What to Keep in Mind for

Students in Grades PK-2:

Ideas to Consider

• Time for exploration and play is an important component of learning for early elementary students.
• Send games and/or printed materials related to the curriculum that families can use alongside their children to promote and sustain learning.
• Encourage families (if health and weather allow) to get outside and explore nature and to provide opportunities for both structured and unstructured play. Have them take and share photos of their activities together.
• Provide ideas for hands-on projects or crafts that families can complete together. Consider giving them a game board (BINGO or Tic-Tac-Toe) format that they can complete together and students can share when they return.
• Offer activities related to relaxation and mindfulness strategies...these days can be very overwhelming and uncertain for young children and their caregivers.
• Above all else…express the importance of talking with the children and interacting with them throughout the day.
• Think about providing choice boards that encourage families to make decisions and vary activities.

What to Keep in Mind for

Students in Grades 3-5:

Ideas to Consider

• Review of learning and familiarity of expectations is crucial.
• Provide a variety of materials that vary modes including digital and print options.
• Develop a schedule with built in breaks and a consistent plan.
• Provide clear instructional expectations and directions for both students and parents.
• Consider simplicity and varied learning styles.
• Have a distraction-free place to work/study.
• Keep communication lines open – ask questions and clarification.
• Conversation and play are still important parts of learning – maintain meaningful interactions.
• Think about providing choice boards that encourage families to make decisions and vary activities.

What to Keep in Mind for

Students in Grades 6-12:

Ideas to Consider

• Take care of yourself.
• Check your email & other means to communicate.
• Plan your time each day and schedule breaks.
• Have a distraction-free place to work/study.
• Focus on learning styles that work best for you.
• Become familiar with the technology and tools needed to participate in the tasks assigned.
• Collaborate with others digitally/virtually.

What to Keep in Mind for Teachers

Ideas to Consider

• Take care of yourself!
• Focus on what works best for YOUR students based on age, content, and technology access.
• Create asynchronous learning experiences.
• Less is more for quantity of assignments and instruction.
• Offer a variety of options and experiences to allow for personalization of the learning.
• Give explicit instructions and time expectations.
• Specify expectations for students and parents.
• Be empathetic and flexible to the circumstances.
• Communicate consistently and constantly.
• Become familiar with the technology and tools needed to participate in the work and stick with them.
• Schedule online “office hours”.
• Encourage collaboration among your students digitally/virtually.
• Connect with other educators and the DOE for support digitally/virtually.

What to Keep in Mind for     Parents

Ideas to Consider

• Take care of yourself and family!
• Check your email & communicate.
• Help your child plan each day and schedule breaks.
• Create a distraction free place for your child to work/study.
• Become familiar with the technology and tools needed for your child to participate in the work.
• Collaborate and check in with your child(ren)'s teacher(s) digitally/virtually.
• Collaborate and check in with other parents digitally/virtually.
• Relax!  You are not the teacher and it is okay to not know the content.  You are not expected to teach new content.
• National Science Foundation Math Blog: 7 Ways to Help Your Kids with Math Homework

Examples/Resources

Math Resource Spreadsheet

Low Tech/No Tech Ideas

PK-2 Examples

• Using a deck of cards, pull out the face cards and take turns flipping cards to compare.  The person with the larger number on the card keeps both cards (all cards).  Can be played with two or more.
• Use a schedule and work on telling time.
• Cook together and work on measurement.

Grades 3-5 Examples

• Using a deck of cards, pull out the face cards and take turns flipping 2 cards per player and multiply to compare.  The person with the larger product (answer) keeps all cards for that round.  Can be played with two or more.
• Play family games, such as Monopoly, where students practice counting money.
• Do arts and craft projects where students build or create using specific shapes or measurements.

Grades 6-8 Examples

• Using the guiding question “What would your world be like without your mathematician’s contribution (discovery)?”, have students write a short paper describing how their world would be different without the mathematics from their mathematician.
• Create a quilt square (either 10x10 or 8x8) using paper or other materials, making sure to use a variety of colors and shapes.  Have students mathematically describe their quilt square.  In one paragraph have students describe the quilt square using fractions, decimals, and percents.  In the second paragraph, have students describe the pattern using shapes.  When students return to school, have them bring their quilt square and description and create a class quilt.
• Using a program for 3-D design, such as Google Sketch-Up, have students create a scale model of their home.

Grades 9-12 Examples

• Have students calculate the slope of the various sets of stairs in their homes (rise/run) and compare.  Which sets of stairs are easiest to climb?
• Utilize Desmos activities.  teacher.desmos.com
• Have students help support younger siblings with their math work or by playing games with siblings.