#winooskiwithlove

We know Winooski has heart so it's time to say "From Winooski, With Love!" by displaying a green heart in your window or anywhere your neighbors can see. We could all use a little joy and solidarity at this time so we would love to see green hearts popping up everywhere. We may all be in separate boats but we're weathering the same storm. 

Below is the #WinooskiWithLove sign. Hearts will be handed out this Wednesday at the material distribution sites for you to decorate and display. Share photos of your display on social media with #winooskiwithlove and tag @winooskilearns!

Writing About Your Favorite Color

Hello families,

Today we read a book Red is Best by Kathy Stinson and thought about what colors we like and why. This week the writing assignment is to write your opinion about what your favorite color is and tell why. Even if it's hard, choose just 1 color to write about!

I reminded the class to think about starting their writing with a hook--asking or question and naming the topic to get the readers interested in what you have to say. Then share your opinion and give 3 reasons why you think that. After you give your reasons for your opinion it's time for a closing. This is where you repeat your opinion and leave the readers with something to think about. Give it a try!

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 (5/7)! You can also email pictures of your writing to me so I can see it!

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 my favorite color (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.

Please remember, Zoom lessons alternate between math and writing content. Students are still expected to do some reading, writing/phonics, and math each day regardless of what the lesson content is for the week. There are physical materials (books, worksheets) available in the school work bags. Students may also use Epic and Freckle to do this practice on the iPads.

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

Updates

Hello families,

We are holding our last material distribution for this school year on Wednesday, May 6th from 9-10am at our usual meal distribution sites. Please go and pick up the remaining school work bags for your children.

The pattern of Zoom lessons and 1:1 check-ins that we have been doing will continue for the next 6 weeks until school is out for the summer on June 12th. 

Zoom lessons alternate between math and writing content. Students are still expected to do some reading, writing/phonics, and math each day regardless of what the lesson content is for the week. There are physical materials (books, worksheets) available in the school work bags. Students may also use Epic and Freckle to do this practice on the iPads.

I know sometimes Freckle is not loading right or crashes. I'm sorry this keeps happening to some of you! It does work well on a computer too, you can use the same class code to login at this web address: https://student.freckle.com/#/start

If you're still unsure of how to use Freckle, here is a video Ms. Johnson made showing how to use the Freckle app on an iPad.

Some students have also asked about the Kodable app, one that we used together during the Hour of Code in December. If your child would like to do some extra work in Kodable that is great! Our class code is foxheart. Many students do need assistance with this once they get past the beginning lessons.

I hope you are all well. See you Monday for our next Zoom class!
❤ Mrs. Fox

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