John F. Kennedy stated, “When written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.” During this historic time, our local school districts have worked diligently to turn this dangerous time into an opportunity.
One Iowa school district - the Maquoketa Community School District - is one doing its best to meet the needs of its families. It is one example of how staff have come together in a positive and caring way to do all they can to support students and families. Through their joint efforts, the MCSD has provided home-based learning links including meal service information, community supports, and grade level learning resources. These resources can be reached through the MCSD website (maquoketaschools.org) by clicking on the link titled: Covid-19 Maquoketa CSD School Resources.
Another way to access these resources is through this link:
Another way to access these resources is through this link:
Many Iowa districts have moved forward with online resources. The following are some ideas to keep learning alive for our children and families:
RESOURCES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE THE INTERNET
The Public Library
Access on their website to ebooks. Some are offering curbside service for books (weather permitting).
Free Little Libraries
If in your community, just simply take a book from the little book shelter. If you have any books to add, place in the shelter. LOCATIONS in Jackson County, IA: Little Bear Park in Maquoketa, Andrew Schoolgrounds, Easton-Valley (Miles) school grounds, Bellevue Cole Park, Spragueville – by the basketball courts near community center
REMEMBER:
Brush off the board games, take time for drawing, prepare art and craft projects, keep moving through exercise, play some physical games, try some Yoga, turn on the music and dance and sing, prepare new and old recipes, pullout some puzzles and put them together, write letters to others, or simply spend some quiet time talking to each other. Not every minute has to be filled.
Caleb Bonjour, a K-2 principal in Iowa, reminds everyone, “Don’t forget to enjoy the simple things – time together as a family. This crisis has brought us together – let's use it to appreciate one another.”
ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES for those with access
Big List of Children's Authors Doing Online Read-Alouds
https://www.weareteachers.com/virtual-author-activities/?fbclid=IwAR0m2l5_6Y7ls-E7L0mZKq7MAOVxBUuQeclDCvHQkUeEaOD2COF2qYYCYoA
Favorite authors offering online read-alouds
Common Sense Media
https://www.commonsense.org/education/coronavirus-resources
Resources for Educators during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Doodling
https://www.weareteachers.com/virtual-author-activities/?fbclid=IwAR0m2l5_6Y7ls-E7L0mZKq7MAOVxBUuQeclDCvHQkUeEaOD2COF2qYYCYoA
Favorite authors offering online read-alouds
Common Sense Media
https://www.commonsense.org/education/coronavirus-resources
Resources for Educators during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Doodling
https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/
Lunch doodles with artist Mo Willems
Family Consumer Science Life Skills - Distance Learning
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X2u5oZCPmx8pOrv90VsGerI79LM1_b7r/view?fbclid=IwAR00uU68RTKJrMSdFQfSQSHgZDEsgQhwxA9od4OqbScrbp6Y9ssJGIGoiwk
Life skills to work on at home
Kentucky Association for Gifted Education Resources
Lunch doodles with artist Mo Willems
Family Consumer Science Life Skills - Distance Learning
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X2u5oZCPmx8pOrv90VsGerI79LM1_b7r/view?fbclid=IwAR00uU68RTKJrMSdFQfSQSHgZDEsgQhwxA9od4OqbScrbp6Y9ssJGIGoiwk
Life skills to work on at home
Iowa Department of Education - Resources to support learning at home
https://www.educateiowa.gov/article/2020/03/31/resources-now-available-support-student-learning-home
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
https://www.educateiowa.gov/article/2020/03/31/resources-now-available-support-student-learning-home
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
At home learning resources
Kentucky Association for Gifted Education Resources
Virtual enrichment support materials - lots of links by grade level
Khan Academy
Free online courses related to Math and Science/Engineering. Includes early math through advanced math courses. There is a section for parents with daily schedules for students ages 4-18.
Math Coach’s Corner
Contains posts on ideas for games to play at home to develop math skills.
Quizlet
A free, fun way to practice learning in a variety of areas.
Read Any Book
Access to books for all ages online for free.
Romper
https://www.romper.com/
Virtual rides at Disney World and Disneyland
Virtual rides at Disney World and Disneyland
Ideas for exercises and yoga for children
Ideas of indoor games everyone will love to play
Famous people reading books to students
Scholastic Learn at Home
Day-by-day projects to keep students reading, thinking, and growing – just simply link on the box for the grade level of your child.
Sight Word Dance Song (Kindergarten)
https://youtu.be/1sNPUmZQelsDancing with sight words
Smithsonian Learning Lab
Learninglab.si.edu
Sign up is free. Only need an account if you are customizing the learning. If you visit the DISCOVER section, you have access to a tremendous amount of resources.
Sign up is free. Only need an account if you are customizing the learning. If you visit the DISCOVER section, you have access to a tremendous amount of resources.
RESOURCES include texts, videos, audio recording, websites.
COLLECTIONS include units created by educators.
VARIETY of LINKS
Contains links to 30 virtual field trips.
Virtual Field Trips
Discovery Education
Contains links to 30 virtual field trips.
Virtual Field Trips
Discovery Education
Take students to amazing places and give them remarkable experiences.
Vroom
Science-based tips and tools during early childhood
Wide Open School
https://wideopenschool.org/
Schools are closed - minds are open
Resources by grade level
Zoom
https://zoom.us/
Video conferencing free ap
Wide Open School
https://wideopenschool.org/
Schools are closed - minds are open
Resources by grade level
Zoom
https://zoom.us/
Video conferencing free ap
Principal Bonjour encourages parents that if a resource has a charge, subscribe to the 30-day free trial and then cancel at the end of the 30 days. If you find the resource amazing, then you may even want to purchase access. The website ABCmouse.com is one example of an amazing resource that offers a 30-day free trial.
Chris Hoover, superintendent for Maquoketa Schools (IA), stated for those families without internet access, each one of their district food drop off places is going to have packets for all grade levels which can be picked up for students. He reminds parents that packets and links are for review and enrichment so there should be no stress in trying to teach new information. He also stated that many teachers are willing to help out if people reach out to them via Facebook. Some teachers have been reading books out loud and posting on Facebook. These are books the entire family can enjoy. Some teachers and musicians are providing a song a day for everyone to enjoy.
For such a time as this, we can choose to turn from the danger of COVID-19 and look for the amazing opportunity we have been given to slow down and appreciate one another.
School Superintendent Hoover provided the following timely advice, “I think the most important part for parents is to just spend time as a family. Now is a great time to get out the board games, learn together, read, watch movies - just spend real quality time as a family. Take care of family members, take care of yourselves, and most importantly take care of one another.”
School Superintendent Hoover provided the following timely advice, “I think the most important part for parents is to just spend time as a family. Now is a great time to get out the board games, learn together, read, watch movies - just spend real quality time as a family. Take care of family members, take care of yourselves, and most importantly take care of one another.”
