The Winn Word
December 4, 2020
Family Connection: How to Help You Child Thrive in a "Remote Learning" Environment
Do these questions sound familiar? Learning in a remote location is a challenge for adults and kids for a variety of reasons. Today's "Family Connection" will offer you some ideas to help your child get the most out of school in this new setting.
- Set up a Learning Area: Have a place where your child can work each day when they are at "school". This might be at your kitchen table or a desk in their room. Having a location lets the kids feel like they are "going" to school and it is time to learn. You might think a comfy spot like the couch or their bed would be great. These locations for many students aren't as productive. Why? Think about when you go to bed with your favorite book. When you lay down and start to read do you find yourself nodding off or maybe not as focused? The same things happen with our kids. Having a space that is their workplace will help set them up for success.
- Quiet Zone: Look around your child's learning area. Are there any distractions around like the television or high activity area? During school time where there is a "live" session, work to minimize any distractions. Think about if we were trying to learn and someone kept coming in and talking. It would be tricky! If you have an important call or need to do something, try to do it in a different space.
- We are LIVE: When we are live, lessons are being recorded to help our families that can't be live on certain days. The secret is to remember that if you can see and hear us, we can see and hear you. If you have an important phone call or need to talk to someone, try to find another space away from your child.
- Set up a schedule: We have provided you a schedule for our "virtual school" each day. Make sure to utilize that to help you plan your day. Kids that excel during this time know what the expectations are and know when they are going to do it. As an adult, we like to know what is required of us too. It makes us feel uneasy if we don't know what we have to do or when it needs to be done. This is a life long skill we can give your child together.
- Make it Active: We all need breaks to help us refuel and recharge. Make sure that your child has time away from the screen. Encourage those break times as a "recess" or an activity they want to do. Try "Go Noodle" to do some movement or mindfulness. In the afternoon, check out the "special" for the week. Each specials teacher has a dedicated week to work with the school. These are great things to nurture creativity! The more we can make our learning active and fun the more opportunity we have for kids to grow.
- Communicate: If you have questions or your child is struggling, make sure to call us here at school. We are a partnership! The more we talk together the more successful we will be for your child.
- Be Positive: Working with your child be rewarding and challenging. As your child learns there may be moments of challenges. Celebrate the small steps! Break the goal up into manageable chunks to show your child they can reach that outcome. We all remember when we learned something new. It took hard work and determination to learn. We have to model that for our children. Help them know they can reach their goals.
- Make Connections: Set up time during the day for your child to talk with their friends from school via Google Meet or Zoom. Playing outside at a social distance would be great too. We all miss that face to face contact with our school. Let kids talk on the phone, Facetime, Google Meet, etc is good for their social-emotional health. If you feel like your child is having a difficult time in this area, please reach out to our counselor, Mr. Gutierrez, or call the school to set up a virtual visit. This is a difficult time for all of us. We are all in a global pandemic but how we view it and deal with it are all different. If you need us we are here for your family.
- Attendance vs. Assignments: Did you know your child is marked "present" or "unexcused absence" or "excused absence" each day. In order to be marked "present," your child needs to either attend the "live" sessions or watch the "recorded lessons" each day. If they watch the recorded lessons, they need to make sure to comment in Google Classroom after the video telling the teacher what they learned. If your child does not attend the "live" lesson OR watch the "recorded lesson" they will be marked as an unexcused absence. If your child is sick you need to call into the office and let Mrs. Gall know so she will mark them "excused absence."
- Assignments: Working each day to practice what your child's teacher taught them is so important to their learning. If they do not turn in their work, things will be recorded as incompletes which means no grade. What does this mean? Without practice, learning stays in the same place which puts your child below grade level. The easiest way to check on assignments is to go into Google Classroom and see what needs to be turned in each day. Kids need our help with budgeting time in elementary school. This is a life skill that we can help them learn now. Make a list and check things off so they feel accomplished. Kids do better when they know what they have to do and when it needs to be done. When they don't know they are not engaged with school. If you need help with this, let us know. We will have a parent workshop coming soon about this very topic.
- Give Them A Connection: It is so important to spend time encouraging your child by just talking and supporting them. Listen to their struggles and celebrate their victories. We are adding a new feature to our week called, "Lunch Bunch". We will have special guests hosting lunchtime to talk and eat together. Look on Facebook for dates and hosts next week.
As always, we want to say thank you for all of your help and teaching at home. We know you are your child's first and most important teacher. We value your input and look forward to our continued partnership this year.
Winn Virtual Learning Expectations
"Take and Make" Holiday Craft Thursday, December 10th 7:30
Winn Take and Make Ornament Event
- On Tuesday, December 8th through Thursday, Dec. 10th, your VIP needs to come to school to pick up your ornament. Do not make the craft yet... wait!
- On Thursday night, we are going to have a LIVE Google Meet and make our ornament together. We are going to have fun and show everyone our ornament.
Get ready to have some fun and drink some yummy cocoa! See you all LIVE on December 10th to make our new ornament! Remember someone has to come to pick up your craft kit on Tuesday-Thursday during school hours.
Dates to Remember
12/10 Google Meet LIVE at 7:30 Create your "Take and Make" craft together
12/11 Report cards sent home today
12/14-12/18. Spirit Week
12/18. Last day of school before Winter Break!
12/19-1/3 Winter Vacation
Winn Elementary School
Mrs. Richards
Email: lrichards@shepherdschools.net
Website: https://www.shepherdschools.net/o/winn-elementary-school
Location: 8190 Church Street
Phone: (989)866-2250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winnelementary