The Elementary Curriculum Corner
4th Quarter, 2019-2020, CSI Goal Area 1 & 2
A Note from Our Superintendent
Thank you for everything you are doing for our students, you are appreciated. As we move to continuous distance learning there are a few things I want you to know... 1)connecting/checking in with our students/families is our top priority. If you have a student that is not in your zoom class, follow up with a phone call. If you are still unable to connect, give their name to your campus counselor. If there is a language barrier contact your campus EL assistant. 2) Make instruction simple: review, enrich, and do not introduce any new standards or concepts. Work with your team, support those around you, reach out to those we have in place to offer assistance. Make an effort to maintain student learning and be flexible.
Stay well,
Mr. Hime
Keep it Simple: Review and Enrich
- Review your Saxon Phonics deck: create the cards that your class recites everyday
- Saxon Math Meeting: Create it at home: day, date, count coins, count by 2, 10, 100, Make up a story problem. What else does your math meeting include?
- Wonders enrichment activities and Activity cards (these can be found digitally)
- Read a book aloud: introduce/discuss vocabulary, retell, write in journals (or Seesaw)
- Have students share their favorite book (discuss main idea, details, summarize etc)
- Show and Tell (if the book above was about dinosaurs, bring one to the meeting)
- Have students go on a nature walk and bring something back to discuss
- Provide opportunities for student choice
- Think to yourself, "what can students do, by themselves, at home"
Platforms:
- Seesaw
- Zoom
- School Website
Look at OSDE suggested learning times by grade level:
- PreK-K: 45 min.
- 1-2: 1 hr 10 min. (example: Reading 30m, Math 20m, SS/Science 20m., flex:PE/Music)
- 3-5: 1hr 20 min.
- 6th: 3 hrs.
Tips:
- Establish your hours: be consistent
- Feedback is important
- Expectations are important: be intentional and explicit
- Be patient
- Be flexible
- Cross curricular themes
- If parents ask for more, individualize for their student, give them more
Equity:
- Equity will be an issue, do the best you can
- Provide stability and hope for students and families
Oklahoma Resources for Distance Learning
A few of the many resources available on this site:
- Essential Resources for Families
- Essential Resources for Teachers
- Sample Schedule
- Special Education & English Learner resources
Think about Themes
Could you review and enrich while discussing, celebrating special days?
April Holidays or celebrations May Holidays or celebrationsExamples:
- Draw a Bird Day
- Name Yourself Day
- Scrabble Day
- Earth Day
- Arbor day
- Space Day
- Rhino Day
- National Train Day
- Cinco de Mayo Day
CPS Digital Programs
If you choose to use digital programs you should:
- assign review items only
- be available when students need assistance
Things you shouldn't do:
- let students have free rein of program(s)
Ideas for Reading Coaches
- Collaborate with Classroom teacher
- Join zoom meetings for a few minutes to share an activity
- Read aloud to class
- Flash sight words
- Letter sounds
- Call their students/parents to check in
Lexia: Lexia requires intense intervention on a daily basis. At this time we do not want students progressing through the program without the supports they need, it would be detrimental to their learning. We also do not want to overwhelm families. Students should be able to have some level of success with activities and review the classroom teacher is offering.
Ideas for EL Assistants
- Collaborate with classroom teachers to support EL students
- Contact EL students that are struggling in class meetings to assist with activity etc
- Translate for any families that are non English speakers
- Support classroom teachers in an effort to contact EL students that are hard to reach or that need another contact as a check in
- Newcomers: 1 at Nance, 1 at Washington: work closely with classroom teacher to relay class activities etc. (any background knowledge that we can frontload would be great!)
Imagine Learning: Imagine Learning requires intense intervention on a daily basis. At this time we do not want students progressing through the program without the supports they need, it would be detrimental to their learning. We also do not want to overwhelm families. Students should be able to have some level of success with activities and review the classroom teacher is offering.
Self-Care
- Your mental/physical well being is number 1: Be aware of your own well being, pace yourself, take breaks. What time of day works best for you to have virtual meetings with your class and make checkin calls? (ex: what would work best for your family? Your situation?)
- Push to connect with your mentor and other co-workers: Who can help you? Who can you help? You are not in this alone.
- Know district education essentials, give yourself GRACE: Review, Enrich, and do not do anything new.
I am here for you...
Let me know if I can help!
Stephanie Hime, M.Ed.
Email: stephanie.hime@cpsreds.org
Website: https://www.clintonokschools.org/312157_3
Phone: 580.547.9319
Twitter: @mrshime