# data[].attributes.headline
Westfield School District Calendar 2024-2025

# data[].attributes.subject
Westfield School District Calendar 2024-2025

# data[].attributes.body
Here is our 2024-2025 Westfield Public Schools academic calendar. This calendar provides important dates such as holidays, staff development days, vacations, and parent-teacher conferences. We hope you please use this link to keep track of where we are throughout the school year.

# data[].attributes.body
In regards to technology in education, we teachers feel that it is an important tool used in the classroom. However, it is important to highlight that technology needs to be used correctly and efficiently for it to be effective in enhancing one's learning.

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone! My name is Ms. Haley! I'm so excited for 2nd grade this year and to meet everyone! I have been teaching 2nd grade for 5 years! I enjoy traveling, baking, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family. I am thrilled for this year with all of our new friends!

Please feel free to reach out to hbecotte0832@westfield.ma.edu with any questions!

# data[].attributes.body
Hi second graders! My name is Ms. Maddie, and this is my third year teaching second grade. I am super excited to meet all of you and learn so much together this school year! Some things that I love: spending time with my friends and family, playing basketball, eating ice cream, going on vacation, and taking my dog Rosie on walks!

If you or your parents have any questions, please feel free to reach out and email me at mpond4441@westfield.ma.edu

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone! My name is Ms. Turner! A little bit about me is that on my free time I like to go to the beach, do some shopping, and hang out with my friends and family. I also love teaching, and I have been teaching for 5 years! I am so excited to meet you all and to have a wonderful school year! Feel free to email me at eturner4531@westfield.ma.edu

# data[].attributes.body
We would like a big welcome to our newest member of the classroom! Bring it on for Oscar!! Oscar was rescued by Ms. Turner and Ms. Maddie found in Stanley Park in the pond on their nature walk!

We as a class will have to make sure that we feed Oscar daily and take care of him as if he was one of our own.🧡

# data[].attributes.body
Our open house is Friday, September 27th at 6:00. Please see the link for more details about the schedule of this event. We look forward to meeting all of you!

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone! My name is Ms. Ashley and I am so excited to meet you all. Here are some fun facts about me! I love nature, animals, and cooking/baking. I have been teaching for 4 years and I cannot wait to see what is in store for this year!

If you ever need to ask me any questions, please do not hesitate! Feel free to reach out to me at anytime through my email aalderman4317@westfield.ma.edu

# data[].attributes.body
Check out our calendar to see what is happening this month!

# data[].attributes.body
'Hello World!' by Kelly Corrigan follows a little girl leaving her home to explore the town. She makes assumptions about the people she passes along the way, but after asking questions and talking to these new faces, she learns that there are so many interesting things about them! This is a great story about diversity and the importance of meeting new people.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi students! This resource has over 30 TV and web-only PBS Kids shows where there are games, activities, and videos for exploring many different subjects such as math, early literacy, engineering, cultural diversity, American history, and many more! This is a fun website to help expand your learning through playing games and even watching TV!!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Educational games and videos from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Wild Kratts and other PBS KIDS shows!

# data[].attributes.body
Hi students! This resource has any possible topic or subject that you need more guidance on! It has many videos as well as questions throughout the videos to check up on your knowledge of the subject, as well as fun games that are interactive and go along with the subject you are learning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
BrainPOP's online learning platform allows parents to help their children succeed in the classroom by practicing creative and fun activities at home.

# data[].attributes.body
'Horton Hears a Who!' by Dr. Seuss is a wonderful story about an elephant named Horton who discovers a tiny world called Whoville on a speck of dust. Despite disbelief from the other animals in the jungle, Horton is determined to protect the Whos that live in Whoville, insisting that "a person's a person, no matter how small." The story has lessons of compassion and standing up for what is right, even when others doubt you. It teaches about the importance of caring and speaking for those who may not have a voice.

# data[].attributes.body
In our classroom, we have it set up with square tables that fit 4 at each table. Below are the other areas in our classroom! We also have our tables set up so that every couple of weeks they switch and get to see other friends! Our classroom has a "cozy corner" which is explained below for students! Our classroom allows a teacher's desk on the right where a few students can work one on one with a teacher to get the help they need! We have two computers as well for students that engage better remotely with work or if needed!

# data[].attributes.body
'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie' by Laura Numeroff is an awesome story about friendship, adventure, and sharing. A boy gives a Mouse a cookie, and which sets off a chain of events that causes the Mouse to ask for more and more things (milk, a straw, a mirror, etc.). Each request leads to another, creating a fun story that ends right where it began.

# data[].attributes.body
This is our "cozy corner" which is located in the corner of our classroom by the computers. This corner allows our students to have an area in that classroom that is quiet or if they need an area to relax and chill. We have bean bags and some books that the students can look at. We also have a basket that has fidget toys in it for the students to use.

# data[].attributes.body
This is our "teacher table". We feel this is great to have in our classroom because it allows students to work one-on-one with a teacher to get the best help that they need to be successful!

# data[].attributes.body
Hi students! This website is perfect for this class! It offers a full online curriculum covering reading, math, science, and arts & colors. There are over 9,000 activities. I think this is a great source because it also includes arts, coloring and music!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ABCmouse.com helps kids learn to read through phonics, and teaches lessons in math, social studies, art, music, and much more! For kids ages 2 to 8.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi students! This website is developed by the National Museum of American History that offers online resources for learning American history! If you are interested in learning more about American history, look into this website!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Please check back here as we update our classroom resources page with additional educational materials!

Becoming US

Case studies and lesson plans for secondary teachers and students to support United States history curricula and teach a more accurate and inclusive migration and immigration narrative.
Becoming US
Learning Lab

A collection of our many resources thoughtfully and intentionally created based on social studies themes and topics.
Learning Lab

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Please check back here as we update our classroom resources page with additional educational materials! Case studies and lesson plans for secondary teachers and students to support United States history curricula and teach a more accurate and inclusive migration and immigration narrative.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi students! This resource provides educational games, books, and videos for kids! There are interactive games as well as comics like Brewster rocket! Many fun and interesting read-aloud books are found on this website!

# data[].attributes.body
Rosie Revere, Engineer is an inspiring story of a young girl who aspires to be an inventor. Rosie uses any and all items to invent and constructs unique creations that do not always work how she had hoped they would. She faces challenges in her journey and she becomes unsure of her abilities. Rosie realizes that chasing her dream to become an engineer will prove to be difficult at times, but that does not mean she should give up. This story is an excellent representation of both the positives and the negatives that we may experience while trying to achieve our dreams.

# data[].attributes.body
PlanBook is an excellent resource that allows teachers to organize their lesson plans virtually. This is essentially the large filing cabinet with any and all lesson plans. Teachers can use this resource to easily edit or store their lesson plans without the stress of losing papers. It is easily accessible at a low cost.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Planbook - The Leader in Lesson Planning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With over one million teachers and one billion lessons, Planbook is the established leader in online lesson planning!

# data[].attributes.body
Remind is a resource utilized by teachers and families. This is a great way to easily contact either your teacher or the parent with important information. Teachers and parents are a team! It is essential to have seamless communication without the stress of not being able to reach one another. You can create a classroom that consists of all parents and guardians.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Adoption and usage

Simple, effective, and surprisingly easy to use

With nearly 30 million users in 80% of US schools, the numbers speak for themselves: students, families, and educators love using Remind.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Remind | Communication Platform for Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Remind is a communication platform that reaches students and families where they are and supports learning wherever it happens. Millions of educators, students, and parents use Remind to connect with the people and resources that help them teach and learn.

# data[].attributes.body
Edutopia is a teacher tool that provides articles and resources. This specific article about edtech tools is helpful for teachers to navigate technology in the classroom while supporting differentiated earning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Using Edtech Tools to Differentiate Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teachers can use tech tools to make it easier to give students choice about their learning, increasing engagement.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi students! This website is a perfect place to strengthen your skills in telling a story! Through this resource you can create your own storybook and include your own images and make it a fun learning experience!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Storybird - Read, write, discover, and share the books you'll always remember.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Become a better writer with Storybird's creativity tools. Online courses, challenges, and reader feedback will help you improve your writing.

# data[].attributes.body
'The Giving Tree' by Shel Silverstein is a heartfelt story that follows the relationship between a young boy and a tree. The tree loves the boy and selflessly gives him everything it has throughout its life (apples, branches, trunk), just to make him happy. As the boy grows older, he takes more and more from the tree until there is nothing left but a stump. Later on the boy returns as an old man to rest on the stump, and even this makes the tree happy. The story teaches lessons about unconditional love, generosity, gratitude, and the impact of our actions on others.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi students! This source has live tutoring for all math topics. Zearn is an online math curriculum that has live whole- and small-group instruction for grades one through eight. It is perfect if you are struggling in math and need live assistance at home.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Zearn Math | Top-rated Math Learning Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learning with Zearn helps math make sense. Students explore math through pictures, visual models, and real-life examples. Log in to your Zearn account.

# data[].attributes.body
Teachers pay teachers is a resource that can be utilized for many aspects of the classroom. This website provides inspiration for teachers to enhance their classrooms as well as variety in lesson plans. Teachers pay teachers is unique because educators can sell their lessons as a way to make money.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
World's most popular online marketplace for original educational resources with more than four million resources available for use today.

# data[].attributes.body
This lesson focuses on teaching students the importance of acceptance, celebrating diversity, and being inclusive of others. By the conclusion of the lesson, students will be able to define inclusion, and identify examples of inclusivity. The lesson asks students critical thinking questions to support their thinking about the main objectives.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teaching Inclusion In Second-Grade | Best 2024 Lesson Plan

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Reading activity and lesson plan on inclusion. Book and Reading. Inclusion Lesson Plan. Teaching Inclusion in Second-Grade. Read.

# data[].attributes.body
Scholastic is an educator resource where you can find teacher tools and books to add to the classroom library.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scholastic Teaching Tools | Resources for Teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore Scholastic Teaching Tools for teaching resources, printables, book lists, and more. Enhance your classroom experience with expert advice!

# data[].attributes.body
This lesson teaches students how to recognize the elements of a fictional text, and notice fairy tales when reading. Students are asked to identify the verbs in a short story fairy tale, and then create a concept map as a summative assessment. The concept maps will demonstrate students' learning about this fictional genre.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Elements of Fairy Tales | Lesson Plan | Education.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Use this lesson to help students identify the elements of a fictional text while gaining more knowledge about parts of speech.

# data[].attributes.body
ClassDojo is a virtual way that parents and teachers can connect over the student's progress. We will be using ClassDojo this year!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ClassDojo helps teachers, parents, and students build amazing classroom communities.

# data[].attributes.body
SlidesGo provides educators with powerpoint themes that enhance presentations, and make them more engaging. This is a helpful resource for teachers that are looking for a quick and easy presentation theme.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free Google Slides themes and Powerpoint templates | Slidesgo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover the best Google Slides themes and PowerPoint templates you can use in your presentations - 100% Free for any use.

# data[].attributes.body
The PowerSchool Parent Portal is a great way for you to see your student's grades and keep track of their attendance. Only you and the teachers have access to your student's profile.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Parents & Students: Looking for Your Login?

PowerSchool logins are granted by schools and districts so PowerSchool does not have this information. Please contact your school or district to access information and instructions.

Learn more in our Parent & Student Resource Center

PowerSchool Product Logins

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How to sign into PowerSchool as a student, parent or teacher.

# data[].attributes.body
This website has worksheets and activities about a variety of academic concepts we cover throughout the school year. We will use this website to give students at-home activities to complete that support their learning in the classroom.

# data[].attributes.body
ClassDojo is a great point-system and communication application, and can be downloaded as an app on your mobile device (if you prefer). You are able to see your student's portfolio of work that has been completed in-class so far, and check your student's point total. You can also reach us teachers through this application's messenger tool!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Build wonderful classroom communities with parents and students

# data[].attributes.body
Here is the link to the Westfield Public Schools website. You can find important information about the district, the superintendent, the school committee, and more. The link even offers news posts about students across all Westfield public schools!

# data[].attributes.body
Our class Quizlet is a great place to help your child practice skills at-home that we learn during the school day. We will post weekly flash cards and fun quizzes for you and your student to complete. This is not a requirement, but we encourage you to use it as a resource to supplement your student's learning.

# data[].attributes.body
This lesson focuses on using prior knowledge and applying what we know in a creative way. We will be integrating technology into our classroom by using the website Story Jumper. This lesson requires students to think critically while using open-ended creativity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
“The Four Seasons” - Free stories online. Create books for kids | StoryJumper

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
“4 Seasons” - Free stories online. Create books for kids | StoryJumper

# data[].attributes.body
Here is an example of a student's work on their "Four Seasons" book. They described what they do in each season and what they see.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
“Seasons” - Free stories online. Create books for kids | StoryJumper

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
“My Favorite Part of the Seasons” - Free stories online. Create books for kids | StoryJumper

# data[].attributes.body
Here is the handout for the Storybook '4 Seasons' assignment. Feel free to print this out if you do not have the hard copy we gave you in class.

# data[].attributes.body
In this lesson, students will be exploring the scientific facts behind a solar eclipse and defining what a solar eclipse is. They will be taking part in an interactive lesson including a video and a game that includes taking pictures of a solar eclipse and explaining why these pictures represent a solar eclipse. By the end of the lesson, students will have a clear idea of what a solar eclipse is and the important aspect of science that creates a solar eclipse.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a link to the handout we will be using in class.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Incorrect Handout - Solar Eclipse Activity

# data[].attributes.headline
Handout (incorrect, but with corrections)

# data[].attributes.subject
Handout (incorrect, but with corrections)

# data[].attributes.body
Here is a link to the video we will watch in class!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse happens when, at just the right moment, the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth. Learn all about solar eclipses in this video!

"What Is a Solar Eclipse?" video transcript

Whoa! It's the middle of the day-so why is the sky getting dark?

It's a solar eclipse!

A solar eclipse happens when, at just the right moment, the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth.

Sometimes the Moon only blocks part of the Sun's light. This is called a partial solar eclipse.

Other times, the Moon blocks all of the Sun's light. This is called a total solar eclipse.

As the Moon blocks the Sun's light, it casts a shadow on part of the Earth.

The Moon's shadow creates a trail as Earth rotates. This trail is called the path of totality.

If you want to experience total darkness during an eclipse, you have to be in the path of totality.

In that path, the Moon completely blocks the Sun's light for a few minutes. It gets so dark that it looks like night time during a full Moon!

If you don't know what's happening, it can be confusing. Animals can get confused too.

But this total darkness can also be kind of cool for scientists who study the Sun's atmosphere, called the corona.

The corona is very dim. It's usually hard to see because the Sun is so much brighter.

But, when the Moon blocks the Sun's light during an eclipse, all you can see is the light from the corona!

Total solar eclipses over the land-where people can see them-don't happen very often.

But when they do happen, the Moon gives scientists-and the rest of us-a glimpse at the corona's beautiful streams and ribbons. Thanks, Moon!

Find out more about the Sun at NASA Space Place.

Related Resources for Educators

NASA Solar System Exploration: Eclipses Home
Launchpad: Solar Eclipses
Model a Solar Eclipse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn more about what happens when the moon passes between Earth and the sun!

# data[].attributes.body
Here is the original story: A Turkey's Thanksgiving!

# data[].attributes.body
This is the link to the padlet above in the image!

The requirements for this lesson include the mission log handout where students are choosing three planets of their choice and are taking two facts they learned from us as a class and then researching to find two more facts. They will be filling out this mission log to learn more about the three planets of their choosing.

Then students will be writing a creative story that discusses the adventures of the Astrobot where there should be facts from the mission log. This story should be 5 paragraphs: Intro, Planet 1, Planet 2, Planet 3, and Conclusion.

Then after the students have written their creative story, they will turn this into a storyboard using the Ozobot. Students will be choosing three planets that their Astrobot is going to travel to and they need to come in contact with some sort of conflict whether that be an asteroid or an alien.

-The requirements for this storyboard path should have:

2 speed changes

5 color changes

3 different sounds

One looped sequence

# data[].attributes.body
This is the OzoBlockly code used for the storyboard above.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Head Up!OzoBlockly works best with your browser window maximized on one of these recommended devices: