Preparing for Home Learning During Extended Breaks

Is your school one of the many that are currently facing closures due to Coronavirus? If so, you likely do not know how long your school will be closed and if expectations like school days and state testing will remain in place. For this reason, it is important to do your best to prepare for home learning by providing your students with some academic work. It is ideal for our students to have some structure in place during the extended break to minimize any regression right before the end of the year. Parents will also thank you for it! Their kids will be home for an extended amount of time, so any activities and work you provide will likely be welcome.

Here are some ideas of what resources to provide to parents and students to help facilitate home learning:

1. Using Online Teaching Videos:

• Teaching videos are a great way to stay in touch with your students and ensure they are receiving comprehensive instruction from afar. You can record a lesson with your phone or laptop, then upload it to the web. You can use Youtube to host a private link so that only the people with the link can access your lesson.
• You can also use teaching videos and recorded lessons created by other teachers.
• If you need ideas, inspiration, or want to supplement your distance learning curriculum, check out my brand new Core Reading Journey units featuring week-long skill-focused units and daily instructional videos.

2. Assign open-ended choice boards:

• Choice boards are perfect for preparing for home learning. These can include challenges for completing real-life academic tasks such as independent reading or math skills. Encourage parents and children to simply read and write together! I offer free printable choice boards available for download. This is simple and free to do if you are in a crunch. If school is unexpectedly canceled, you can email these to parents too. Choice boards are designed to be less structured, more interactive, and fun for families to complete together.

3. Virtual Learning:

• This is ideal if all of your students have access to computers and internet access. If you already have a Google Classroom account, you can send assignments on an as-need basis, and provide feedback! This is a win-win for everyone.
  • I have tons of digital resources that are compatible with Google Classroom.
  • If you need help using Google Classroom, check out my Google Classroom FAQs for Elementary Teachers
  • If you have parents who need help using Google Classroom, I put together this How to Use Google Classroom for Parents Guide.

4. Printable Packets:

• When preparing for home learning, you may immediately think virtual. But if your school is like mine, many students do not have reliable access to technology.  If this is the case, you can go “old school” and print a packet of work for students. I recommend you assign a packet of work that is mostly a review of skills that students have already learned. Be sure all worksheets and activities are straight forward, do not require materials, and simple for parents to understand if they choose to help. You can check out my printable reading packets that have three weeks’ worth of material, plus a parent letter and schedule.  There is a 2nd and 3rd Grade Packet and a 4th and 5th Grade Packet. I also have a 2nd Grade Math Packet. Your families will thank you!

5. Additional Academic Websites:

• The following websites provide free materials for parents:
  • https://www.khanacademy.org/ Free resources for reading and math
  • https://www.vooks.com  Sign up for a free month of quality children’s literature in a digital format.
  • www.starfall.com Free website, especially helpful for beginning readers
  • www.readworks.org Free printable passages and questions

Let me know how these tips and resources work out for you!