JFK Feels Better When They're Dancing

Here's a little bit of fun from some of the JFK Staff. We miss you all!

Getting Started with Freckle

We will be using the Freckle App for math practice. I love Freckle because it is adaptive. This means that when you child first logs on and chooses a topic they will have a pretest in that topic. The app learns what material is too easy, what is too hard, and what is just right. This means that some students might start on level 1 if the topic is something they have not learned before. Other students might start on level 8 if they have some knowledge on the topic already.


Here is a quick tutorial (3 minutes) that I found about how to use the Freckle app/website as a student.

This Week's Assignment: Pre-tests in Adaptive Math


This week’s math assignment is to do the adaptive math pre-tests in Freckle. Once you are logged into Freckle, click on Math Practice, then Adaptive Math.




Then click on the type of math you want to practice today. The first time you do this it will bring you to a pre-test. Answer the questions the best you can. If a question is too hard just give your best guess. The app will make questions easier or harder based on what you need.





There are a lot of types of math. You can do the pre-tests for all of them if you want to. The ones you have to practice right now are Operations and Algebraic Thinking, Base 10, and Counting and Cardinality.





Answer questions on the pre-test until they say they found your level.



Now you can practice that type of math at your just-right level!



If you have any questions let me know!

Also, if you are interested in a more comprehensive look at Freckle and how it works, check out this video.

Writing About Your Perfect Pet

Hello families,

Today we read a book No Plain Pets and talked about what pet we think would be perfect for us. This week the writing assignment is to write your opinion about what pet is just right for you and tell why. 

You can decide if you want to write it all at once or a little bit each day. Be ready to share you writing on Thursday at our next Zoom meeting (4/16)! 

Here is the example that I shared with the class. It has a title and hook to get you interested (shaded in yellow). I wrote my opinion about the best pet for me (shaded in orange). I have 3 reasons why I think that and added details by using the words and or because to say more. Then at the end I said my opinion again (shaded in blue).

Don't forget to check your writing when you think you are done. Use "My Opinion Checklist" to check and see if you have all the parts you need. Then use "My Editing Checklist" to make sure your writing is easy to read.

I am so proud of you all for the work you are doing at home. Keep up the great work! Just remember what Mrs. Fox say.....do do do do do do do your best!

❤ Mrs. Fox

iPads for Home Use

Hello families,

I wanted to update you about the iPad distribution plan. The school iPads fully loaded with apps for school work will be handed out at the meal/material distribution sites on Friday April 17th from 9-11 AM. You should pick up an iPad and charger for your child to use at home from the place you normally pick up your homework packets. If you're not sure where to go please contact me.

First grade plans to use Zoom for class meetings,  Epic! for reading, and Freckle for extra math and spelling/phonics. Originally we had hoped you could access Xtra math through the web browser but we recently found out the iPads will have apps only--no web browser. If you've been able to use this resource at home already you may continue using this instead of or in addition to Freckle.

Please see my previous post about using the apps. An epic tutorial video made by Ms. Johnson and a zoom tutorial video made by Ms. Sarah. I'll try to find a similar introduction for Freckle to post as well.

Thank you so much for helping your child connect with me for out ongoing relationship building and learning together. Thanks also for the tremendous work you are doing to support your children at home on top of EVERYTHING ELSE you already have to do. I really can't thank you enough. Having 2 kids at home myself, I truly understand and applaud you. 

❤ Mrs. Fox

Getting Started with Epic!

Hello families,

For reading practice this spring we will be using the free Epic! app or website in your computer or tablet browser https://www.getepic.com/

Enter our class code for Epic! ( pzp2159 ), then click on your name! Here is a video Ms. Johnson made to show you how to log in.

You can read any book that interests you. Don't forget to click on your mailbox to see if there are any books I want you to read. These will be books right at your level. Sometimes teachers will have you read books to them from Epic so we can follow along!

Do you see the mailbox icon in the top right corner?
When there is a new book for you to read it will have a
red circle on the mailbox so you know to check your mailbox!

Can't wait to read with you soon!

❤ Mrs. Fox

Getting Started with Zoom

Hello families,

This week we're starting to use Zoom to meet as a class. One of our ELL teachers, Ms. Sarah, made this video to show how to download Zoom and enter a Zoom meeting. Hope this helps!

Highlights from early April

Hello families,

I hope you are all doing well. Thanks for helping me continue to connect with your children each week. It's great to hear their voices and hear about what they are doing at home.

Our distance learning plans are ever evolving. Here are a few reminders and updates.

On April 6th and 7th from 9am - 11am  2 new review work packets will be available for pick up (4 weeks worth of review work as well as some new materials). Pick them up at your school food distribution site. We will not be collecting student work at this time to make sure we're not spreading germs. Keep the books at home to reread!

We are working on getting iPads ready for first graders use at home during the continuum of learning phase of distance learning. These iPads will be preloaded with some apps we will use to continue learning as well as the Zoom app for attending virtual classes (see next paragraph). These will be distributed on April 13th and 14th (more info to come from Superintendent McMannon and Principal Sara Raabe). Teaching with iPads is something I have not done before so I will be learning alongside your kids! I will be choosing a few apps to teach and use primarily so it's not too overwhelming. I will definitely be using Epic and Freckle. You may be using these at home already! This week I got to read "with" some of my students through Epic! They read me a book on Epic! at their home and I followed along at my home in the same text. It was fun and informative--allowing me to do the same kind of guided reading instruction like I do in class! Once all students have iPads at home I hope to do this regularly with students to support their reading progress.

Beginning the week of April 13th I will be holding 2 weekly "classes" through zoom to continue our learning together. I will send out a link to the meeting for you to click to enter. You do not need a zoom account to attend a meeting. Zoom works on laptops, tablets, and phones. If you will have your child attend on a device other than the school iPad then you will need to download the zoom app. You need the app but not an account to open the link. Students should not have zoom accounts! Starting April 13th my classes will be Mondays and Thursdays 12:00-12:30. I will be leading class meetings, read alouds, writing mini-lessons, math number talks, teaching how to use apps for learning and more! 

If you have any questions please email me!

Thinking of you always,


❤ Mrs. Fox