The Brick Bridge
Connecting Partners in Education
Welcome!
"The Brick Township Public School District, in partnership with our families and community, is committed to supporting student growth through cultivating each student's unique strengths and talents in an engaging, safe and nurturing environment."
We are fully committed to serving and supporting our families during this difficult time. To that end, this newsletter will introduce our virtual learning plan, routines for online learning, and strategies to ease anxiety during this traumatic time. As we enter Phase III of our Virtual Learning Plan, we are committed to using digital tools to foster student growth through engaging and enriching experiences that enhance their strengths and talents.
These are unprecedented times that are filled with uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. Our community is optimistic, courageous, and stable. We will get through this together because we are #BRICKSTRONG.
Be well!
Dr. Anderson & The Curriculum Department
Here are 7 tips to Support your Child's Virtual Learning
2.Check in every morning
3. Allow brain breaks
4. Find a rhythm that works
5. Consolidate learning
6. Encourage productive struggle
7. Consider passion and play
Follow us on our new Twitter handle @BTPSLearns
Framework for Remote Learning
Preschool Virtual Learning Plan
Our daily lessons are designed to support and foster learning with the understanding of the age appropriate capacity of a preschool student. Each lesson plan is a combination of flexible opportunities of technology based, home project based, traditional learning and an emphasis on strategic play. The daily lesson plan is tightly aligned to the Preschool Learning Standards and rooted in our Tools of the Mind Curriculum. Below is a guideline for our virtual learning.
Preschool Framework (times are suggested):
Literacy (20 minutes): Story Lab, Buddy Reading, and/or Graphics Practice
Math (15 minutes): Making Collections, Numerals Game, Remember and Replicate, Number Line Hopscotch, and/or Math Memory
Science (15 minutes): Science Eyes and/or Story Lab
Make Believe (55 minutes): “Theme-Beach/Boardwalk” Play plan with make believe play
Gross Motor (30 minutes): Participate in active movement either inside or outside
K-5 Virtual Learning Plan:
The K-5 daily routine supports students in learning new content aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and our district pacing guides. Students should continue to spend an average of two hours per day or minimum of 10 hours per week engaged in virtual learning activities. As part of the framework below, students will utilize online programs to reinforce skills and concepts through an individualized approach. Teachers will use the data from these online programs to provide targeted support.
Elementary Classroom Framework: 2 hours per day
40 minutes for Math
40 minutes for ELA
20 minutes of Science or Social Studies
20 minutes of Special Area Enrichment
Please have children participate in an elective area enrichment activity as an opportunity for children to explore their creative talents. Please know that these activities can be worked on throughout the week. More information can be found on Elective Area Teacher websites.
K-5 Assessment:
Teachers will grade each subject area (Reading, Writing, Math, Science, & Social Studies) on a weekly basis using a 3-point rubric.
K-5 Subject Area Rubric
3 points: All tasks completed. Evidence of learning and growth
2 points: Most tasks completed. Evidence of learning and growth
1 point: Few tasks completed. Insufficient evidence of learning and growth
Secondary (Grades 6-12) Virtual Learning Plan:
Course/Class assignments will be created as daily tasks or project-based assignments by the teacher. Students are expected to check-in daily to Google Classrooms to verify attendance. Points for these check-ins and completed assignments are earned based on the rubrics below. These weekly points will be converted into a quiz grade entered into Parent Portal by the following Monday.
Grades 6-8 Classroom Framework - 10 hours per week
2 hours per subject for ELA/Math/Sci/SS
1 hour for Elective/Encore
1 hour for PE/Health
Grades 9-12 Classroom Framework - 10 hours per week
2.5 hours per course
Additional 10 hours for AP or Honors coursework
Grades 6-12 Assessment:
Daily Tasks
Do Now: Check-in daily & complete task. (1 point)
Learning Task: Points awarded based on completion of short daily task & shows evidence of learning or growth. (up to 4 points)
Assignments are worth 5 points per day for a total of 25 points per week.
Weekly Tasks
Do Now: Check-in daily & complete task. (1 point per day)
Learning Task: Points awarded based on completion of a longer weekly task & shows evidence of learning or growth. (up to 10 points)
Assignments are worth 15 points per week.
Supporting Your Preschooler at Home
Teachers, students and families are all doing an amazing job of continuing our curriculum at home. Thank you! The most important aspect of our curriculum is play. That is why we dedicate so much time to planning for our play. In our classrooms, we have students draw plans for their play, they use that plan so that their play is more intentional which helps to keep them focused. If your child is not able to draw a picture for their play plan you can simply ask them what their plan for play is. If you notice that they deviate from their plan say, "Your plan was_______, did you change your plan?"
We are always trying to build a love for reading. Reading to your child and asking them about what you are reading is a great way to foster that love. You can ask them simple questions such as "What do you think will happen next?" or What was your favorite part of the story? These questions help them to make connections to other stories or things that happen in your child's everyday life. Happy Reading!
Making Math Meaningful (k-5)
IXL
IXL is an online program that is offered in both math and now ELA!
IXL offers a continuous diagnostic that pinpoints a student’s current level of knowledge in both Math and ELA. While using the program, students respond to engaging, interactive questions which adjust in real time. IXL’s adaptive approach enables students to learn at their own pace and gain confidence helping them to build a strong foundation of knowledge. By visiting the Diagnostic Arena on a regular basis, students will receive personalized skill recommendations in a variety of areas such as Numbers and Operations, Algebra and Algebraic Thinking, Reading Strategies and Vocabulary.. Recommended skills are outlined in a student’s individualized action plan.
You can find your child’s Individualized Action Plan by following these DIRECTIONS.
IXL Diagnostic Arena Screenshot
Reflex Math (Grades 2-5)
To set up an account, you will need your child’s Reflex sign in information (their teacher’s Reflex Username, the name of the Reflex Class, and your child’s Reflex Password). Your child should have this information if they’re logging on to Reflex regularly.
Go to reflexmath.com/parent
Follow The onscreen instructions to create your free account
Once you are logged, follow the instructions to add your child.
Once registered, launch the parent account at www.reflexmath.com/reports to log into your new account. Enter your Username (your email address) and Password and click Submit.
Math Before Bed Can be a Dream!
Learning to Love Literacy (k-5)
Our school district offers multiple online literacy programs to enhance the at-home reading experience. These programs are developed to encourage students to become lifelong readers by enabling them to choose reading materials that match their interest and level.
Each of the programs below offer unique reading experiences for your child.
Achieve 3000 is a supplemental online literacy program that provides nonfiction reading content to students. It focuses on building reading comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and writing skills. It is designed to help students advance their nonfiction reading skills by providing differentiated online instruction tailored to each student’s reading ability level.
Here is a 5-minute video for parents that explains the why and how of Achieve 3000
Supporting Readers at Home with Achieve 3000
1. Word Work
2. Text Talk
3. Article Reread
Lexia® Core5® Reading is a K-5 computer-based program that builds foundational reading skills for students through personalized learning. The activities in Core5 support and build on our classroom curriculum and focus on developing reading skills in six areas: phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. It is important that your child works independently while using Core5 in order for teachers to monitor student progress and provide additional support where needed.
Take a look at the Lexia At-Home Activities for games to play with your reader at any level.
Raz-Kids is an online program that provides comprehensive leveled reading resources for students. Your child can work on assignments or select other resources for reading and writing practice. Students access their leveled text through an interactive learning portal designed to keep them motivated and engaged.
Take a look at this Parent Toolkit for ideas on how to read at home with your child and tips for talking about texts.
Experimenting with Science (k-5)
SCIENCE!
Throughout our Remote Learning journey, Dr. Jeff, from Generation Genius, along with BrainPop!, have been helping our students understand science phenomena. Exploring various science concepts allows our students to understand how the natural world works, and how the engineering design process helps us solve real world problems. During our Remote Learning period, bring science to your home by trying some “Do It Yourself” activities. Try an activity from Science Fun for Everyone! This amazing resource includes activities where students can create animated characters using dry erase markers, their very own lava lamp, homemade playdough, and more!
Exploring the world in Social Studies k-5
Here are some of the virtual trips you can take!
English Language Learners
Making the Choice to Read - ELA 6-12
Read Alouds are Good for the Soul!
Many authors have taken to the web and started reading their own books aloud for FREE. These read alouds are great for students and help them on their journey to become lifelong readers.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Dan Gutman Author read aloud: daily 2 PM EST - Check author website
Mac Barnett Author read Aloud Daily 3 PM EST--Instagram
Oliver Jeffers Author/Illustrator Daily 2 PM EST--Instagram
What are You Reading During Remote Learning?
Since implementing choice reading in each of our schools, we have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of books students are reading. Here are the middle school book totals for this year so far. At this pace, we will see students read over 23,000 books this school year alone in grades 6-8!
Middle School Library Circulation By the Numbers
11,431 - books checked out 1st Semester this year
13% - increase in circulation from last year
What can choice reading do for you during your time at home?
Reading every day can help children become less anxious. It allows them to build background knowledge and make connections to the world around them. Finding the right book is sometimes a challenge, but many sources are offering their services for free.
Here are few:
Free Ebooks JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD Passwords no longer needed! Scroll down and click on the stream you wish to access (Elementary, MIddle, High) Open LIbrary - Create Username & Password SEBCO BOOKS Login: keepreading password:Sebco. ID:1 Click lower left panel..login...1..login. Loyal Books no password needed - click on the childrens and then the teen/young adult tab for stories. You can also search by ebook or audio book Obooko books for teen audiences. create a username and password Free Audiobooks Audible - This popular site has released hundreds of free audiobooks for little ones through adults; some are voiced by actors Thandie Newton & Dan Stevens! - no username or password needed Internet Archive create a username and password Loyal Books no password needed - click on the childrens and then the teen/young adult tab for stories. You can also search by ebook or audio book ThoughtAudio **Listen and download the pdf Bluford High book series in audiobook, grade 8 and up (high interest/low level)
Media Specialists Here to Help
Check out this link - Library Connection
Need a Book Recommendation?
Students and teachers spending time with their choice reading books while they are home!
BMHS ELA Department Can't WAIT to Have a Full House Again!
Math is Everywhere (6-12 )
Engaging in the math around you!
Now that you are stuck at home, there is no time like the present to answer every math teacher’s favorite question, “When am I ever going to use this?”
The health crisis that we are currently in is being tracked around the world with live data. Mathematicians, scientists, and even politicians are analyzing this data and using it to make decisions about our lives. How exponentially the virus is spreading, projecting how many beds, equipment and staff are needed to handle cases. Stores need to forecast how much inventory to meet an increased demand. Parents need to calculate how much food their now home-all-the-time children will eat. Math is all around.
“Right now in the news, there are many articles that include graphs and other data representations. Take some time to look at them carefully and talk about what they represent and how. Is there anything you notice or wonder about them?
If you want to have a conversation about the current situation, you might want to look at articles such as this one: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/. But all sorts of news outlets have graphs on many other topics! This is a great place to start: https://www.nytimes.com/column/whats-going-on-in-this-graph
Here are a few more questions you might want to discuss:
What can you infer from this?
How does this relate to your life?
What does this make you want to know more about?
What are the questions you could ask to get that information?
What does the graph tell you that the rest of the article does not?
What headline would you write for this graph?”
From youcubed.org
Great Resources for Math at Home
Khan Academy - khanacademy.org
Students practice at their own pace, first filling in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning. Some teachers are posting videos from Khan Academy to help with new learning, but families can also create their own account to get a refresher on previous topics.
Youcubed - youcubed.org
In these times of uncertainty, youcubed is here to help students at home continue to explore and learn maths in rich and creative ways. The website lists a variety of math activities and games to engage the whole family in learning fun!
Science Live! (6-12)
Dive into a Science Lesson with the Teacher of the Year!
You can tune in and watch her lesson anytime. Just log onto NJTVonline.com.
To watch other lessons from New Jersey's award-winning teachers, just log in at these times:
9:00am - 3rd grade lesson
10:00am - 4th grade lesson
11:00am - 5th grade lesson
12:00pm - 6th grade lesson
Navigating Google Classroom with Your Child
If you still need help accessing google classroom, here are a few videos to help you navigate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfgqtCi7hdo - Google classroom tutorial for parents and students
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LsgknSL9QQ - a parent’s guide to google classroom*All students have a Google Account: Username: studentIDnumber@brickstudents.org. Please reach out to classroom teacher for password.
Tips for Families: Creating a Distance Home Learning Environment
Set-up a Learning Space
Choose a space in your home where your child can work on his/her schoolwork. This can be a desk or table where a computer can be setup along with any school supplies that he/she may need. You may want to include paper, pencils/ pens, textbooks, choice reading book etc. Try to choose an area that has a limited amount of distractions.
Make Logging into Different Sites Easier
There are different sites that your child will be using for the different subject areas. To help your child easily navigate to the different sites, create a login sheet. Simply list the site name, user name and password. Your child will then be able to easily reference it when an assignment is posted.
Samples:
Create a Schedule
Create a schedule that works best for your family! Having parents working from home and students completing classwork at the same time can be challenging. Choose a time that works best for you! Think about a time when you are available to help your child with questions, logging in, and using the computer. Post the schedule in a spot where everyone in your home can easily access it.
Plan Time to Refresh & Recharge
We Surveyed Our Teachers!
1. What are some of the great accomplishments that have come from this elearning experience?
2. What are some habits you think would help students during this time?
3. What is something you want your students to know?
Here are the results....
10 Silver Linings of Virtual Learning for BTPS
Daily Check-ins are fun - Daily Challenges, Dad Joke of the Day, Dress the Theme Day.
Teachers have gotten to know some “quieter” students better through this format.
Communication has increased and we are learning new forms of it.
Everyone is learning together and supporting each other throughout the process.
We have all learned a lot about new technologies.
Green screens are great!
Some students are becoming more independent learners.
Classes have taken virtual field trips.
We realized how much we love being in the classroom together.
Students are showing grit and working hard under tough conditions.
5 Habits for Successful Virtual Learning for BTPS
Check-in every day and participate.
Communicate often - students, teachers, caregivers
Develop a routine that works and be disciplined
Stay Positive
Respect your time, your abilities, and others
Things Your BTPS Teacher Wants You To Know
Communication is crucial - students, teachers, and caregivers are on the same team.
Teachers are available to help and answer questions.
Teachers miss seeing your children every day.
Encourage your child to take physical and social/emotional breaks during the day
Teachers are working harder than ever - learning new technology, finding new resources, answering emails, and worrying about the students.
If your child is overwhelmed, PLEASE reach out.
This is not easy for anyone - students, teachers, caregivers.
Many teachers have kids at home who they are helping to learn also - you may see some in the videos.
The daily check-ins are so teachers know the children are ok.
Live communication is important - the class gets to be together and the teacher can answer questions.
Teachers are heartbroken how this has impacted the students and their families.
Virtual learning is flexible - find a routine that works and stay focused on it.
Teachers want their students to succeed.
Teachers are still figuring this out too.
Did we mention teachers miss the kids?
BMHS Key Club Sends a Message of Hope to BTPS Staff!
We're ALL in this TOGETHER! Brick Strong!
To watch other inspirational videos from our schools, check out this link!
Contributions to the Quarterly Newsletter are made by:
Chad Cutts
Jenn Lane
Christopher Thompson
Brittany Bucco
Amanda Beattie
Academic Coaches:
Jennifer Monninger
Danielle Ventrello
Leigh Ann Layton
Loredana McFadden
Kathleen Fitzgerald
Fran Caposello
Jacqueline Janik
Editor: Jennifer Monninger
About Brick Township Public Schools
Website: www.brickschools.org
Location: 101 Hendrickson Avenue, Brick Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 732-785-3000
Twitter: @BTPSLearns