Here's another update on what we're trying in ELA...
- We're going to start our historical fiction book clubs next week. All but three children have either picked up their book from me or picked it up from the front of the building. Depending on which students show up on Zoom and in person each day, our book "clubs" may look different from week to week. We hope to spend three weeks on this one book. It will be too short a time for some, and some will finish their book early. So.... my goal is always for students to have a book they're reading. If they're coming to school, that book (or those books) should be in their backpack each day they attend in person. Please check in with your child as often as you'd like to see what they're reading (and maybe read with them).
- Our polished pieces of narrative writing were so fun for me to read and provide video feedback on. Some students really focused on just ONE moment, and many were skilled at "showing" vs. "telling." Writing is something all students are encouraged to revise - and many took the opportunity in the time allotted. It's what writers do.
- Each day I try to find a time that works for us in the building to get out of the building and take a five-minute mask break. (Yes, the rumors about the first day of students IN school are true - we had a 20-minute mask break that day! It was helpful for connecting with students in person and getting out nervous feelings.) I feel terrible leaving students on Zoom, so I'm trying to make this at the end of one class or another. It cannot be during a passing period, as we're trying to limit the amount of students in the hallways. I'm grateful to those students at home who are patient with all we're trying. I'm also grateful to those students in person who are patient when I'm constantly reminding them to stay six feet from their friends.
- I'm grateful for the days when a class feels as if it's not split. Some days I'm repeating things many times, and some days the kids online and in class help each other. These are the days I go home smiling. Of course, your children are helping ME every day - - with hardware and with ideas for how to make things run more smoothly for both groups simultaneously.
- I created a guide for students that I'll share with them on Friday. How to Succeed in ELA Class. Many students have the skills to figure out in-person and/or remote learning with no problem. Others could use more help than I can sometimes provide. With so much information being shared again and again with students, I thought having it all in one place would be helpful. This is located on one of our buttons on the top of our Schoology page.
I was going to treat you with photos this week, but the short videos I downloaded didn't come out as videos, so I'll try again when I can find more time. As always, please reach out if you need anything, and know that I am truly appreciative of your efforts and your child's efforts - daily.
- We're going to start our historical fiction book clubs next week. All but three children have either picked up their book from me or picked it up from the front of the building. Depending on which students show up on Zoom and in person each day, our book "clubs" may look different from week to week. We hope to spend three weeks on this one book. It will be too short a time for some, and some will finish their book early. So.... my goal is always for students to have a book they're reading. If they're coming to school, that book (or those books) should be in their backpack each day they attend in person. Please check in with your child as often as you'd like to see what they're reading (and maybe read with them).
- Our polished pieces of narrative writing were so fun for me to read and provide video feedback on. Some students really focused on just ONE moment, and many were skilled at "showing" vs. "telling." Writing is something all students are encouraged to revise - and many took the opportunity in the time allotted. It's what writers do.
- Each day I try to find a time that works for us in the building to get out of the building and take a five-minute mask break. (Yes, the rumors about the first day of students IN school are true - we had a 20-minute mask break that day! It was helpful for connecting with students in person and getting out nervous feelings.) I feel terrible leaving students on Zoom, so I'm trying to make this at the end of one class or another. It cannot be during a passing period, as we're trying to limit the amount of students in the hallways. I'm grateful to those students at home who are patient with all we're trying. I'm also grateful to those students in person who are patient when I'm constantly reminding them to stay six feet from their friends.
- I'm grateful for the days when a class feels as if it's not split. Some days I'm repeating things many times, and some days the kids online and in class help each other. These are the days I go home smiling. Of course, your children are helping ME every day - - with hardware and with ideas for how to make things run more smoothly for both groups simultaneously.
- I created a guide for students that I'll share with them on Friday. How to Succeed in ELA Class. Many students have the skills to figure out in-person and/or remote learning with no problem. Others could use more help than I can sometimes provide. With so much information being shared again and again with students, I thought having it all in one place would be helpful. This is located on one of our buttons on the top of our Schoology page.
I was going to treat you with photos this week, but the short videos I downloaded didn't come out as videos, so I'll try again when I can find more time. As always, please reach out if you need anything, and know that I am truly appreciative of your efforts and your child's efforts - daily.