Hello friends. I hope everyone is emotionally and physically making it through this stressful moment. By now most schools are closed for several weeks and parents may be stressing out about what to do with their children while they are home. This situation is overwhelming for both students and parents. Specially since students do not realize that they are not on a real 3 week vacation. To lighten your load a little I wanted to share with my families some of the freebies that are being offered to help support your child academically while they are at home. As I find more resources I will email them to you BUT you need to sign-up to receive them.
While your on the roll, don't forget that it is also important for you to have a schedule or daily routine for your child. Create a schedule for the day. Include the children in this process so that they understand and develop a sense of ownership. Remember to not be to rigid or lenient. Also keep in mind, that your schedule is not set in stone; so if it does not work one way revamp it and start again. Choose a schedule that works for your family and your lifestyle. Here's an example of a daily schedule.
Now that you've thought about your schedule here are some activities that you may want to add to it.
Here is my list of awesome resources you can use while your home with your children.
1. Fluency and Fitness is giving families 21 days of free unlimited access to their site during school closures. They review k - 2 grade reading and math topics while promoting fitness. What a great opportunity to practice academic skills and get fit at the same time.
2. EPIC ! - Digital library that has thousands of books for children 12 and under. Sign up now and read free for 30 days. Anywhere and anytime.
3.Virtual field trips -Explore various places while never leaving out of your house. Virtual field trips are guided explorations to places all over the world.
You can also search for virtual field trips and get a list of places that offer this service. A great way to spend time while cooped up in the house.
4. Simply Creative Teaching is sharing free resources for first and second grade students.
5. Khan Academy-The Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that provides free video tutorials and interactive exercises. The Academy's declared mission is “changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhere.” Providing services to grades K-8th.
6. Prodigy - Game based learning in math for students in 1st - 8th grade.
7. Scholastic - Scholastic created the Scholastic Learn at Home website to provide students with approximately 20 days worth of learning journeys that span various content areas. This service is free.
8. Starfall - Their emphasis on phonemic awareness, systematic sequential phonics, and common sight words in conjunction with audiovisual interactivity has proven effective in teaching emergent readers. It's free and now includes language art and mathematics for preschool - third grade.
9. Board and card games - Games help develop skills like decision making, social interaction, and critical thinking plus, they are super fun. Check out these 12 classic card games to teach kids
10. Cook or bake - Cooking and baking helps your child to develop fine motor skills, eye hand coordination, reading and even early concepts of math and science. Enjoy these 64 kid recipes.
11. I had to add this last one. My favorite, outside time. Let the little ones enjoy being outside. Provide structured activities like a game of hide and seek and unstructured activities. They will definitely need to get rid of a lot of energy and anxiety after being in the house for so long.
12. Sylvan Learning Centers - Math Activity Booklet
In addition, here a 19 fun non-screen activities that support independent learning.
I hope that this information is beneficial to you. I know that this transition may be hard for many families. Please if I can be of any assistance to you I am an email away.
I think we as parents should take this time to love on our babies, learn with our babies and enjoy the simple things in life. 💖
Please be safe. You got this! Sending prayers, hugs and love.
Remember sharing is caring!
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