Bear Valley School

Coast Mountains School District 82 is pleased to provide the opportunity to the families of Bear Valley, Kildala Elementary, Kitwanga Elementary and Suwilaawks Community Schools with “free access” to the Summer Reading Boost Program.  School District 82 purchased licenses for these schools to access this program featuring Dr. Janet Mort and the Joyful Literacy Teacher Team.  The Summer Reading Boost Program was created in partnership with SD 91 (Nechako Lakes) due to the growing concern with the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on early learners … with summer looming, they knew for many struggling children the gaps will continue to grow.

This home-based program comprises 10 videos (video titles provided below) that instructs parents how to teach and practice Foundational Skills (K to 3).  Each video is supported with a handout package of over 100 games, activities, read-aloud strategies and checklists from Janet Mort’s new book “Parent Power: You can teach your child to read!”  All games and activities are designed to be productive, playful and fun for the whole family. We invite parents/guardians to use the program all summer long and throughout the next school year.

This series of ten 20-minute videos can be easily streamed online by parents for playful practice activities with important Foundational Skills all summer long.  You can also download the videos for offline viewing.  Each video is accompanied by a package of handouts that include instructions, games and activities for each video topic.
Video Titles include (package handouts for each video provided below):

• Alphabet Crazy Fun 1: My Family Teaches Me My ABC’s
• Alphabet Crazy Fun 2: Games, Practice and Celebrations
• Phonemic Play 1: Learning to read in the dark?
• Phonemic Play 2: Tricking Our Ears!
• Superpower Sight Words 1: One Two Three – READ!!!
• Superpower Sight Words 2: Practice, Play and Performance
• Come-alive Reading: It’s party-time reading in my home.
• Echo and Repeated Reading: I read just like you.
• Reading Buddies: Teaching Me, Loving Me and Reading with Me
• Writing Buddies: My Pen, Your Pen, Our Pen

How to Access the Video Series:

1. Click on the “Video Showcase Link” provided below.
2. Enter the password provided below in the “Enter Password” box and click the “Submit” button.
3. You will now have access to stream the video series online, or download individual videos to view them offline (see instructions below).

Video Showcase Link:

• https://vimeo.com/showcase/8375014

Password:

• s78WRm36kD

Package Handouts with Instructions, Games and Activities for each Video Topic:

• INSTRUCTIONS_Accessing the Video Bundle and Downloading Videos
• Handouts_Video 1-2_Joyful Literacy Family Summer Literacy Boost
• Handouts_Videos 3-4_Joyful Literacy Family Summer Literacy Boost
• Handouts_Videos 5-6_Joyful Literacy Family Summer Literacy Boost
• Handouts_Videos 7-8_Joyful Literacy Family Summer Literacy Boost
• Handouts_Videos 9-10_Joyful Literacy Family Summer Literacy Boost

Questions about the Parent Power Summer Literacy Boost?  Contact joyfulliteracy2020@shaw.ca.

During this time, it is understandable for children to have questions or express concern about the COVID-19 virus.  As parents, teachers or caregivers, it is important to stay informed and communicate in age-appropriate ways that address children’s questions and helps them take steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

Here are some tips and resources to help:

• Don’t be afraid to talk about it: Convey the facts and set an emotionally reassuring tone.
• Be age-appropriate: Teens can process and handle a higher level of detail than five year olds. Focus on answering your child/student’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly; it’s okay if you can’t answer everything.
• Follow their lead: Invite your child or student to ask questions and share their perspective: Invite them to tell you anything they may have heard about the coronavirus and express how they feel.
• Check yourself: Feeling anxious?  Take some time to calm down before trying to have a conversation or answer your child’s questions.
• Focus on actions you can take: Emphasize safety precautions everyone can take to help keep themselves and others healthy: good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, social distancing and staying home if you aren’t feeling well.
• Stick to routine: Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping kids happy and healthy.
• Keep talking: Tell kids/students you will keep them updated as you learn more.  Let them know the lines of communication are going to be open and as you learn more, you will share the information with them, too.

Resources:

• BCCDC Frequently Asked Questions on COVID-19 for Children and Students
• BCCDC COVID 19: Recommendations for Students, Parents and Guardians