Getting Started

I will post the weekly learning activities on Monday mornings in myBlueprint. They are to be done throughout the week, during times that are convenient for your family. Routine is great – having your child do schoolwork at the same time every day – however, I realize that many families will have to work around work schedules of parents, siblings sharing devices, and other obstacles, so please do what works for you and your family and contributes to the least amount of stress. I have chosen to use myBlueprint as our program for assignments and learning because it is a closed program, meaning you have to log in to it and the work that I post and that the students post is not public. I can see it but their classmates cannot see it and the general public on Google cannot see it. In the myBlueprint program students have the option of typing into message and Journal boxes but they can also upload photos, record a video or make an audio recording. These options might make assignments easier for some students and just more fun for others. 

How to Login to:

MyBlueprint:

1.     Go to www.myblueprint.ca/sd78

2.     Username: sd78

3.     Password: “your child’s pupil number” which was sent out to you through Remind

Raz-Kids

1.     Go to www.kidsa-z.com

2.     Search your teacher’s Username: jdumas9

3.     Find and click on your child’s first name

4.     Enter their password

IXL

1.     Go to IXL.ca

2.     Click on “sign in”

3.     Enter the username and password that was sent to you through Remind

XtraMath

1.     Go to www.xtramath.org

2.     Go to “Enroll” (on bottom right of page)

3.     Put in your e-mail

4.     Put in Enrollment Code that was emailed out to you in the Xtramath flyer

5.     Click “Enroll”

 

Hello grade 4 and 5 families

I know this situation we find ourselves in is difficult and unpredictable and we all have a lot of questions and feelings of uncertainty. I will do my best to try to bring a sense of routine and support to your learning. 
The school has asked that all teachers create this blog to help get us started on this adventure with remote learning. The blog will be a starting point and I will post a few link to programs and websites that students will need to access but once we get going we will be functioning through a program called myBlueprint and communicating through Remind.
I will start us off with a few programs to get familiar with next week but the start will be slow; we have until April 15th to be fully operational. This will allow all of you time to feel comfortable with the programs we will use as well as give me a sense of what is working for families and what direction we need to take.
Teachers are being asked to provide approximately 5 hours a week of school work for their students. We are required to focus mainly on reading, writing and math but are being asked to integrate some social studies and science as well. Every Monday I will upload that weeks learning activities and assignments in the myBlueprint program. Students may complete these throughout the week as it works for each family. I know that we have issues around sharing devices with siblings, parental work schedules, and I want you to take advantage of the sunshine when we have it and go outside, and spend time doing the activities that you love to do as a family. By posting the weeks worth of assignments I am hoping it will provide some flexibility in your families daily routines.



For the week of April 6th I will be contacting you through Remind on Monday with the login information for myBlueprint and IXL.
Students can get started with Raz- Kids for reading. Students can already get into Raz-kids as they will just use their existing accounts (see the Language arts tab on the blogs home page for a link and instructions).
They will use IXL and Xtramath for math. They already have Xtramath accounts set up as well.
Students can complete the writing assignment in myBlueprint or you can write it out on a piece of paper, take a picture of it and send it to me through remind. The writing topic for the week will be: If you could choose a dream location to be quarantined in where would it be? Why would you choose this location? What would it look like? Who would be there with you? What would you do all day, everyday?

I will work on adding links to additional websites and uploading some other games and activities that will help you supplement you child's learning should you wish to do so.

I have put together a bag for each child that includes their Jump Math workbook, their journal, some drawing paper and their pencil box. These are available for pick up at the school if you would like these additional resources. Just please be aware that the Jump Math workbook, is just that, a workbook, it is like a collection of worksheets that do not have a lot of instruction on them. The Jump Math program requires a lesson delivered by the teacher that involves student participation and then we would practice the new skill in the Jump Math workbook. If your child is struggling to figure out the concepts without the lessons than don't use it.
If you would like to pick up these resources at the school please contact Kim in the office to arrange a time.