April 20: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (audio here)
April 27: 3-D Shapes (audio here)
May 5: I Like Bugs (audio here)
May 12: Caterpillar to Butterfly (audio here)
June 2: Did You Ever See a Bubble? (audio here)
FREE Creativity Camp: June 22-26 @ 9am: Free (virtual) writing, drawing, and storytelling classes from award winning author/illustrator Arree Chung Click here to watch replays of the classes if you missed them!
Summer Camp at Home: 6 weeks of themed printables and activities at home (FREE!)
For humor, parenting advice, survival tips, subscribe to the podcast "Parent Trapped."
IXL (Free access over the summer): This is a learning program similar to Dreambox but also has language arts (reading and writing). Note: we have NOT introduced it in the classroom, unlike Dreambox or Raz-Kids. It is merely another good online resource if you are interested. How to log in:
STEP 1: Go to your portal: https://clever.com/in/albanyusd
STEP 2: Log in with your Clever username (AKA your student's AUSD email address, which can be found in your Aeries portal) and password:
Username: Google Apps username (Usually: firstnamelastinitialgraduationyear@ausdk12.org, for example, for student Joan Smith who would graduate from HS in 2027, the address is joans27@ausdk12.org- sometimes, if the name is very common, the middle initial is added)
Password: Google Apps password (which for elementary students is albanyusd)
STEP 3: Click on: IXL Subscription
Common Sense Media's Wide Open School has some great resources. Click here for daily activities, recommendations, etc.
Education.com: has grade-level specific study packets, lessons, and resources.
Movie Night! Watch great family movies with fun activities to follow up. We have not watched all of these - they are just recommendations, so make the decision that best fits your family, as always. Don't forget the popcorn!
Alameda County Office of Education: Resources on Racism
Embrace Race Webinar: How Do I Make Sure I’m Not Raising the Next Amy Cooper?
The Brown Bookshelf: "Kidlit 4 Black Lives" Rally (Adults’ portion)
CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall: Coming Together: Standing Up Against Racism
Youth In Arts Cre8tes: Conversations on Race and Identity
The Brown Bookshelf: "Kidlit 4 Black Lives" Rally (Kids’ portion)
Black Lives Matter Instructional Library: click on the picture books for a read-aloud
Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester (read by K teacher, Vera Ahiyya @thetututeacher; includes a short discussion about race)
You Matter by Christian Robinson (YouTube)
Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness by Anastasia Higginbotham (free e-copy until June 19)
Books for Littles (Raising Luminaries): Ashia Ray reviews and critically analyzes children's literature on her website and on her Facebook page. She often posts book collections in response to current events. Check out her collection on racial diversity and racism & power.
Books for Discussing Racism with Children: List created by Cornell's librarian, Mare Staton
Books to Help Children Understand the Fight for Racial Equality
19 Books to Help Children Find Hope and Strength in Stressful Times
These guides were made by two Black teachers (Naomi O'Brien @readlikearockstar & LaNesha Tabb @apron_education) to help families discuss racism with their kids. It covers some big issues but guides families with discussion questions and some scripted answers for when the discussion gets tough. Click the links below to learn more about each guide ($20 each).
Read with your child at least 20 minutes a day. There are many things to do and talk about when enjoying books with your child.
Tips for reading at home here!
Headsprout/Raz-Kids: an online reading program that offers your child phonics lessons and books at their level. Click here for the Parent Toolkit. Teachers can monitor kids' work and adjust their levels as necessary. Many of our students have just started using this at school. If your child does not remember their password or you are having trouble logging in, please email your child's teacher and we'll get you the login information, troubleshoot, etc.
Go to www.kidsa-z.com
Enter and choose the teacher's username
Find child's username on the class chart
Enter child's password
Fletcher's Place is part of our phonics curriculum. This link will direct you to videos we watch in class.
AUSD Library Websites: Sign in using your ausdk12.org student email address. (Look on Aeries to see what your email address is)
Additional reading resources to check out:
Alameda County Library: online resources and e-reader catalogue
Scholastic Learn at Home: non-fiction and fiction books for reading practice with short informational videos and games
Storyline Online: stories with optional activity guides
TrueFlix: Watch Scholastic Videos and read informational/non-fiction books!
Audible now has free online books for school age kids!
Epic now has free online books for school age kids - terrific selection!
Have your child do some writing every day. Encourage your child to use pictures and brave spelling to show their ideas. Use any paper you have, or try this paper. Ideas might include:
A journal of daily activities
An “All About” book, teaching everything they know about a topic
A personal narrative (something true that happened in their life) and focus on showing who, where, and what happened
Give them a prompt to write about. Examples: What is your favorite food and why? Tell me about an animal that you like. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Click here to see the development stages of writing. Many Kindergarten students range from Emergent to Transitional by the end of the year.
Dreambox: is an online math program that offers children math curriculum at their level. We use it at school, and your child knows how to use it! If your child does not remember their password or you are having trouble logging in, please email your child's teacher and we'll get you the login information, troubleshoot, etc.
Enter your class code
Find child's username on the class chart
Enter child's password
Audubon for Kids: great site to learn about birds!
Virtual Field Trips:
A Kids Play about Racism, watch this free virtual play about racism - yes for kids! August 1&2
Jingle Jeff's Music Website: Sign in using your ausdk12.org student email address. (Look on Aeries to see what your email address is)
Second Step is the social/emotional learning curriculum that we use in the classroom. This has links to the lyrics and audio of the songs that we have taught the students in school.
Making Space with Christian Robinson is a video series by the fabulous children's author and illustrator. He explores emotion and creativity with stories and art projects to do at home.
Youth in Arts is an arts organization that provides enrichment in many classrooms in Albany. They have created a daily live stream video! Check it out on Facebook or instagram at 11:08 each morning.
Facebook: @youthinarts, Instagram: @youthinarts
Bay Area Children's Theater:
Creativity Corner: interactive dramatic videos
Drawing with Dav Pilkey, Author of "Dog Man."
NY Times Cooking: 53 recipes to cook with your kids
Get your CRAFT on with these activities!