Is Your "Back to School" on a "Coronacoaster?" Part 4:Teach Them Why!

We are hearing so much conflicting information about the start of school this year, with no definite answers. Here are some of the options:

• full time in the classroom
• full time remote learning
• the hybrid model: a little of each
• a variety of the above

With all this uncertainty, how can teachers plan for this Coronacoaster?

Today is part 4 in a five part series about returning to school during this Coronacoaster!

Teach Them Why

The children's lives have totally changed. Their schooling has been drastically changed. They have to wash their hands all the time. They have to wear masks andkeep a distance from their friends. Their sports, dance classes, and scout troops have all been postponed. They're confused and scared, and have a right to know why! It's definitely time to explain to them how germs work?

As I've mentioned before, I'm a huge fan of Boom Learning Digital Task Cards for several reasons: they're easy to use, can be used on any device, they're easy to assign through different digital platforms, and most of all, the children LOVE them! This set of Boom Cards helps the students learn about bacteria and viruses and how to fight them. Germs: Viruses and Bacteria Boom Cards

This resource has an informational text with 10 questions, 6 brain breaks, and 4 sketching questions. Germs: Reading Comprehension for Active Learners

Here's another Boom Learning Resource! This one helps the children understand what they can do to help fight germs and maintain healthy habits: Healthy Habits Boom Cards

Finally, here's an informational booklet the children can read, learn, and illustrate. This can be easily sent home, or read, discussed, and illustrated in class. If they can keep socially distant, it's fun for them to make posters to show what they have learned!
Healthy Habits Informational Text Booklet

This is also a good time to practice handwashing, measure exactly how far 6 feet might be, and watch some videos about how face masks protect us.

What else can teachers do to help students understand why the world is the way it is right now?

Be sure to read all five parts of this Coronacoaster Back to school series:

 
    

  

Is Your "Back to School" on a "Coronacoaster? Part 1: Establish Routines!

We are hearing so much conflicting information about the start of school this year because of COVID19. Here are some of the options I've been hearing about:

• full time in the classroom
• full time remote learning
• the hybrid model: a little of each
• a variety of the above

With all this uncertainty, how can teachers plan for this Coronacoaster? It's pretty scary to think about all the planning that has to take place, "just in case..." but honestly, there are several things you can start planning that can happen in the classroom, through distance learning, or a combination of both. I'm sure you'll agree these things need to happen no matter where or how you are teaching.

Today is Part 1 in a five part series about returning to school during this Coronacoaster!

Establish Routines!

Establishing routines make children feel safe. It takes the "guesswork" out of each day when students know what to expect and what is expected from them. It makes children (and adults) feel secure when they know what is going to happen.
 

I like to start each day with a morning meeting. I typically have a question for discussion that's based on that day. These Morning Meeting Greeting Activities and Calendar Writing Prompts are perfect for displaying whether you're having a morning meeting in the classroom or virtually.

Each month comes with daily pictures/ prompts for display, plus matching text for writing answers. These can be easily sent home electronically or in paper packets. This is a great routine that could be started in the classroom, then followed through at home, if needed. The opposite could also be true: start by sending these home, then continue the routine in the classroom when it's safe to return! (These monthly sets are updated each year.)
 

Math facts are an important part of the math routine, as research tells us these should be practiced a little bit each day. I swear by this system, which gives the students a small amount of fact families at a time to master. It's very easy to differentiate, as they can move to the next level as soon as they show mastery. Plus, there's a digital component for practice and/ or assessment! Math Fact Fluency Systems for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division Fact Fluency.
 

For years, I have started the beginning of the school year by teaching these Six Strategies for Success. We recited them (along with gestures) every morning during Morning Meeting. Six Strategies for Success in School: Activities, Booklets, and Posters. 

Another routine to start is regular communication with parents. Here's something that will make your life easier! (The Back to School edition is free, if you want to check that one out!) Parent Communication Monthly Brochures. 

 

I If you have some time in the classroom at the beginning of the school year with yoru students, starting Writer's Workshop would be a top priority! This resource will help you get going. Writer's Workshop Starter Kit. Once the students learn the routine, they can practice at home. For more about Writer's workshop, see this blog post: Writer's Workshop.

Here are a couple more resources to help you get started on some important beginning-of-the-year routines:

These are perfect for learning and spelling sight words: Research Based Sight Word and Spelling Activity Cards.

Research tells us that sight words are best practiced in phrases. I've used these Warm-up Phrases as a warm up to my reading groups for years! It's great for building fluency! The first in the series is free: Dolch Warm-up Phrases: Pre-primer Level.

I imagine you're thinking of more routines that will be important, whether or not you're in the classroom. I hope you'll share some of these in the comments below.

Be sure to read the next four parts of this Coronacoaster Back to School series:

 

    

  

Build Number Sense With Daily Routine

There are some important number concepts that can be practiced just through our daily routine. Here are a couple of examples:

All my students have a class number. I think it's a great way to keep things in order, plus, it plays a big role in developing counting skills!

Often, when I call on the children to line up, or to go to their next activity, I'll call the odd numbers first, then the even numbers. (Or even, then odd.)

Sometimes I'll go beyond the number of kids I have in the class so they can really hear the pattern. After a while, they anticipate the pattern I'm calling and are super ready when I get to their number.

Sometimes I'll count by 5s, then go 5s +1, then 5s +2, etc, while pointing the pattern out on our class number grid. (5, 10, 15, 20, 6, 11, 16, 21, 7, 12, etc.)

Other times I'll call a pattern like... 1, 11, 2, 12, 3, 13, and so on.  They always watch when I point these out on the number grid as I call out the numbers.

Then there are days I just call out the numbers in order, or in backward order. Sometimes I start with 1, and other times I'll just start with a child who is behaving properly (as opposed to rolling around on the floor, which second graders often see at the end of a lesson!). Then, I've been known to start with a random number off the top of my head for no reason. I like to keep them on their toes!

 

Another way I keep them thinking about numbers during their daily routine is by consistently writing odd numbers in red and even numbers in green. Why? Because red means stop!  Why do we stop for odd numbers? Because someone or something doesn't have a partner! Since the even/ odd concept is in the common core for second grade, I mention it often, and constantly bring up that odd numbers are odd because they can't be paired off. They know what it's like to be without a partner, and that personal connection helps them remember why even numbers are different from odd numbers!  (Brain research tells us this.)

Here's another thing I do that helps the children internalize number concepts: I change my jobs after each set of ten! Most teachers change their classroom jobs weekly. I used to do that, but I realized how changing after 10 days will help internalize that concept of ten for these kids, especially since sets of ten is huge in our number system!

Do you have any routines that help secure number concepts? 

How about reading concepts?