIKE BY GRADE LEVEL
 
 
K–6: HANDS-ON DAILY SUPPORT
Be available throughout the school day and help the student log in, move between courses, and follow the Pearson Calendar.
Help the student stay focused, understand directions, and complete scheduled lessons.
Review teacher messages, progress, and missing work regularly.
Contact the teacher or SPEAR when the student needs help.
 
 
GRADES 7–8: COACHING TOWARD INDEPENDENCE
Check in at the beginning and end of the school day.
Help the student plan time, organize assignments, and prioritize due dates.
Review progress, grades, and missing work several times each week.
Encourage the student to contact teachers directly, while stepping in early if concerns continue.
 
 
GRADES 9–12: OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Use brief daily check-ins to confirm the student has reviewed the Calendar and knows what is due.
Review the Observer account at least weekly for grades, progress, feedback, and missing work.
Confirm that required meetings and Wellness Checks are completed.
Encourage the student to communicate directly with teachers and take increasing responsibility for their schedule.
 
 
Some students may need more hands-on support regardless of grade level, especially while learning the platform or when attention, organization, learning, or behavioral needs affect independent work.
 
 
A REALISTIC ROUTINE FOR EVERY LEARNING COACH
Confirm that the student logs in each school day.
Review the Calendar and To-do List together.
Check ParentSquare, ParentVUE, and Pearson messages regularly.
Help the student create a plan for overdue or below-passing work.
Contact SPEAR early when a concern continues.
 
 
Learning Coaches provide structure, encouragement, and accountability. They should not sign in as the student, complete assignments, submit work for the student, or replace the course teacher.
 
 
WHEN TO CONTACT THE SPEAR TEAM
Contact SPEAR promptly if your student cannot log in, cannot access a course, has an incorrect or incomplete schedule, is falling behind, needs help contacting a teacher, or if your family has questions about Observer access or notifications.
 
Email virtual@indians.k12.pa.us or call (570) 509-2870. Early communication gives the SPEAR team the best opportunity to help.
 
LEARN MORE
The buttons below include the SPEAR Family Quick Start Guide and Pearson Connexus Family 411 resources for Observer accounts and family support.
Open the Quick Start Guide
Pearson Family 411
Originally posted in ParentSquare: September 9, 2026
View the original ParentSquare post ↗