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WEEKLY AT HOME LEARNING RESOURCES

A Girl in a Classroom

Week #1: Setting Up Expectations, Routines & Schedules

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Expectations at Home

Students can be set up for success with expectations for how to behave in different settings. At Grand Ridge, we have whole school expectations (see "School Wide Expectations page") as well as classroom expectations set up by individual teachers. As a whole school, we focus on being safe, responsible and respectful in all settings: hallway, lunch room, computer lab, etc. Expectations for each setting should be clear and observable. Each setting should also have no more than 5 expectations so they can be easily followed and remembered. For example, "getting up in the morning" expectations could be: make your bed, put clothes in hamper. 

A couple things to keep in mind when setting up at home expectations:

  • Involve your student's voice- ask them for ideas to help set up the list of expectations for each setting

  • Model and practice each expectation with your student- i.e. show them how to put clothes in hamper and have them practice

  • Work together to set up expectations for areas that might be challenging:  - I.e. mom/ dad on a phone call, chores, work sessions, etc.  

 

Here are a couple ideas: 

Note: "PBS (positive behavior support)" and "PBIS (positive behavior and intervention support)" are the same as our "PBSES" practice in Issaquah.

Scroll all the way down to the bottom to download these ideas in a word document format.

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Ready for School

Setting Up a Routine or Schedule

Setting up a routine or schedule can help with focus and consistency. It doesn't have to be followed minute by minute and can be helpful even if it is loose. 

Just like expectations, involve your child's voice in creating a schedule, like letting them help set up the order or the timing, Involving them helps them own their schedule and increases the likelihood of follow through. They also might have a passion or interest and this is a great time to allow them to follow it and add it to their schedule or routine. Another tip is to allow for your child to have choices throughout the day. This again will help to stay focused and it will allow for days to have variety. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that children cannot sit and focus quietly on a task for as long as adults. Break up work time blocks with snack breaks, movement breaks, or just time to be silly. Kids are used to taking recess breaks outside, even if it isn't the best weather. This website has some insight on how to understand your child's attention span based on their age: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/tag/inside-your-childs-brain/ 

Go Noodle is a website that has lots of "brain break" activities: https://www.gonoodle.com/good-energy-at-home-kids-games-and-videos/

Here are some more great tips for at home learning. Included are some ideas about how to "tackle the hard stuff first" in a daily schedule: https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/school-closure-survival-guide/

 

Here are some examples of schedules or routines:

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Week #1: Gratitude 

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(a video from Mrs. Fernstrom about Gratitude)

When the Going Gets Tough.....Practice Gratitude.

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Edited to add: PLEASE feel free to send me your gratitude lists or photos. I would LOVE to see them and am working on creating a giant list of all the things we can be grateful for right now to inspire others! I will post the list here soon. Send them to me at: fernstromj@issaquah.wednet.edu

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In case you are looking for some “at home” activities with your kids, I highly recommend starting a gratitude journal. Especially now, when tension, anxiety and negativity are all around, practicing gratitude is an easy way to work on combating these feelings. It is also a great activity to do as a family. You can all hold each other accountable and remind each other throughout the day when you notice gratitude. Gratitude journals can be actual notebooks or there are several virtual gratitude journal apps, in case that makes it more enticing for your kids. One bonus of the electronic journal is that it is super easy to add photos, which can be powerful visual reminders of people, places, activities, or items, that you are appreciate.

Gratitude journals are one of my absolute favorite classroom activities. This is a little about what the lesson looks like:

Before the journals are introduced, we talk about what the students already know about gratitude and the concept of neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change). Then we watch this short video about the effects that practicing gratitude have on the brain. (Hint: repetition and consistency are the keys to changing the way the brain works.) Next, each student picks a small notebook to decorate as they wish and use as their own personal gratitude journal. Finally, the 3 rules for the journals are explained.

  1. Always add the date so we can keep track of our progress.

  2. Write 3 unique entries every day for 21 days.

    1. (Hint: the more detailed your entries are, the easier it will be to have 63 different entries. Example: “I am thankful for my mom.” vs. “I am thankful for hugs from my mom”, which leaves room for “I am thankful that my mom made my favorite lunch today”.)

  3. One of your entries needs to be something you would be willing to share with the class (or your family).

    1. Trust me, it is the sharing that is the most powerful part of this activity.

Sometimes the students need a little inspiration so we watch this Kid President video and there is always visual access to a list of gratitude prompts (see below) too.

There is also a document attached to this post that you can download so you can print the prompts with a few bonus gratitude activities and conversation starters.

 

Gratitude Journal Prompts

  • Something that made you smile today

  • Something that made you laugh today

  • Something you are good at doing

  • Something you are looking forward to

  • Your favorite place

  • An act of kindness someone showed you

  • Your favorite modern invention

  • Your favorite thing about school

  • Something you learned about recently

  • Your favorite activity

  • Your favorite food

  • Something that makes your life easier

  • Something you use every single day

  • Your favorite thing in nature

  • Something that keeps you warm

  • Something that helps you relax

  • Your favorite song

  • A recent small success

  • Something that cheers you up on a rough day

  • Technology you use every single day

  • Someone who inspires you

  • A wish that came true

  • Favorite thing about this season

  • Your favorite holiday

  • Your favorite part of your house

  • Someone who helped you solve a problem

  • Your favorite animal or pet

  • Your favorite sound

  • Your favorite smell

  • Your favorite park

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