A surreal day

The shirt I wore today for St. Patrick's Day said "Lucky to be a Teacher."  I am lucky.  Lucky I was able to spend these last two days with my kindergarten babies who I love dearly.  Lucky to have a wonderful and supportive school and district who is doing everything humanly possible to navigate through this surreal and unknown time.  Lucky to have supportive families.  Lucky to have my health and home to go to during this time.  The list goes on and on.  Please know that this is uncharted waters for all of us: students, families, teachers, administrators, government, our country and our world.  Please know we are all doing the best we can.  Is this situation ideal? No.  Do teachers want to be away from their students? No.  Does it scare us that we aren't teaching them like we know best? Totally!  Are we trusting and hoping they will work hard and learn at home? Yes! Do we understand this is difficult for all parents? Yes!  Are we worried about "our kids?" (which I call my students) Yes!  Again, I could go on and on.  Let's all have patience, compassion, give grace and work together through this time. Please know teachers are here to help and want to help! 

We love your children just as you do!

I sat for the longest time after school today just looking at my empty classroom and feeling sadness.  Hoping and praying that we will all come together again soon.

Your child came home with MANY things to help you/them be as prepared as possible.

They packed a bag of school supplies we had extra of.

They have a bag of about 20 guided reading books (see Luke's picture below showing you the bag). Every child's bag is different based on their independent reading level.  These are books that should be "just right books."  Meaning they aren't too easy, but also not too difficult that they become frustrated.

I encourage you to have your child read 1 or 2 of these books a day.  If you have a shoe box or plastic tub, you could create a book box and have a 15 minute "Read to Self" time each day like we do.  Along with the books, they brought home their poetry folder, paper familiar reading books, a word wall chart, ABC chart and a "Read to Self" job chart they follow in the classroom during this time.  If you set them up with their own book box at home you could ask them to get their "Read to Self" job chart out and help you create the box and show you how we do it!

Please use the following prompts when your child comes to an unknown word in these guided reading books:

1) look at the picture

2) get your mouth ready for the first sound in the word

3) tap it out or sound it out

4) re-read the sentence and think about what would make sense

If they try all 4 strategies and still can't figure it out, PLEASE tell them the word.  We do not want reading to be frustrating for them.  However, don't just tell them every word either, use the prompts above first and go from there.

Your child also brought home a packet of homework for the 2 weeks after spring break.  If they returned their Friday Folder yesterday, it is in their Friday Folder.  If they didn't, or weren't at school, it is in a bag.  There are very clear directions with them, but please reach out if you have questions or need anything!

I told the children it would be a good idea to use their Friday Folder to keep track of their papers.  Once they complete a homework assignment, put it on the "return to school" side so it isn't lost and can be returned to me when needed.

They also brought home a couple of different journals to use for writing.  one with single lines and one with Fundations lines to help with correct letter formation and line placement.  Feel free to use one for school work and one as a daily journal.  It would be a great idea to have a journal during this (hopefully) once in a lifetime experience.  It would be a great keepsake for them.  

We also sent home whiteboards. These can be used for SO many things: math problems, handwriting, practicing word wall words, etc.  We would like the boards returned when we return to school.

They brought home their headphones/earbuds for your sanity!  We would like those returned to school when we return.

I'm sure I"m forgetting something, but please just take some time over these next couple of days to look through their backpack, set up a schedule/system and get a plan in place.  

You can do this!!!  We can do this!!!

If you remember anything from this long post, please remember I love your children and will miss them more than they know.