March 30th parent letter

Dear room 5 families,

Thank you for your patience as we work through some necessary planning in preparation for resuming structured learning opportunities for your child. I understand there has been a lot of uncertainty about what learning is going to look like moving forward. I can assure you that we are going to work on key learning outcomes at-home within the parameters established by the province and CBE.

To help me understand your family’s access to technology, can you please provide responses to the following three questions:

1. Does your child have access to a computer, laptop, iPad/tablet, smart phone?
2. Does your child have access to the Internet?
3. Is your only option a paper-based education for your child?

While the lessons I will be providing are aimed to minimize technology, there will still be times where we will need to rely on technology as a resource. It is important that your child knows their CBE ID#, email and password. The CBE ID# can be found on their digital report card through PowerSchool. When you check in and reply to this email, I will send you your child’s email and password.

                                                                                                                                             

Starting Friday April 3, you will receive a weekly learning plan from me for the upcoming week. Each week’s plan will highlight what we are working on, various resources and an explanation of your child’s activities or tasks.

I will have a Grade 4 learning plan for this week communicated to families via email and the blog by the end of the day on Tuesday March 31. In the meantime, your child can practice their multiplication and division facts (recall up to 7x7, understand and apply strategies up to 9x9), through the games sent home prior to the break. They can also read a ‘just right book’ for 30 minutes a day (at least) and write a journal entry for today detailing what they’ve been doing at home and how they are feeling. Keeping a regular personal journal is great for practicing writing skills and for wellness. 

I will primarily be communicating with you and your child via email with all learning plans also posted to the blog. As time moves on I also intend to use Google classroom and if necessary, will replicate lessons into a paper format.

Students and/or parents can reach out to me for help or for clarification via e-mail at mdbowers@cbe.ab.ca. If you have questions during the weekday, I expect to be able to answer most questions that same day. If specific support is needed I can also be available to call you at a time that is convenient for you.

I recognize this is new for most of us and we will get through this together. I am here for your child and look forward to being in regular contact with your child and yourself.

Take care,

Mrs. Bowers