Our last full week of remote only...hopefully!If all goes well and as expected, this will be our last week of fully remote learning for a while (hopefully). Please tune in to tonight's school committee meeting to hear Dr. Maruszczak's decision about a definitive start for hybrid learning and the district's plan to keep students and staff safe. Here is a LINK to the 7:00 PM meeting. The HYBRID Schedule
The MURSD Reentry Survey - |
STMathThe district was awarded a grant so that we can offer STMath to our students. I really despise most online math programs that market themselves as helping kids to acquire and practice new skills. Most, in my opinion, are little more than digital worksheets that induce an amazing amount of frustration and distaste for mathematics in our students. In my opinion, STMath is different. It truly helps students to develop a conceptual understanding of the math concepts taught at any given grade level. There are no directions. Children have to learn by noticing what is on the screen and taking risks. Sometimes (even for us) the only way to understand a new puzzle is to fail a few times. Making mistakes is definitely part of the learning process here. |  |
STMath has data to prove that it delivers on its promise to grow mathematical understanding in children BUT you have to use it for it to work. STMath is SMART. It will level your child up or down to ensure that he or she is challenged without becoming too frustrated. We have realtime access to student data as well and I can intervene when a child reaches his or her frustration point.
STMath Goals
We (the district) expect students to work on STMath for 90 minutes a week.
We (the professors) assign 20 minutes of STMath daily.
We expect students to complete a minimum of 35 puzzles a week.
You have easy access to your child's data by simply looking over his or her shoulder as he or she plays. Please don't hesitate to ask questions about your child's work in STMath. To learn more about STMath, click this LINK.
Our First "REAL" Week
This week we will be following our REMOTE schedule linked below. While we have been teaching fourth-grade content, we'll turn our focus to the district's official curriculums now that routines have been established and essential tech skills have been introduced and practiced.
The students will begin "switching" classes. All the links that they need are available in CLEVER. They will visit my Zoom room for morning meeting, math, writing, their small groups (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff), and afternoon meeting. They will visit Mrs. Cote's Zoom room at 11:15 for reading most mornings (11:00 on Wednesday). They will visit Miss Chiarelli's Zoom room every day (except Wednesday) at 2:00 for either science or social studies. They will visit the appropriate specialist teacher's room for each special.
All links to Zoom rooms are also available in their homeroom Google Classroom.
Our REMOTE Schedule
The students will begin "switching" classes. All the links that they need are available in CLEVER. They will visit my Zoom room for morning meeting, math, writing, their small groups (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff), and afternoon meeting. They will visit Mrs. Cote's Zoom room at 11:15 for reading most mornings (11:00 on Wednesday). They will visit Miss Chiarelli's Zoom room every day (except Wednesday) at 2:00 for either science or social studies. They will visit the appropriate specialist teacher's room for each special.
All links to Zoom rooms are also available in their homeroom Google Classroom.
Our REMOTE Schedule
Clock Alarms
We worked hard last week to set MANY clock alarms to prompt students to log into their classes. Simply remind your student to turn on his or her alarms in the morning and you shouldn't have to remind him or her to log into any classes for the rest of the day!
What is I.W.T.?
I.W.T. is Independent Work Time. The colored blocks are either HOUSE meeting times or I.W.T. They are no longer breaks. Nonetheless, if your child needs to take a break, a short break (5-10 minutes) could be taken during an I.W.T. block. What should your child be doing during an I.W.T block? There are SHORT assignments assigned after each core class in the corresponding Google Classroom. They shouldn't take the entire 30 minutes. Any spare time should be spent, silent reading, playing games in STMath, using Lexia, making art, or exercising.
Small Group or House Meetings
| Every day, your child will have a small group meeting with Professors Brigham, Griswold, and Quimby. During this time we will reinforce skills learned in math and reading classes, as well as help students, manage the demands placed on them including assignment completion and working toward tech skill proficiency. Your witch or wizard only needs to attend his or her HOUSE meeting. When not in a House meeting, the colored blocks can be used for I.W.T. (Independent Work Time). |  |
Please send an OWL or even a HOWLER if...
 | From our perspective, all the witches and wizards appear to be adapting well to life at HOGWARTS. However, we are well aware that some students work REALLY had to keep it together at "school" and then fall apart when they are home (off-screen). Please don't hesitate to contact us if your student is struggling or if there is information we should know to better help your child to thrive. |
Marie Brigham
Facilitating magical learning experiences for 26 years and counting
Archives
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
RSS Feed