At-Home Learning: Week 1
Elementary Schools
Grade Level Learning Plans
Welcome to our WHPS At-Home Learning Plan main page. We've created a short video to introduce how to read the plans that are all linked below. Please see the links to each grade level’s weekly plans below. These include lessons with resources for literacy, mathematics, physical and creative expression as well as ways students can think about being kind, of service to others, and ways to communicate their feelings during this time of change. Please contact your building principal or curriculum specialist if you have any questions.
Daily Routines
Whenever possible, having a daily routine is important for children at all ages. As students engage in learning at home, designate a dedicated space when it’s time to learn. At the elementary level, this would ideally be in a shared area (kitchen table, living room) that allows adults in the home or caregiver location to support learning and monitor any online activity. Students would have the materials they may need such as paper, pencil, crayons, independent reading books, and computer or tablet if appropriate/available for the learning task.
Each family’s at-home learning schedule will look different depending on family dynamics and student learning needs. Some families/students might engage in all lessons in the morning while another family might do some tasks in the morning and other tasks in the evening. A family/student might decide to complete weekly math lessons on one day and reading lessons over three days. The weekly learning targets and daily plans are designed to provide flexibility.
How will students share their learning?
Teachers will want students to share their learning with them either upon return to school or during this period of at-home learning as feasible and as family schedules permit. In Grades PreK-5, classroom teachers will ask students to keep a folder with student work such as writing and reading journals or may ask parents to take a photo of their activities (as possible). Students in Grades 4 & 5 might also use their Google email/classroom accounts to communicate with their teachers (upon teacher request).
Support
We appreciate that this at-home learning plan is new to everyone: students, teachers, and families. While we cannot replicate the classroom learning experience, we have designed meaningful, targeted weekly learning opportunities for the coming weeks. Students will be able to engage in many of these tasks independently; other tasks will need support from an adult (e.g., watching a video on graphs and completing a related graphic task). Classroom teachers and support staff (TESOL, special education, reading intervention) will communicate with you regularly via email and on-line video chat tools to support you and your student and answer any questions you have each week.
West Hartford Public Schools Website
Home-School Communication
Please let your teacher know if you would like to communicate by email using Google Translate.
Questions about your child's learning plan should be forwarded to your child's classroom teacher or support teachers.
Please direct other questions to your building principal by email, with understanding that they are responding to the needs of both staff and families at this time.
Google Meets
As an alternative to teleconferencing, we can use Google Meets for video "chats". Google Meets is a free feature of the Google Suite and can be downloaded to your cell phone or device. This tool offers families the opportunity for face-to-face communication with a teacher.
To use, your child's classroom teachers will invite you to a videoconferencing session via email. You can access by cell phone even if you do not have a Google account! If you cannot make it to that session, email the teacher to arrange a mutually convenient time.
Families can download the app for Google Meets if they have a mobile phone. This way they can receive information and participate in videoconferencing with their child's teacher.
How is WHPS supporting students with IEPs and 504 plans?
WHPS is providing multiples supports to students who have IEP and 504 plans. These include:
- Special Educators will have access to weekly At-Home Learning Plans, communicate regularly with classroom teachers and create lessons to meet each student's IEP goals.
- Weekly At-Home Learning Plans posted will include accommodations and modifications for students with IEPs and 504 plans.
- Families can check in with their special educator for support with individual learning plans.
- Special Educators will use video and teleconferencing for small group and individual check-ins.
- Curriculum Specialists and Principals will check in with families of students with 504 plans to monitor their progress and address specific needs.