My goal is to be a resource to you with monthly tips that support you and your students within an ever-changing, diverse classroom.

Education Service Center Region 11| ESSA Team Lead

Email: myocom@esc11.net
Website: https://www.esc11.net/Page/719#calendar13881/20200304/month
Phone: 817-740-7563
Twitter: @myocomesc11

Please don't be too hard on yourselves. When school closures come to an end, students will remember your compassion and kindness. Relationships and meeting your students' affective needs are more important than instruction, especially during these uncertain times.

If we are struggling to be a teacher, a parent, and a homeschooler, imagine how some of our students and parents must feel.

• We CANNOT recreate the classroom at home.
  
• Have realistic expectations for students.
• Less is MORE!

There are a lot of opinions circulating about how much "school" should happen at home.

This will vary based on age, the learner, and -- MOST importantly -- the home environment.

If students typically have instruction for six hours a day, cut that in half for secondary, and then cut it in half again for elementary.

PK-5th grade = 1-2 hours

6th-12th grade = 2-3 hours

When we assume that ALL students can engage in learning at home, we are setting students and parents up for failure.

• Parents may be working at home or outside of the home.
• Older students may be working.
• Students may be home alone all day.
• Siblings or grandparents may be the caregivers.
• Some have experienced job loss or loss in wages.
• Some are sick or have lost loved ones to COVID-19.
• Some may be experiencing racial discrimination because they are Chinese-American.
• Some may be experiencing abuse.

Disclaimer: These are suggestions to consider. Consult your school for guidance on remote instruction and student learning expectations.

Once it was realized that school closures would be indefinite, a SWARM of resources began flooding social media platforms. At first, it felt like Christmas in March, but soon it became too much to sort through. Instead of flooding you with more, I have included my top picks.

Below are at-home learning resources that are easy to use and easy for the end user (students and parents). You will find both digital and paper options:

Like you, I can't keep up with all of the digital learning experiences being shared on social media.

Wide Open School has curated PreK-12 learning experiences by subject and learning needs. It even differentiates for teachers and parents!

• Texthelp https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/products/free-for-teachers/
• TalkingPoints - Reach all your students' families in their home language https://talkingpts.org/
• Read, Write, Speak https://thinkalong.org
• Make Beliefs Comix https://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
  
• Digital Tool https://www.tes.com/lessons
  
• Digital Tool https://padlet.com
• Promote listening & speaking https://flipgrid.com/
  
• Create class lists, activities, assignments, and assessments https://www.vocabulary.com
• Classroom Screen https://classroomscreen.com/
• Interactive classroom in real time https://www.classkick.com
  
• K-5 Reading Student Centers http://www.fcrr.org/resources/resources_sca.html
• Free Content Power Points & Interactive activities http://www.pppst.com/
• Transform lessons to make learning impactful and engaging, or allow students to create animated products to show mastery https://www.powtoon.com/edu-home/
• Current event articles to promote critical reading, writing, and speaking http://wordgen.serpmedia.org/
  
• English Learner Teacher Support http://www.colorincolorado.org/
  
• Writing Guru Gretchen Bernabei http://trailofbreadcrumbs.net/
  
• Free reading passages & literacy resources https://www.commonlit.org/
  
• 2,000+ multidisciplinary wonders https://wonderopolis.org/
  
• Free reading passages by lexile level and content https://www.readworks.org/
  
• Lead4ward.com http://lead4ward.com/resources/
  

I am not perfect, so if you see errors or find broken links, please give me grace.

LB 04.04.20