Dear Families, Friends & Firsties,
As mentioned in Dr. Satterfield's most recent e-mail, Coffin School teachers have been working hard over the past several days planning distance learning opportunities to take place during the school cancellations. As a first grade team, we have discussed and shared a variety of learning experiences for our early elementary students. Each teacher is providing details specific to rolling them out so they fit their own own unique class needs---I've compiled my suggestions here on our class website and will continue to provide updates as appropriate. In addition, my office hours will be week days from 9-10:30 a.m. During that time each day I plan to be online, responding to e-mail, and checking in on learning accounts our class has access to. E-mail received outside of office hours will be responded to within 24 hours.
This is a unique challenge for all of us and I fully understand that families will be experiencing these times in a variety of ways (from family to work obligations, comfort with or access to technology, we all have to do what works best to keep out kids happy, healthy & safe---and at the end of the day that's what matters most). I hope that these learning opportunities help provide a sense of normalcy and fun for your child while maintaining first grade skills. We, as a district, recognize that this is an evolving situation and we will be working with you all to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible. These educational enrichment activities should not be another source of stress and worry for your students. If your child has any confusion, stress, or anxiety about these enrichment activities, please do not hesitate to reach out.
YOU know your child best and it will be up to you to decide how much to push forth these suggestions for purposes of review and enrichment. I know this will likely change day to day and week to week. While I have no expectations from my first graders to produce anything, if you feel that it helps to anchor your child I encourage you to snap pictures of daily activity/logs/journals as you see fit and e-mail them ([email protected]) to me. I promise to check in with your child and provide encouragement along the way! Your feedback will help me to guide future suggestions for the class---we are all in this together! I'm also in the process of setting up a way for us to get some "face to face" time as a class (via zoom or google hangout) throughout the week if that is something you are interested in and able to have your child participate. Stay tuned! And finally, be on the look out for some snail mail---I thought the kids would get a kick out finding a postcard addressed to them in the mailbox over the next few days!
As mentioned in Dr. Satterfield's most recent e-mail, Coffin School teachers have been working hard over the past several days planning distance learning opportunities to take place during the school cancellations. As a first grade team, we have discussed and shared a variety of learning experiences for our early elementary students. Each teacher is providing details specific to rolling them out so they fit their own own unique class needs---I've compiled my suggestions here on our class website and will continue to provide updates as appropriate. In addition, my office hours will be week days from 9-10:30 a.m. During that time each day I plan to be online, responding to e-mail, and checking in on learning accounts our class has access to. E-mail received outside of office hours will be responded to within 24 hours.
This is a unique challenge for all of us and I fully understand that families will be experiencing these times in a variety of ways (from family to work obligations, comfort with or access to technology, we all have to do what works best to keep out kids happy, healthy & safe---and at the end of the day that's what matters most). I hope that these learning opportunities help provide a sense of normalcy and fun for your child while maintaining first grade skills. We, as a district, recognize that this is an evolving situation and we will be working with you all to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible. These educational enrichment activities should not be another source of stress and worry for your students. If your child has any confusion, stress, or anxiety about these enrichment activities, please do not hesitate to reach out.
YOU know your child best and it will be up to you to decide how much to push forth these suggestions for purposes of review and enrichment. I know this will likely change day to day and week to week. While I have no expectations from my first graders to produce anything, if you feel that it helps to anchor your child I encourage you to snap pictures of daily activity/logs/journals as you see fit and e-mail them ([email protected]) to me. I promise to check in with your child and provide encouragement along the way! Your feedback will help me to guide future suggestions for the class---we are all in this together! I'm also in the process of setting up a way for us to get some "face to face" time as a class (via zoom or google hangout) throughout the week if that is something you are interested in and able to have your child participate. Stay tuned! And finally, be on the look out for some snail mail---I thought the kids would get a kick out finding a postcard addressed to them in the mailbox over the next few days!
Daily Reading
Read 3 just right books from Raz Kids. (Reminder: Our "teacher user name" is: GerryOne. From here, each student has an account recently updated with a current reading level, picture password for all is the sailboat icon. There is an option to "listen" to the story first which can be helpful to do FIRST before reading if your reader is working on fluency) If possible, press record so I can listen and provide feedback directly. Do the comprehension check.
Online books not your thing? Read or re-read a book you have at home instead! Ask your child to "retell" the events in order (beginning, middle, end), to describe the story elements (characters, setting, problem, solution) or to think about the author's message to the reader. Practice using expression and different character voices while reading aloud. Text a neighbor or classmate and do a porch-pick up book swap. Face-Time a read aloud with grandma and grandpa.
There are also lots of children's authors arranging online events where they will read and discuss their books and or illustrations! If you are on Facebook/Instagram: Mo Willems, Mac Barnett, Oliver Jeffers, and Ben Clanton are a few that my boys are I are excited for! Storyline Online is another of my favorite sites where popular books are available as read-alouds.
Writing
Encourage writing throughout each the day!
* Have your first grader write the "menu" for family meals or "schedule" for the day.
* Keep a daily "social distancing diary" telling about your at-home adventures (someday you'll look back & remember)!
* Write an OPINION piece on a book you've read, game you've played, food you've eaten, or movie watched. Remember to use the OREO cookie to organize your ideas.
Read 3 just right books from Raz Kids. (Reminder: Our "teacher user name" is: GerryOne. From here, each student has an account recently updated with a current reading level, picture password for all is the sailboat icon. There is an option to "listen" to the story first which can be helpful to do FIRST before reading if your reader is working on fluency) If possible, press record so I can listen and provide feedback directly. Do the comprehension check.
Online books not your thing? Read or re-read a book you have at home instead! Ask your child to "retell" the events in order (beginning, middle, end), to describe the story elements (characters, setting, problem, solution) or to think about the author's message to the reader. Practice using expression and different character voices while reading aloud. Text a neighbor or classmate and do a porch-pick up book swap. Face-Time a read aloud with grandma and grandpa.
There are also lots of children's authors arranging online events where they will read and discuss their books and or illustrations! If you are on Facebook/Instagram: Mo Willems, Mac Barnett, Oliver Jeffers, and Ben Clanton are a few that my boys are I are excited for! Storyline Online is another of my favorite sites where popular books are available as read-alouds.
Writing
Encourage writing throughout each the day!
* Have your first grader write the "menu" for family meals or "schedule" for the day.
* Keep a daily "social distancing diary" telling about your at-home adventures (someday you'll look back & remember)!
* Write an OPINION piece on a book you've read, game you've played, food you've eaten, or movie watched. Remember to use the OREO cookie to organize your ideas.
* Write a friendly letter to a classmate (this is a good time to check that your address is correct & shared in the PTO family directory!), a relative, or your favorite first grade teacher (5 Leggs Hill Road)! I'll write back until I run out of stamps! Reach out to someone who may be isolated during this time at a local nursing home or your favorite small business that you can't wait to visit when they reopen.
* Practice reading and writing sight words! Make it fun: write them in shaving cream, with wiki sticks, or with chalk. For family fun, challenge your first grader to make a board game or a bingo game out of them. Print out a grid paper and have them make a word search that contains a number of words.
Math Munchies
We are currently working on Numbers and Operations in Base 10 and have taught lessons 6.1-6.4. Explore the Go Math button for options inside the "My Library" tab to review and practice these concepts (use your student's 9 digit local ID # for both user and password--you can find this on your Aspen account or e-mail me and I'll send it to you!). I've also put each student on the XTRA Math program. This is a place where students can get daily math fact practice. You should be able to sign up with your student's first name and pin # (see picture below). Students would also benefit from practice with coins (specifically being able to identify the coins and their value). Dig out your extra change and assign chores for small amounts of change. Have your child set up a snack shop with items priced at small amounts for his or her stuffed animals and family members and role play a store. Finally, I've recently set my own kids up on Khan Academy for at home instruction at grade level. It was really easy to make an account for them as learners using their age. Even my oldest who is a reluctant student spent some time this morning (with only minimal complaining) on a "computer programming" coding challenge--so cool! They now have an educational app for this age group that can be put on iPad, Google, or Amazon tablets.
We are currently working on Numbers and Operations in Base 10 and have taught lessons 6.1-6.4. Explore the Go Math button for options inside the "My Library" tab to review and practice these concepts (use your student's 9 digit local ID # for both user and password--you can find this on your Aspen account or e-mail me and I'll send it to you!). I've also put each student on the XTRA Math program. This is a place where students can get daily math fact practice. You should be able to sign up with your student's first name and pin # (see picture below). Students would also benefit from practice with coins (specifically being able to identify the coins and their value). Dig out your extra change and assign chores for small amounts of change. Have your child set up a snack shop with items priced at small amounts for his or her stuffed animals and family members and role play a store. Finally, I've recently set my own kids up on Khan Academy for at home instruction at grade level. It was really easy to make an account for them as learners using their age. Even my oldest who is a reluctant student spent some time this morning (with only minimal complaining) on a "computer programming" coding challenge--so cool! They now have an educational app for this age group that can be put on iPad, Google, or Amazon tablets.
Science & Social Studies
We've been working in our unit on Light and Sound. The buttons below from Mystery Science provide a short mini lesson and hands on activity related to what we've done in school already. Try one each day for science fun at home!
We've been working in our unit on Light and Sound. The buttons below from Mystery Science provide a short mini lesson and hands on activity related to what we've done in school already. Try one each day for science fun at home!
Log onto our Scholastic News account from home and peruse articles, see videos, play games, and print activities related to current events, holidays, and people. (Use the class access code: flyroad8852 for free access)
Check out the latest videos and activities on BrainPOP Jr.
Use the log in: CoffinOne Password: 1TurnerRoad
Check out the latest videos and activities on BrainPOP Jr.
Use the log in: CoffinOne Password: 1TurnerRoad
Virtual Field Trips and Podcasts and More...
While nothing can take the place of a real life experience, there are lots of options to experience things online. Missing the museum, zoo, and park? Click for a list of places that are now offering a Virtual Trip! This may also be the time to find an engaging family Podcast. My family has previously enjoyed the "Story Pirates" and "WOW in the world" on long trips to visit grandma in upstate New York! I urge you to take advantage of the early spring weather and get outside to soak up some sunshine and nature as much as possible. On those rainy days when you need to move inside, a class favorite has been GoNoodle for dance, movement, & fun! Finally, the Calm app has pushed out free resources for mindfulness & meditation which can help you and your family when you're feeling a little overwhelmed with it all.
While nothing can take the place of a real life experience, there are lots of options to experience things online. Missing the museum, zoo, and park? Click for a list of places that are now offering a Virtual Trip! This may also be the time to find an engaging family Podcast. My family has previously enjoyed the "Story Pirates" and "WOW in the world" on long trips to visit grandma in upstate New York! I urge you to take advantage of the early spring weather and get outside to soak up some sunshine and nature as much as possible. On those rainy days when you need to move inside, a class favorite has been GoNoodle for dance, movement, & fun! Finally, the Calm app has pushed out free resources for mindfulness & meditation which can help you and your family when you're feeling a little overwhelmed with it all.
Introducing... Kidblog!
My friend & 3rd grade teacher extraordinaire, Ms. Homan, shared this great resource and I'm excited to try it with you all during this unexpected time apart! I'm totally a newbie but there are some user friendly videos that I've been perusing and it doesn't look all that hard. I've decided that each day I'll post a new "question" and the kids can log on and "answer" in text or photo! Check it out! Read my post and click comment to post your response! All posts are approved by me first and can only be seen by approved users (kids in our class and school staff special "guests." To create an account click this link: KidBlog and use the (case sensitive) code: nb62s7g
We want...Spelling!
This week, I had a family reach out to tell me it would be helpful to keep up with the weekly spelling word routine of the school year. Love it! Although we've been asked by the district to refrain from introducing new content, I came up with two weeks of "review" words. Your students should be able to find (and mark up) bonus letters, glued sounds, suffix -s and closed syllables. I've also made a master list of all the trick words taught so far this year---your child should be able to read and spell these words. Optional activities: Can you use them in sentences? Draw pictures to represent each word, sort them in ABC order, write flash cards and play Go Fish? I hope this helps!
SeeSaw for home learning
This is a great site for students to share at-home learning with me (and the class)! I'm also able to upload video messages (ie: read alouds!) and assign new things here as well! Check it out!