New Hartford Central School District

Elementary Instructional Continuity Plan

During COVID-19 School Shutdown

Dear parents and guardians,

During the school closure, we want to provide our elementary students with meaningful learning opportunities that will maintain and promote your child’s education.  Our focus is to encourage your child's learning and progress during this time.  We are striving to contribute to your family's health and well-being.

Below you will find recommendations and resources for you and your child to use at home.  We also encourage you to utilize the instructional packets you received in the mail.

READING

• These are suggested times for reading at home every day:
  • For kindergarten, read to your child for 10 - 15 minutes or more every day.
  • For grades 1 and 2, students should read for 15 - 20 minutes or more every day.
  • For grades 3 through 6, students should read for 20 - 30 minutes or more every day.
  • It is beneficial for all students to be read to every day.
• The article entitled “Reading and Writing at Home” which includes a list of questions that you can ask to help your child reflect on his or her reading.  Your child may answer the questions orally or in writing.

• Students may read any type of text: picture books, novels, articles, recipes, graphic novels and/or comics, etc.

• We suggest that students keep a book log.  Students may keep a list of texts they have read and could also write their answers to questions, summarize what they’ve read, write a book review, etc.  Not every response has to be in writing; students may use drawings, graphics, symbols, etc.

WRITING

These are suggested times for writing at home every day:  

For kindergarten, students should write for 10 - 15 minutes or more every day.  Kindergarten writing may be a combination of drawing and writing. Invented spelling is completely acceptable and encouraged.

For grades 1 and 2, students should write for 10 - 20 minutes or more every day. Invented spelling of difficult words is acceptable and encouraged.

For grades 3 and 6, students should write for 25 - 20 minutes or more every day.  Invented spelling of difficult words is acceptable and encouraged.

Students may keep a journal and write in it daily.

Students may write letters and cards to relatives, friends, nursing home residents, family members who live far away

Students may write stories.  

Look for a clear introduction, body, and conclusion in stories.

Look for good sequencing of events and the use of transition words to improve the flow of the events.  (i.e., first, then, last)

At grades 3 and up, look for character dialogue with good use of quotation marks.

Students may write informational pieces, such as pamphlets, brochures, articles, etc.

Look for a catchy lead that invites the reader into the text.

Look for features that support the text: pictures with captions, charts, maps, graphs, etc.

Students may write opinion pieces, such as letters to an editor, persuasive essays, etc.

Look for a clear statement of the opinion (claim).

Look for evidence to support the opinion (claim) in the body paragraphs.  The evidence should include a statement of the reason and then details to support the reason.

Look for a clear conclusion that restates the opinion.

Look for the use of transition words to improve the flow of the text.

Students can always use extra practice in handwriting.  In kindergarten through grade 2, students may practice manuscript writing, also referred to as printing.  In grades 3 and up, students may practice cursive writing. Here is a website you can use to print writing practice sheets: http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3756555

Other handouts with ideas and tips for encouraging reading and writing at home are included in your instructional packets

MATH

We included two handouts in your instructional packet to help you access the enVision 2020 Math program online.  “EnVision 2020 Online Access for Students” will give you step-by-step instructions to access the digital platform.  “Helpful Digital Resources for Parents and Students in EnVision 2020” gives you online resources that are especially helpful, including the Game Center.  Access this Pearson Easy Bridge Link to sign in.

You can access any math topic online and the interactive resources that accompany it.  Use this as a resource to review and reinforce what has already been taught in class. We are not expecting your child to learn new math topics at home.  

Through the Game Center in enVision 2020, students can review any concepts in a game format.

Any reinforcement of typical math concepts at home will be beneficial.  Math games are particularly helpful, as children practice math concepts in a fun and engaging way.  We have included links to online resources for engaging math practice.

Students and parents may use these grade-level math games to reinforce math concepts while having fun.

• Kindergarten Math Games and Activities
• Grade 1 Math Games and Activities
• Grade 2 Math Games and Activities
• Grade 3 Math Games and Activities
• Grade 4 Math Games and Activities
• Grade 5 Math Games and Activities
• Grade 6 Math Games and Activities

Social Studies and Science

• Visit online resources for social studies and science concepts, such as “Fun Stuff for Kids Online” from the Smithsonian Institute and the Google Arts and Culture site.  In elementary school, one of the best ways we can help our children in social studies and science is to create background knowledge about people, places, history, and science.

Check out these electronic learning resources:

Math games for learning multiplication and addition facts:  How Close to 100? , Tic-Tac-Toe Products, Tic-Tac-Toe Sums

Math tasks for everyone:  Ice Cream Scoop, The Four 4s

The Farmer's Almanac for Kids: Includes Jokes and Fun, What Happened Today?, Animal Tracks, etc.

Music websites: Classics for Kids, PBS Kids Music Games, San Francisco Symphony for Kids

Click here for link to our recommended electronic learning resources!