Throughout my teaching career, I’ve had parents and guardians approach me to ask what their child can do when they have to miss a day (or more) of school. Here is the second part of a two part series on how I handle students missing school. You can read the first post here.
Writing Journal
I often assign the students a writing journal to complete during their vacation. I’ve had many parents thank me for this because it becomes a wonderful keepsake of the trip that the parents can treasure for years to come.
Plus – several parents have told me it’s MUCH easier to ask a child to write about something they just did and are excited about than to write about some boring “stuffy” school topic. I realize there may be an assignment they simply have to do to get all of the standards covered, but I have found journaling to be a suitable replacement for many of the days the child is gone.
Reading
Is it absolutely necessary for the child to read from the basal during the week/s they are gone? Many times I’ve asked the parent to ensure they take enough reading material with that the child is able to keep themselves busy reading. This also gives parents a great excuse to get their child to read for 20-30+ minutes of time while in the car/train/plane.
With the technology available today, it’s easy to get several books on an ipad or kindle in seconds! Even simply reading the road map, brochures for the next place you’re visiting, or other vacation relevant materials can be a great change of pace! {Ask the student to keep a reading log if you’re concerned about how much reading they will actually do. I’ve got a freebie here that you can use!}
Math Options
Depending on the age of the student, even math can be done without being in the classroom. One mother and I worked out a deal where their son helped work out the finances of the entire trip. He kept track down to the penny of how much everything cost. Yes, he still had to do some of the school math work to ensure he wasn’t behind his peers or missing important skills – but he gained a great deal from this new real-world experience that I can’t replicate as well in the classroom.
Social Studies
Mapping skills can be a great way to get some social studies in. Students can guide the family using maps, plot out the various ways to destinations before the trip even starts, or learn historical information to present to the class on their return. {Bonus points if they use the map AND combine it with a math lesson to calculate the total mileage traveled.}
Science
I’ve even seen students do science projects while absent from school. Sometimes they track various plants and animals they see on their trip. These can be presented to the class upon returning OR students can create some type of report or display. I’ve also seen students dissect seashells, mussels, and clams. Oftentimes, these dissections are videotaped or photographs are taken and then these are shared with the class. {Although one of my students brought back a clam to dissect in front of the class! Hands-on learning at its best!!}
I’m sure you all have plenty of other great ideas for students who are going to be missing school. Feel free to share them in the comments below. Or – maybe you’re against students being able to do alternate activities while gone. Why do you feel this way? I’d love to hear various professional opinions!
~HoJo~
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