The last couple of weeks have been a real change for everyone. Along with the uncertainty of what’s to come, it may be hard to filter through all the ideas, links, and suggestions that schools are sharing. So give yourself grace. Children won’t be academically disadvantaged if they don’t do hours of “school” each and every day. Making cookies, planting some seeds, or having a dance party to crazy, loud music are just as important in these times. So give yourself grace. Hug your kids, share a smile, and breathe. I just listened to someone sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. To me, the song is about hope. We can do this!

Looking for a way to support the fight against COVID 19? You have probably hear the reports of hospitals and doctor’s offices needing protective gear. Well, the “Make a Face Mask” campaign has been underway for over a week. If you’ve got a sewing machine, this is one way you may be able to help out. I have attached a tutorial from Joann’s Fabric.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA

If you are feeling anything like I am, starting week two of “stay at home”, then any facebook message, email, facetime, or handwritten note of encouragement is a welcome connection to family and friends. So in the next days and weeks finding time to send a handwritten note to someone near and dear may be a timely, supportive gesture. Think of writing a note short or long as an act of kindness. Gather the kids, some crayons and paper of any size or shape. Put your heads together to pick the special person to write to today. Each note only needs to be a sentence or two – with a drawing:). Practice addressing envelopes and mail. Send a hug with words and pictures.

Hi,

Yes, donut apples. The kids are home so why not give them a project in the kitchen. No cooking required but a lot of creativity could ensue. Take a break from technology and make something tasty to eat. Plus, following a recipe and measuring ingredients are good skills to develop. You never know, someone else might take on dinner!  [embeddoc url=”https://dsemritc.edublogs.org/files/2020/03/Delish-.docx” download=”all” viewer=”google” ]

Evidence suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who don’t, but also develop a broader vocabulary and increased general knowledge.

In fact, reading for pleasure is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school than their social or economic background.

Attached is a calendar developed by Lauren at https://www.ateachableteacher.com/ chuk full of different places and reading partners to add some fun to the “daily read”.

La evidencia sugiere que los niños que leen para disfrutar todos los días no sólo tienen un mejor desempeño en las pruebas de lectura que aquellos que no lo hacen, sino que también desarrollan un vocabulario más amplio y un mayor conocimiento general.

De hecho, leer por placer es más probable que determine si un niño lo hace bien en la escuela que su origen social o económico.

Adjunto es un calendario desarrollado por Lauren en https://www.ateachableteacher.com/ chuk lleno de diferentes lugares y socios de lectura para añadir un poco de diversión a la “lectura diaria”.

[embeddoc url=”https://dsemritc.edublogs.org/files/2020/03/School-is-Out-Reading-Challenge-from-A-Teachable-Teacher-copy.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google” ]

As a child, I will always remember the feeling of comfort and belonging while reading the Sunday comics with Grandma Ruth while Grandpa Allan made coffee for them both. In

that moment I held all of Grandma’s attention and delight. During the next couple of weeks we need to make time for “delight” to focus in the moment on offering a smile and maybe
even letting out a giggle. To create some family fun, put your heads together and invision your own comic strip. The possibilities are endless!  Different skills are tapped as the comic strip comes to life – brainstorming, problem-solving, sequencing, drawing, and writing. Our imagination, like a field of tulips, is waiting to bloom. Included in this post are some comic strip templates from Amy Milcic at rockyourhomeschool.net

Enjoy!

“Peanuts” 1957

[embeddoc url=”https://dsemritc.edublogs.org/files/2020/03/ComicStripCreativeWritingDrawingFun-2.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google” ]

Creating a schedule at home: One idea that can bring some order to a world that is uncertain; that can put kids at ease is a simple routine. We crave routine so make a daily schedule. A month or so away from school will not ruin a child’s academic career so keep it simple, light and engaging when providing academic activities. Make time for family activities and stay positive. Beth Gorden at 123homeschool4me.com has some great examples of editable daily family schedules that might spark some ideas for your family.