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:

 
    

  

Laughter is Truly the Best Medicine!

Did you realize that laughter is not only fun, but actually healthy for you?

Here are some of the benefits of laughter:

1. Laughter releases good hormones - the kind of hormones that fight the stress hormones. We all know that children these days have a great deal of stress in their lives! (Can we say TESTING?)
2. Laughter boosts the immune system - those same hormones that fight stress help your body fight germs!
3. It lowers the blood pressure.
4. It relaxes your muscles.
5. According to a study at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, laughter during instruction increases test stores. (I don't know anything about this study other than seeing this information in several different places including THIS link. I want to learn more about this study!)
6. Humor can help erase negative emotions. Seriously, how angry can you feel while laughing?
7. Laughter provides a workout for many muscles including your abs.
8. Laughter is contagious, and builds social bonds.
9. Laughter is free!

10. I may be biased on this one, but I think there are few sounds more pleasant than the sound of children laughing.

 

I do make a point to include humor in my classroom every day. Luckily, second graders have fairly simple senses of humor.

In a writing lesson a couple of weeks ago, (about including things to get the reader's attention) I told them there were two words that are guaranteed to make children giggle:  bellybutton and underwear. (Of course I was very dramatic when telling this, with that dramatic pause after each word so that I got two sets of giggles!) Try it on your kids, it works!

One thing I love about teaching little ones... they always laugh at my jokes... no matter how many times I say it!  I've been known to wear out many a joke, yet still get laughs! Yesterday, when we cleaned out desks, I told them to take home their Christopher Columbus booklets, since "That ship has sailed".  Those booklets kept showing up for the rest of the day (yes, we're working on organizational skills) and I kept repeating... "because that ship has sailed". I got a laugh every time!

But it's almost November, when I get to use one of my favorite jokes to wear out:

Question:  If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

Answer:  Pilgrims!

Sometimes it takes some explanation, but that's half the fun!

What jokes do you share with your students?