Surviving "Social Distancing"

Are your children home?
Are you working from home?

Are you trying to keep the children from driving you crazy while you try to work from home?

Are you going stir crazy?

Welcome to our tribe!

 

If you've been developing a whole new respect for teachers and learning how challenging "home schooling" really is,

I definitely don't have all the answers, but I do have some ideas for survival! 

 Yes, we're all stuck at home, but the kiddos need to understand this is a totally new experience: Everyone in the country has to stay 6 feet or more away from each other. This is unexplored territory! Teachers are desperately trying to figure out how to do "distant learning" and "remote learning" and parents and caretakers are trying to make it all happen. Talk to them, let them know it's all OK, and we're all learning how to do it. Mistakes will happen, and we will deal the best we can.  

They're going to have a great story to tell their grandchildren someday! (I've heard this referred to this generation's "walked two miles to school in a snowstorm" story!)

This is probably the most important thing to do in order to maintain you own sanity and help the children survive. It wouldn't hurt to write out the schedule and post it where the children can see it.

Things to schedule: meals, getting showered and dressed, school work, outdoor time, down time, social time (phone or skype), reading, exercise, and special projects. I'm sure you can think of more. Children need predictability. They also need novelty, which can seem conflicting, but necessary. Once in a while, it's ok to break the schedule, but only with the understanding that it's a special case. For example, maybe you can pick one day of the week to hang out in jammies all day!

This one is going to be a tough one! Between so many distance learning programs coming from schools, activities that the children love online, games, movies, TV, and let's admit it, sometimes the best way to get anything done is to place them in front of the screen. These are all going to happen, but remember, it's not in their best interest to do this too often. Set strict guidelines for their screen time into the daily schedule, and be firm! There are plenty of things they can do that don't involve a screen! (Hint: help with housework and meals!)

 

This is baffling to children. They can't see many of the people they care about (teachers, friends, extended family) and they deserve to understand why. 

A good start might be to brainstorm how many things they touch during the day, followed by a conversation about how germs travel. If they seem anxious about the virus, acknowledge their feelings, but assure them that we will stop the virus by staying apart for a while until the virus dies out. Then we can see our friends again.

It's not easy to talk about it, especially if you have anxiety about the virus as well, but be strong, they need you! 

If you're trying to work from home, it's important to communicate this. Typically, "mom or dad at home" means fun time, but they need to know you need your uninterrupted time. 

Depending on how young the kiddos are, make sure there are times you ARE available to give them attention, and that they respect those times you are not available.

You may feel you need to keep them entertained, or that you're failing if they get bored, but science tell us that creativity happens when children get bored! If they have nothing to do, they have to create something to do! Be sure they have supplies that lead to creativity, such as paper, pencils, glue, scissors, and even paint. Of course, anything in the recycling bin is free game! 

You may be pleasantly surprised with their solution to boredom! 

Just a reminder: boredom is NOT an excuse to avoid schoolwork!

 

I know how hard it is to remain positive when you're frustrated and exhausted! But you're the adult. You can scream and cry (or other, more socially acceptable means of letting off steam) when they're asleep, but while they are watching you, it's important that you continue to smile and be positive in front of them. 

Be firm when they need to do school work, and be there for them when they need it. 

I know, it's hard, but they need you to be positive.

 Your children are precious. This may seem like a terrible burden, and a terrifying situation. 

But it's also a gift. It's extra time with your children. 

Enjoy them!

Here's an informational brochure with lots of information: 

Parent Communication Brochure: Social Distancing Edition

 

Keep Them Healthy and Learning

It's that time of year! 

There are plenty of germs around, and it's likely they're sneezing on each other, as well as their teachers!

Typically, my blog posts are directed at teachers, but this one is for teachers, parents, and caregivers. 

If you're home with little ones, or if you're sending work home to little ones, this is a great time to teach them about looking out for germs and protecting themselves. Here are some great books: 

      

And some great videos for them to watch... the key is handwashing: do it right and do it often!

 

 

Some other suggestions if you have kiddos home for an extended time:

1. Establish a schedule! Set aside a time for reading, writing, educational games, and even a little screen time.

 2.  Make sure they get outside to play! That fresh air is more important than ever!

3. Social time! Although we're trying to keep them away from each other, let them FaceTime their friends. Humans are social animals, and they need each other. Social distancing can lead to loneliness. 

4. Family time! Hopefully, there's time to enjoy each other. Board games and puzzles are perfect ways to have family fun. If you're adventurous, do some baking with the kiddos, or even some crafts!

5. Be sensitive to their worries! It's a good idea to see this time as an "adventure," but understand that they really do know why this is happening, and may have worries and anxiety over the situation. Let them talk about their feelings, but try to help keep them from dwelling on their negative feelings

6. Address your own concerns as well! I don't think any of us have ever experienced a pandemic quite like this before! Luckily, we have the internet to keep us from becoming socially isolated. Try to follow the same expectations we have for the kiddos: avoid too much screen time, stay active, stay social as much as you can, and don't dwell on the "what ifs."  

7. Check in on others! This is a hard time for all of us. Think of the elderly, and those with physical limitations. Reach out to working parents who are struggling to find child care. Help out those families who won't be fed breakfast and lunch at school for a few weeks. Many people are suffering financial loss at this time. How can we help them?

 A few other resources to share to keep children learning:

This is one of my newer Boom Learning resources that I've set for free because of the need for online learning during the Coronavirus crisis.  Enjoy!  Healthy Habits Digital Task Cards 

 If you enjoy the Boom Learning platform, here is a link to more Boom Learning Resources.

 I've also set this resource for free during this crisis. Let's keep these kiddos thinking about staying healthy! 

Healthy Habits: a booklet for visualization, illustration, and discussion

I also have a several resources that are free, that can be sent home for fun work! See these resources HERE: Free Resources

I also wanted to let you know my TpT store will be on sale for the next few days at 20% off to help you out during this crazy time. I hope this helps!

And please, reach out to others. Let this crisis show who you really are. Let it bring out the best in us. 

The Power of Music

 Last week I had a great experience, and it was a great reminder of the Power of Music.

 I went out to the San Francisco area to visit my amazing daughter (and her amazing husband), and we went on the San Francisco Love Tour.

Yes, that's my daughter and I standing by our tour bus. It was quite the adventure riding in this delightfully painted "hippie van" Volkswagen Bus! We rode around the city of San Francisco, learning about the culture, and reminiscing about the hippies of the 60s and the Summer of Love,

Yes, that's the back of my head riding "shotgun!"

While we were in the "hippie van" we listened to music of the 60s.  

Now this blog post will change from a story about my tour to a reminder of the power of music and its connection with memory with learners.

The classic San Francisco pose, but next to a "hippie van."

I hate to give away my age, but all that music I heard in that hippie van was music I grew up with. Most of it I hadn't heard in close to 50 years, yet I remembered pretty much every single word!

 

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and a member of the Grateful Dead in the famous Haight Ashbury section of San Francisco

This was a great reminder of the power of music and its connection to memory! Here are a few examples of how I've used that power in the classroom to help the kiddos remember important information. I've taken simple songs (in the public domain, of course, to avoid copyright laws!) I've changed the words to something I want them to remember, and voila! We have a learning experience! It's fun to sing these songs during morning meeting, or between lessons. If you build a collection of learning songs, make a book for the children to read during reading time. (If you work with little ones, you'll be hearing them sing, even if it's "silent reading!")

I use this one around Earth Day.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Song 

I use this one around Day 100.

100 Days Smarter Song

 This one can be used any time of year!

Seven Continents Song for Learning About Our World

When I worked with older children, they made up their own songs as part of research projects. I had to caution them to use simple tunes rather than the popular songs they wanted to use, but they appreciated the simple tunes once they got going. 

Here's a great list of children's songs in the Public Domain to choose from! Best Known Public Domain Children's Songs.

How do you use music in the classroom?

Wondering How to Celebrate Women's History Month?

 Women's History Month is upon us! 

How do you celebrate in the classroom?

I love to start with books! I read books by women and about women.  I read books about women's stereotypes, and books about women's struggles. We explore biographies about famous women.

And we talk. A lot! We talk about the women they know, and the women they've heard of. We talk about what it means to be a woman and what makes women powerful!

Claudio from Two Boys and a Dad has many suggestions, for books about women in this post:  Inspiring Women Children's Books

 Brenda from Enjoy Teaching has a great post with great strategies to help empower our girls: Three Ways to Empower Girls in the Classroom

 

  

Michelle from Teaching Ideas for Those Who Love Teaching has some delightful ideas for celebrating women, including book ideas and integrating history with this post:  Celebrating Women's Accomplishments

 

Here is one of my own posts, with several book ideas, and inspirational quotes by several famous women.

Inspire your girls (and boys, too!)

 Here's another one of my posts, reminding teachers (and students) that we are all unique individuals, and that needs to be celebrated: Diversity Matters! Celebrate Our Differences!

Here's a fun resource to help celebrate Women's History Month:

  

How do you celebrate Women's History Month?

Using Reader's Theater to Help Students Learn Kindness

Did you ever wonder how to teach children kindness? We can use a whole lot of words, but they really need to experience it for themselves, don't they?

 

•  *Reader's theater helps build reading fluency.

• *Reader's theater helps children develop social skills.

• *Reader's theater develops reading comprehension skills.

• *Reader's theater helps children develop empathy.

• *Reader's theater helps children understand new and different situations.

• *Reader's theater helps children experience things they might not experience otherwise.

Here's a resource that celebrates kindness through reader's theater! It has a fun little twist to the story: the children read about a conflict, then ask the audience to help them come up with a solution to end the play!

Starring Kindness Sample: Reader's Theater with a Twist: has a 4-page script that describes a conflict about a blue crayon between some children. There are 4 characters involved. After 4 pages of dialog, the children are to discuss how to solve the problem and create an ending that uses kindness! 

Trust me, the children love this!

You can get this resource for free by signing up for my helpful emails HERE!

 

Want more? This resource has 5 different scripts:
Starring Kindness: Reader's Theater with a Twist:

 

We can all use a little kindness in our lives, can't we? 

 

In case you're looking for more reader's theater, here's a life cycle-themed script: What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?

 

How do you help your students learn kindness? 

Inspire Your Girls (and Boys, Too!)

March is Women's History Month! 

There just aren't enough role models in our lives for girls. But they need encouragement and inspiration just as much as the boys do!

March is a great time to explore ways to inspire your girls, since it's Women's History Month! Here are some books to share with your girls (and boys, of course!)

• A is for Awesome: 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World
• Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World
• She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World
• Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World
• Bold and Brave: Ten Heroes Who Wom Women the Right to Vote
• The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience

The right words at the right time can really inspire many to improve their lives and become successful.  Here are some of my favorite quotes from women, appropriate for children.

 These are great words for girls (and boys) to think about, aren't they? 

Yes, we're expected to spend time teaching reading, writing, and math, but getting kids to think about their future and their own impact on the future is pretty important, isn't it? 

Kids need to learn about the power of their own voice, don't they?

I love to have the kiddos talk (or write) about what they think some of these quotes mean. They make great Morning Meeting prompt!

These discussions are a great way to start the day. Perfect for morning meetings!

Seriously, don't you want your students to think about this?

I have a set of 50 of these quotes, available here:

Inspirational Quotes by Women to Read and Discuss 

How you inspire your students to be the best they can be?