As many school districts shift to online instruction, we know it’s a challenge for educators and families. Luckily, Waterford.org has plenty of options to keep students learning and parents up-to-date on assignments if you need to teach from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are five tips on getting started with Waterford’s at-home learning options, including home access, Waterford Mentor, and other online tools. We’ve also included a few resources you can share with families to help them get started with home access or Waterford Mentor at home.
1. Home Access
With home access, you don’t have to miss a beat if circumstances require you to move class online. From home, children can pick up their Waterford activities where they left off at school. Their home session time will match with their school time so they’re getting similar instruction as they would in class.
Click here for resources to help you get started with Waterford home access.
2. Waterford Mentor
If you have Waterford Mentor enabled, encourage families to download this parent engagement app where they will receive messages directly related to their child’s Waterford usage and learning achievements, along with suggestions for offline activities to foster even more learning at home. This can be a great way to keep families connected and involved with their child’s learning, even if they’re unable to visit the classroom.
Click here for a few resources on getting started with Waterford Mentor for teachers and families. You can also send parents a link to the Waterford Mentor help guide, which features instructions in English and Spanish on using and getting the most from Waterford Mentor.
3. Waterford.org YouTube Channel
Encourage families to visit our YouTube Channel, which features plenty of songs and videos that teach children reading, math, and science skills. For early learners, we recommend the Waterford.org Letter Sound Playlist. This is great for younger children who may not use Waterford Home Access but would still like to learn from home.
4. Consider Holding an Online Training Session with Parents
If parents feel unsure how to best teach their child from home, try inviting parents to a 1-hour interactive virtual session to teach them ways to practice reading, math, and social-emotional learning (SEL) skills at home. You could also share online learning resources and provide opportunities for families to ask questions about how they can maximize at-home learning.
5. Waterford Masters & Practice Pages
If your families do not have devices at home, consider printing resources from the Masters & Practice Pages packets for them. These packets have plenty of activities, worksheets, and coloring pages, and they are available in English and Spanish.
Additionally, here are a few tips to share with families on staying healthy and preventing illness:
- Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, about as long as it takes to sing the ABC song or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
- Cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow
- Stay at least six feet away from other people who are sick
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with household cleaning sprays or wipes
- Check out the CDC’s Steps to Prevent Illness
