The Week of March 30, 2020

The Week of March 30, 2020

A piece of well-know weather folklore states "If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb."  As the month of March comes to an end I can't help but reflect on how much has changed in this past month.  I would never have believed you if you told me that we would be confined to our houses for an extended period of time because of a global pandemic!  March came in like a lamb and is going out like a lion!  That being said, I am so excited for the possibilities for learning experiences that may come from this.  And, if we remember we are all in this together, it doesn't feel so lonely or scary.

This week, we will continue to use the SCCPSS choice menus.  Please complete one activity from the menu each day.  You will be required to turn in those assignments within 5 days of our return to school.  While not required, you may also wish to check out the following activities for extra choice work:

1.  www.newsela.com articles: You have access to the entire library of current event articles in the NewsEla archive. Feel free to search for a topic of interest an explore the articles.  You can even take a quiz or two to check your comprehension!

2.  www.quill.org:  Log onto Quill for some grammar practice.  I added a collection of activities to your account to complete, if you wish.  You are also able to redo any activities you've already completed to try to get a higher score.  

3.  www.getepic.com:  Your Epic account is brimming with fun books to read!  I place my daily read-alouds that I post at www.mrtrent.com in the "Read-Aloud" collection on Epic.  In addition, I have a "Boredom Busters" collection that has a number of fun games, puzzles, jokes, and crafts to keep you engaged during your time at home.  Please note:  Your Epic account does turn off after school hours.  If you wish, your parents can contact me to have your account unlocked at all times.  This is free!  All I will need is your parent's email address they wish to use to unlock it.

Finally, the closure of schools has been extended to April 24, 2020.  Your teachers at Ellis have been working hard to create some fun and engaging activities for you to complete at home during this time.  After this week you will be getting new choice menus that are closely aligned to our Montessori philosophy for you to complete during the extended closure.  In addition, we are exploring offering virtual "office hours" where you will be able to meet with me online and ask for lessons or assistance with your works.  This will begin the week of April 6th.  Until then, please use the SCCPSS choice menus you've been using so far.  

Have a wonderful day,

Mr. Trent