I want you to know that you are all doing an amazing job with your children right now! They are continuing to learn, have structure, and stability during this unstable time! You are all awesome, and I am so glad I get to work with you right now!
As we approach our first full week of distance learning, I wanted to provide the sample schedule and reiterate a few things.
- Sample Schedule:
This is the sample schedule I came up with in the packet and that I sent in email last week. Use it as a guide and change the times. You obviously can start at any time of the day that works for you and your family.
8:00am-8:15am- Watch the daily calendar lesson
8:15-8:30 - Work on a how to writing book for the week. Use the writing guidelines in the packet and a blank writing book to start with. If there is a writing mini lesson, you can watch that!
8:30-8:45 Watch the read aloud of the day video if there is one. If not, read a book at home to your child.
8:45-9:00 Work on your reading activity for the day using the small printed book in the packet. Use the following breakdown for how to use the one book over the course of one week. Save the other book for next week.
Day 1: Have your child do a picture walk. Look at the title page and make a prediction of what will be in the book, who the characters are, and what might happen. Then have your child flip through the book and look at the pictures and talk about what they see.
Day 2: Have your child find all the sight words in the book that he/she knows.
Day 3: Have your child read the book and attempt it by themselves. If they ask you for help, tell them to try it first and “get their mouth ready”. If they still cannot figure it out, tell them.
Day 4: Have your child tell you some things they remember from the book BEFORE reading it again. After they summarize details and events, have them read the book out loud. Remind them to point to each word while they read!
Day 5: Read the book one more time. Then, write a sentence about the story and draw a picture!
9:00-9:15 Watch the daily science video and complete the page in the journal that goes along with it if there is one.
9:15-10:00 Complete the 5 activities on the kindergarten choice board AND 1 activity on the special areas choice board. If you finish early you can always work on a digital site such as matific.com, starfall.com, abcmouse.com, abcya.com, brainbopjr.com, etc.
I recommend adding in at least 10 minutes of Matific and 10 minutes of Starfall to this plan as needed.
- Notice how this schedule covers about 2 hours to 2 ½ hours of time. That is honestly ALL I would recommend for our Kindergarten students right now of at home learning. You can do it all at once, break it up, etc. Depending on what works for you and your family/schedule. But I do NOT recommend having our 5/6 year olds working on school work from 8-2 like we would at school. Now, you know your child. If they need/want more…that is up to you. On the other hand, if they need less, do less that day. Don’t force it.
- I know there are a TON of apps and websites and blogs and resources out there right now. But I do NOT want to overwhelm you and your children with all of it. I am trying to send you resources that I think are the most beneficial and focused right now. The lessons I am recording are things that I would recommend your child definitely watch each day as they reinforce skills we have been working on, use language your children are familiar with, and help give your child a sense of normalcy. As far as websites, Matific and Starfall are two great ones and are free right now. I will slowly embed other resources as we progress through our time at home.
- I would like to try at least one, live, virtual lesson this week through the use of Zoom. I will send more info soon and a meeting time and date. Again, I do not want this to cause you more stress, but I do think the kids would enjoy “seeing” each other if possible! I will try to make this work! Be on the lookout for more info.
- Final thing…if you did not finish the how to book from last week, the first choice board, and/or the reading book…just keep going with it. No reason to start the new choice board or a new writing book or the new leveled reading book if you aren’t done with the first ones! Just keep going and use the new stuff when you are ready.
I hope all of this makes sense! Let me know if you have any questions at all as we get started with a new week!
I miss you all!
Love,
Mrs. Thompson