Da Vinci Parent Survival Guide For Parents by a Parent 1

Topics Work Journal Daily Engagement Record Work Samples Work Reflection Other Resources 2

Getting in the Da Vinci Groove With so many things coming at you at the start of the school year, it can feel like you’re a deer caught in 3 headlights, frozen, afraid to move and not sure which way to move. Even more so if you’re new to homeschooling. Here are some tips that hopefully will help...

Where to Start Start with your teacher’s Digital Portfolio (DP) Every teacher sets up their DP differently, so browse around their DP to familiarize yourself with their layout. Da Vinci Resources Page – lots of information! Cruise around the site to see what’s offered. Vincik8.orgwww.Da Vincik8.org 4

Projects, Journals and Lesson Plans Projects - All teachers have a Project Plan that lasts several weeks long. Most of this work will be done in class. Work Journals – All teachers have a Work Journal. Lesson Plans – There are nine lesson plans in a school year, each consisting of 20 working days. 5

Work Journals Work Journals – All teachers have a Work Journal that they’ll require you to turn in. The Work Journal is a CRITICAL document to fill out for record keeping. The Learning Goal is the goal that the child should achieve by the end of their K-12 academic journey. The specific level at which the goal is met is different depending on the level of your child. How a child meets the goal in Core 1 is very different than at Core 4. 6

Work Journal (cont) The goals are written in “teacher-speak” so you may be wondering what it REALLY means to a regular person…at least I did! To find out what that is for your child’s level or if you need a better explanation of what the goal really means, the best place to look is the Da Vinci Resource page > Instructional Support.Instructional Support 7

Da Vinci Resources Page Vincik8.org 8

Da Vinci Resources Page – Instructional Support Vincik8.org/wp/?page_id=227 9

Level Specific Learning Goals Once on the Instructional Support page, select one of the subjects. It’ll take you to a Skills Overview at the top and individualized by level below. The Skills Overview is a good starting place if you need to decide where your child fits. Click on the appropriate level skill document for your child. 10

Learning Goals – Writing Skills (example) 11

Level Specific Learning Goal - Example In this example from Core 3, one of the Learning Goals under Reading is “Reading Literature 9 – Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.” I’d then go to the Instructional Support page. Let’s say that my assessment of my child is that they are at Level 2 skill level for this item. So I open up the PDF Level 2 skills for Reading Literature… and find Goal #9 to get a better sense of what the goal really looks like for my child.Instructional Support 12

Learning Goals – Reading Literature Skills (example) 13

14 Core 3 Work Journal/Lesson Plan Level Specific Skill Learning Goals

North Carolina Common Core Instructional Support Tools For more examples of how to work with the learning goal for specific levels, review sites like the North Carolina Public School Common Core Use UNPACKING STANDARDS (not the crosswalk) 15

North Carolina Common Core Instructional Support Tools (cont) To continue with the previous example from the Reading Literature Goal 9, I’d go to the English Language Arts Unpacking standards for 2 nd Grade (remember, you need to tailor the level to your child); then look for Goal 9 16

17 North Carolina Common Core Instructional Support Tools (cont)

Other Resources Now that you know what skill you’re working on with your child, you can use various strategies ideas to help child master that goal. Use resources provided by Da Vinci: – Online resources are easily accessed via the Da Vinci Resources site DVIA Sponsored Online Resources. The DVIA Parent Educator Handbook has a nice summary of the various online resources.DVIA Sponsored Online Resources DVIA Parent Educator Handbook – Many OTHER resources by topic (i.e. references from Helen Chan’s math workshops) and also some highlighted resources. Or use resources as recommended by your teacher. Or be creative! A friendly family bowling match makes for great math lessons including addition, subtraction, averages, probabilities and more! 18

Daily Engagement Record Do not add Saturday/Sunday Each box must be initialed validating at least the minimum required time was spent with your child on schoolwork The date of evaluation should be the same date as the last date on the engagement record Must be turned in ON TIME! 19

Work Samples Each teacher will collect a specified number of work samples from each subject. Usually 6 per record period (20 days). The work samples is a concrete way to demonstrate how your child has been working on the Learning Goals at home. Check with your child’s teacher about how many and when they need to be turned in. 20

Work Reflection Work reflection will be required by every teacher. The number of work reflections and the form on which to submit them will vary with each teacher. The work reflection will be associated with the work samples. This is a way for you and your child to reflect how your child engaged this learning goal. The teacher will also reflect back as well and give their feedback to you and your child. 21

Pulling it all Together As you continue to work with through the year, remember to find ways to incorporate the Habits of Heart and Mind and to think about developing Depth and Complexity. Refer back to the DVIA Parent Educator Handbook to review (available on the Da Vinci Resources Site).Da Vinci Resources Site 22

If you need more help, make an appointment to talk to your teacher and/or connect with other parents. Before you know it, the year will be over and you’ll be an old pro! There is light at the end of the tunnel! 23