With the school closings, the headlines on the news, the panics over supplies at the stores, these are uncertain times. They certainly can be upsetting and scary, especially for children. I want to let you know that the teachers and staff at Tawheed have been working very hard over the last few days to prepare a learning program for students that will blend project-base learning with live session classes, independent study, and paper and pencil work.
You may have begun receiving emails from teachers with codes and information. It can be overwhelming, I completely understand. I have 2 children of my own that will be doing distance learning and the amount of emails coming in and list of work for each class has me a bit stressed. Parents, we can do this with patience and understanding and a lot of communication. The fastest way to get in touch with me is through ClassDojo as those messages come straight to my phone. The majority of information at this time will come through Classdojo for quick reminders and messaging and through Google Classroom for assignments and resource links.
When you are done reading this post, bookmark it if you wish.
Here's the learning plan as it stands today, March 15, 2020.
Resources: We will be making use of several resources during these weeks. The two new resources for you will be Google Classroom and Zoom.
- Google Classroom is a Google App that students will access just like they access Google Drive for projects we have done this year. Tawheed has created individual student accounts for each student. These accounts are owned by the school and are more secure than regular gmail. I will be sending you your student's email information on Monday. You will receive e-mails with codes for signing up for each class. I will have 1 class for 4th grade that will have all the links, announcements, and assignments to help reduce the number of classes students have to access. Each of the other teachers, Islamic Studies, Arabic, and Quran will have their own codes and classrooms that they will share with you.
- Zoom: Some of you are familiar with Zoom, some are not. Zoom is a teleconferencing website that allows for group meetings over the internet. Teachers will be holding live teaching sessions with students. Teachers are working to finalize their schedules with each other to avoid scheduling conflicts. Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies will have set days and times their live sessions. I will have flexible sign-ups. Information for signups for my sessions will be posted on Google Classroom. Requirements for attendance will be posted in this post. Students will need a computer, tablet or device that has speakers and a microphone. A headset with microphone is preferred.
Here is the Subject-by-Subject for each of my classes:
English - Language Arts:
1) Stone Fox - I am sending the novel home with the materials. Each number has been assigned and books are expected to be returned in the shape they were given.
- Students will be given 3 days for each chapter. They are expected to read the chapter and then complete the chapter questions. These will be posted in Google Classroom. They are expected to be completed on time. Assignments are graded. It is very important to not fall behind on these assignments.
2) Independent Book Study: With lots of time at home, I am expecting students to read a novel of their choice. For students without books at home, they will be allowed to sign out classroom library books to read at home. These are expected to be returned in good shape. Students will be expected to complete weekly reader response assignments posted on Google Classroom as well as a book project that will be turned in when we return to school.
3) Live Sessions - All students will be expected to sign up 2x/wk for literature discussions via Zoom. I will be contacting specific students to schedule live sessions for one-on-one reading sessions with either me or Sister Lubna. I will also have a limited number of one-on-one help sessions for students to sign up for if they need help or have questions.
4) Read Alouds - One thing I will miss most is reading with my students each day. Students love this part of the day, too. To try to keep this going I am creating YouTube videos of me reading. These will load each day and be posted in Google Classroom.
5) Spelling City - Assignments will be posted on Monday on Spelling City. Students have until Friday to complete them. On Friday, the Spelling Test will be assigned.
6) Journals - I will post a daily journal question on Google Classroom. Students are expected to answer the journal question within 24 hours.
Math:
1) Zearn - Students are expected to complete 3 Zearn lessons a week. I have included in their take-home materials a packet of notes and exit tickets for students to use and complete with the lessons. I am also sending extra links to a site called Embarc which has printable activities and games for the different lessons. This would be extra for families that wish to do extra math as review or extension.
2) Xtramath - Students are expected to complete Xtramath review 5x/wk. I can see if it has been done and how each student did, if they were wasting time, or just putting down an answer. Though I am not there, please remind students I can see each problem they complete.
3) Pearson Realize - Students and Parents wanting extra practice and review can sign into Pearson Realize to complete the assignments posted there. I will be giving extra credit points for students who complete these activities.
4) Live Sessions - Students are required to attend 3x/wk. I will post a signup schedule at the beginning of each week. Students are to sign up for 3 slots. Attendance will be taken. Students will need their math workbook, paper, and a pencil for these live sessions. In addition, select students will be required to attend one-on-one sessions 2x/wk with either myself or Sister Lubna. I will also provide time slots for one-on-one for students to sign up for questions and help.
Social Studies:
1) Studies Weekly - I will be sending home several weeks of Studies Weekly Newspaper. I am also creating online access logins for Studies Weekly materials. This will allow students to access the articles online along with the audio for each article, along with all the instructional videos, photos, activities, and questions. Some of these will be assigned each week but students are free to explore other resources. Test notifications will be posted on Google Classroom. Students will take the Studies Weekly Test when assigned. Like always, it is open paper, open note.
2) Region Packets - I am sending home the packets and booklets for the last 3 US regions. Students will use the booklets as well as Studies Weekly and internet research to complete each paper and pencil packet. These will be collected when we return to school.
3) US States - I am expecting students to continue to memorize the location of the US States. I will be posting links to games and activities to help with this on Google Classroom.
Science:
1) Mystery Science - I will be posting a link to a Mystery at the beginning of each week. Students are expected to finish the Mystery by the end of the week. On Friday, I will post a Mystery Assessment on Google Classroom. Occasionally, I may ask students to send a photo of a completed lab through ClassDojo.
2) Virtual Field Trips - These are for fun and exploration. No work required.
Now the BIG ONE:
Iditarod Project - Students will be creating a travel guide for people visiting Alaska for the Iditarod Dogsled Race. This project incorporates English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. This travel guide can be created in several different formats but any format selected must have the same information. (This is not the complete assignment. That will be posted on Google Classroom.)
Format options include; travel guide book, podcast, radio documentary, Google Slide presentation, brochure, or Google Doc travel guide. poster series.
Information that students will include is; History of the race, race route, basic musher and team information, route maps, climate and weather of Alaska, population information, major landforms, major landmarks, waterways, natural resources, products, culture of Native American tribes, animals and their adaptations, and plants and their adaptations.
I appreciate your understanding and patience in this challenging circumstance we find ourselves in but I am confident that we will all do the best we can to meet the needs of our Tawheed family.
Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard
