Thank you to those families who were able to respond to the survey we sent out. We want to take the time to clarify some expectations around your child’s ongoing learning experience. Every family has different needs, so we are trying to ensure that we meet those needs as much as possible.
Workload is too much- We received a wide range of responses re: the number of assignments made available to families. Please remember that you decide on the direction that your child is heading. If you feel certain assignments are too difficult, it doesn’t need to be completed. Pick and choose what works for your child. Our main focus is Math and Literacy, so try to find a good balance of assignments that will touch on those areas. This is the same with Gym, Music, and Ms. Hinder’s activities! They are all there to pick and choose from!
Additional Work- If families would like their child to do more work above and beyond the activities given, there are optional activities for you in the Week at a Glance slides.
Teacher Availability- Teachers are available to answer any questions, if needed. Students can email us at tlmoir@educbe.ca and/or jngill@educbe.ca. Parents can email us at tlmoir@cbe.ab.ca and/or jngill@cbe.ab.ca. Unless we are in a meeting, we should be able to get back to you right away. If it’s something that will require a one-on-one google meet, we can arrange that as well! Our Google Meets are also a time when we can go over any questions that your child may have.
Screen time- There was some concern about the amount of time your child is spending on their devices. This is a fair concern. Please feel free to set some boundaries and guidelines for your child in this area. If that means they are doing less of the assignments on D2L, that is ok! We try to include activities that may or may not involve technology. Remember that it is healthy to get outside and enjoy this weather, as long as you’re following the physical distancing rules. Ms. Hinder’s D2L also has some fun activities to do outside.
Assignment Availability- Some families have requested that we make assignments available on a Friday so that they can plan their week, especially when they have more than one child doing ongoing learning. We will do our best to have assignments available on Friday afternoons.
Your Child’s Concentration- There have been some concerns about how to keep your child on task. This can be a concern in the classroom too! Don’t forget that your child needs breaks. This can be a nutrition break, a fun break, or a physical break. They are only expected to do an hour a day, but if that is too much some days, it’s ok to stop earlier. Remember, your child does not need to accomplish everything every week! It may be better to choose a couple of things that they can put more effort into. Go for quality, not quantity!
We hope this helps alleviate some of the pressure some of you have been feeling. The most important thing is to enjoy this time together and make some meaningful memories!
Thank you for your support!