All of our school expectations continue to apply to Virtual Voyage 2.0. Students are expected to be responsible, respectful, safe and kind. While these are still the expectations, they will look and sound differently in a virtual environment. During the first week of school, I will introduce, model and review these expectations. Thank you for reinforcing these expectations!

This document outlines the general daily schedule for fifth graders. Instructional times marked “Live” means that this learning will occur synchronously on Zoom. Students can join this Zoom meeting through Google Classroom. Times marked “SG” means that this learning will occur in small groups. Some students will join a Zoom meeting to work with the teacher. Other students will work asynchronously. The small group schedule will be posted in Google Classroom. Times marked “OYO” means “on your own” - students will be engaged in asynchronous learning.

Please note that this is a general daily schedule. Some lessons may need to be taught in small groups. Other times, we may start in a whole group and then move into breakout rooms. Or, we may start in a whole group, work independently, and come back together to check or review. If there are any major changes to our schedule, I will notify you and your child ahead of time.

Your child can access all of his/her curriculum and learning materials through Google Classroom or the PVSD ClassLink LaunchPad. Mrs. Dowiak has shared this document with detailed information about accessing student Google portals from home.

To access the PVSD ClassLink LaunchPad, your child should visit my.pvsd.org, click “Sign in with Google” and enter his/her PVSD log in credentials. The LaunchPad is the most efficient way for your child to access Google Classroom, Gmail and other websites that your child will need to access.

Phone Number: 610-489-2991 ext. 4740

Email: sferrebee@pvsd.org

• Please contact me with any questions or concerns throughout the year. Email is the best way to reach me.

Classroom Website: This website will house the most up-to-date information about our learning. This website also has resources and information about supporting learning at home. The best way to find out what your child is learning about is to access the schedule on the parent portals.

Grades: This year, PVSD adopted Synergy as our new student information system. You can log into Synergy to view your child's current grades and average as the trimester progresses. You will also access your child's report card through Synergy.

Mrs. Dowiak has shared this document with detailed information about accessing student Google Portals from home.

The PVSD ClassLink LaunchPad is also an efficient way for your child to access his/her Google Portal. Your child should visit my.pvsd.org, click “Sign in with Google” and enter his/her PVSD log in credentials.

• Establish a learning space and morning routine: Work with your child to create a quiet space where he/she can learn. With your child, identify distractors. Then, try to create this learning space away from temptations or distractions such as video games, pets or the television. Keeping learning items nearby (Chromebook, headphones, independent reading books, pencils, paper, calculator) will help your child to be organized and successful. A predictable morning routine will also help your child feel prepared and ready for the learning day.

• Talk about school: Ask your child questions about what he/she is learning, his/her favorite part of the day, or his/her friends. Keep communication about school open and frequent.

• Encourage your child to advocate for him/herself: In fifth grade, we work on monitoring our thinking (metacognition) and advocating for our needs. If your child is having difficulty with finishing his/her work, understanding a new concept or skill or navigating an online platform, encourage your child to advocate for him/herself! Fifth grade students have access to their school Gmail accounts. They can use these email addresses to contact me. I would be happy to schedule a time to work with your child to support his/her learning.

• Encourage reading, read with your child or set an example as a reader: Children love to read with others! Find time each night to read with your child. Get two copies of the same book, read it together and discuss it. Or, when your child does his/her nightly reading, you can read your book, too! Ask your child questions about his/her independent reading book and talk about what you are reading.

• Discuss growth mindset: A person with a growth mindset believes that skills can be developed and improved. By fifth grade, students often have a “mindset” about what type of person they are. “I’m good at math but hate to read” or “I’m a music person not a sports person” are common phrases among fifth graders. Discuss that brains can be trained to become better at a subject or a skill; equate a brain to a muscle – the more that it “works out” and challenges itself, the more that it will grow and become stronger! In our classroom, we work on praising each other based on effort not on achievement alone. We say things like, “I really admire that you never gave up on that problem,” or “Wow! Your writing has grown and improved so much!” to make the connection that effort, practice and perseverance lead to success.

In your child’s grab and go bag, I have included a whole-class novel. Every child received the same novel; this novel will be our first class read aloud. We will read this together - please encourage your child to not read ahead! We use this novel to model reading strategies and practice reading skills. Stay tuned for information from Ms. Derstine about accessing library books for your child to read.

Absolutely! There is small group time built into our school day for both math and Language Arts. In math small groups, students will engage in reteaching and review or extension and problem solving activities. In Language Arts small groups, students will engage in guided reading - an instructional approach where students read a short text and apply comprehension strategies and skills being taught in the whole group lesson.

Each morning, our class will gather on Zoom for a morning meeting. During this meeting, students will have an opportunity to share and learn about their classrooms. Morning meetings are an important part of the day to help us grow closer as a classroom community.

Please communicate all absences to Kim Jones by email (kajones@pvsd.org) or by phone prior to 8:30 am. A written absence note is required within three school days of your child's return to school. Please send in the absence note with your child or email South attendance at soattendance@pvsd.org.

• Attendance Phone Number: Dial (610) 489-2991 and press #1

If your child is sick and cannot attend our Zoom lessons, please first report this absence to Kim Jones (kajones@pvsd.org). Your child will be expected to make up any missed work - just like a regular school day! We have a large break in the morning (9:50 to 11:10 am) where your child will engage asynchronously in recess and lunch. Your child should use part of this time to check in with both his/her homeroom and math teachers to find out what was missed. It is your child’s responsibility to email his/her teachers and find out what was missed.

All asynchronous learning (activities that your child will do independently) will be accessed through Google Classroom. All synchronous learning (morning meetings, live lessons, small group instruction) will occur through Zoom. During the first week of school, we will review and practice the expectations for video conferencing. Please use this document to talk with your child about best practices when learning online.