GT LEAD
LEARNING AT HOME
Dear Parents,
I know that you are enjoying time with your children at home, and I know that you are searching for ways to keep them learning, moving, and engaged. Last week, our purpose in GCISD was to connect with our students. Your homeroom teacher should have contacted you and your child just to say hello. I sent out an email to you all for your child to see my Flipgrid, and for him/her to respond in video to the group. Through the ones that I have viewed, the same theme continues to repeat:
"I miss my friends! I miss OCT! " ( I miss my community.)
Connecting digitally is one way we can reassure our kids that our community is still there. If you did not receive the flipgrid from me, please email me at kathy.griffin@gcisd.net , and I will send you the flipgrid link.
In the next two weeks, you will be receiving ways for your students to review what they have learned, to build relationships digitally, and to establish routines together with their grade level teachers. GT Specialists will be adding enrichment and extension activities to the Teachers' document they send out.
In our third week with at home learning, your student may begin to see new learning. During that week, you may receive an additional, separate document or hub of activities geared for your GT student. This document will be generated from the GT Specialists in our district. This will be shared via email and through my Smore newsletter.
If you have questions, I am happy to answer those. Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this unprecedented time.
Kathy Griffin
Time Capsule
Journaling or Video Diary as a Time Capsule
This is not something that has to be turned in to me, but it is an optional idea for you. Think of it as a way or outlet for your child to communicate, and as he/she is sharing that with you, you will begin to see any underlying concerns, original, refreshing points of view, or insights to how your child is coping with this new normal. As always, if you want to share it with me, I am happy to read/view it and provide feedback.
Maybe you have a set time of the day to share with each other.
Below are some possible topics, and of course some are for older students, but others would fit K-2 students:
- Share how your pets are doing during this time. If your pet could talk, what would it say?
- Share how you have communicated with your grandparents?
- What is your favorite game that you play with your family? Why?
- If you could go sit down and eat at any restaurant right now, where would it be?
- What is something new that you learned at home?
- What do you miss most about OCT and why?
- Spring is here; what are your observations outside? What's happening in your front yard or backyard?
- What has been your favorite book that you have read or are still reading at home. Would you recommend it? Why or why not?
- How many squares are on a roll of toilet paper? If you had 8 rolls of toilet paper, how many squares would that be in all?
- Pick a room (bedroom, living room, kitchen, family room, even bathroom!) and describe your dream version of it. What would it look like? What would it have in it?
- Describe your favorite meal.
- Interview a person in your family about their childhood. Ask about their favorite: games to play, foods to eat, and music to listen to. Write it up in your journal.
- Write a journal entry about how you're feeling and what your day was like.
- Write down your dreams...where do you want to go to college, what do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
Reading
* Reading and writing can be in English, or in your home language, or in a combination.
Kathy Griffin
Email: kathy.griffin@gcisd.net
Website: gcisd.net
Location: 5300 Pool Road, Colleyville, TX, USA
Phone: 817-305-4870
Facebook: facebook.com/ourschool
Twitter: @OCTGriffin