Virtual “Playdates”

Are your kiddos missing their play dates with friends? While some have a sibling group, a cousins group, or a pod that they’ve quarantined with, other kiddos are looking for some interaction with classmates and friends with whom they would, in normal circumstances, be plotting play dates :) 

While you may not be ready for the real thing, the kiddos are yearning for connections! 

Virtual “meetings” can be a fun solution, if there is proper planning upfront. What came natural in “before times” may need an assist from a grown-up to get started and be successful :) But then - step aside :) 

Here are some tips for virtual success: 

Think about an ice breaker type activity to get the conversation started - maybe some silly questions or a short game they can manage themselves. 

Some suggestions: 

• Show your favorite stuffed animal - take a few questions. 
• Give a virtual tour of your room or play area. 
• Play a type of the Headbanz game - draw a sketch or write down what your partner is and don’t show or tell them. (Maybe they are a turtle, or a chair, or a flower) your partner asks questions ... Am I alive? Am I an animal? Am I a thing? Am I in a house? etc. until they guess what they are :) 

Then .... 

Choose an activity that can be shared/ done parallel, and agree on activity beforehand. Get supplies together on both ends, but be ready for a spontaneous pivot if interests go elsewhere.

The kiddos in our family like to do virtual “hangouts,” where the interaction isn’t constant but it’s like you’re in the same space, so they pop in to ask a question, show something, etc., with no real expectation of a big outcome :) Keep it short or longer, depending on your kiddos :)

Some possibilities for more structured time might be: 

• Book share - have two copies of the same book and either preread and chat about or read together (like in paired reading in school) and talk about it. Graphic stories might be fun or an interactive book where they have to find something in a picture. 
• Legos - for big Lego fans, simply building together, screen beside screen, and showing what they make can be fun and generate conversation. Building on a theme, like vehicles or dinosaurs, could be the way to go, or just freestyling. 
• Project share - a science activity can be shared, screen to screen, also - it could be as simple as showing off some nature finds and examining them closely. Other things might be color mixing, slime making, play dough cooking (with supervision), or water play. 
• Cookie making - if you have time to be involved, mixing, rolling, cutting, etc. may be fun to do as a screen to screen activity. 

Think of things that draw your child in and hold their attention and then apply this to “distance friendship.”

Even something simple, like just having a snack together, will be beneficial to your child and their friend. In school, snack time is typically the time for socializing a bit, so it’s a natural time to sit and talk. Just like grownups, sometimes kiddos need some sort of construct to get started - but then, it may take off into a fun friendship-building activity! 

Have fun!  

Tools for Squirmy Students

Kids need to move like they need to breathe :) Teachers need kids to listen and keep their attention on lessons. These two things do NOT always go together :)

To avoid frustration in both parties, try employing some strategies that are low to no cost, but can really pay off. With a few adjustments, and LOTS of trial and error, little tweaks can be made to accommodate movement in the classroom, without it being so distracting to the student or others.

Seating Options: 

Having a small variety of alternate seating options can be beneficial. A sturdier, heavier chair works for some, while a cube chair or stool can give support for other students. Ask for donations of a rocker, stool, etc. and see what comes in  :) 

A "wiggle cushion" placed on a classroom chair can give the student a little room to move, without scraping chair legs on the floor. Rubber casters or tennis balls can be used to eliminate the scraping too :)

Sitting on a yoga ball can do the same thing, but some may need to be stabilized for safety. Simply standing up to work within a defined space for some tasks can give some students the physical stimulus they are needing, without it being a big deal. Some like roller chairs, but sometimes they can be even more distracting.

If your student is slumping over the desk or table, try turning the chair around to force a straighter spine, or using an upended cube chair, if available, to help with posture and core strength.

Tactile tools: 

For a squirmy student, try a squeezable stress ball or a small ball of Playdoh (with a quiet conversation about how this is to squeeze, not to divert attention.) Another option is a square or strip of some kind of tacky material, like Velcro, that offers a tactile stimulus, either on top or just below the edge of the child's space, that they can interact with.

Attention Tools:

Reference cards with visual cues to keep eyes on the teacher, etc. can be taped next to the child's spot or posted in the room, to be tapped quietly when the student needs a reminder. It can be as simple as a few line drawings or emojis, taped up with packing tape or laminated. Sequenced cards can help with multi-step processes like packing up, giving visual assistance to students in need of direction.

A "speaker" mascot is another tool that comes in handy - a small stuffed animal or squishy toy would work - as you quietly place it in front of the speaker of the moment. (COVID rules may require you to save this for another time.) A pretend microphone would work the same - if you are holding it, it is your turn to speak. If not, it's not! It’s a visual way for students to “see” whose turn it is :)

Movement Breaks:

Whether it's "Go Noodle," YouTube, or any other resource, there are LOTS of movement activities out there that can be used for reinforcing learning. Aside from practice, movement can also be beneficial to students' focusing ability.

Yoga poses are great for breaks, working on stretching and breathing. Look for Gorilla Yoga or a free program on YouTube.  Playing a little "Follow My Move" is also helpful, as students take turns showing a "move" and others do it in turn, counting to 5 or 10. (This is also nice when you have to switch technology or something and need the class to transition.)

Any forms of vestibular stimulation (dancing, bouncing, yoga upside-down poses) are helpful for all kiddos, especially those that aren't getting a lot of movement opportunities outside the classroom. These movements are calming and help with ability to focus. And, they're fun! 

Try something new - have fun!

Photos as a Teaching Tool

With some students remote and some present in school, educators are scurrying to find engaging ways to interact with both groups and “up” the interest factor in their lessons. 

Using photographs as tools in the classroom is not a new technique, but maybe one to revisit in this day of COVID teaching. The strategy of popping a photo up without direction and leaving feedback open-ended makes the photo a “mystery” to be solved and encourages students to “lean in” by piquing their curiosity.  

There are so many ways to do this in very different areas ...

Use photos as Story Starters, giving students an opportunity to write a sentence or story about what they see. Embed lessons about sentence structure, word choice, etc. in a back door kind of way.  

Photos can be great language builders - descriptive words are a natural ... size, color, shape, etc. Try a word web on a topic using a photo as a launch point. 

 Science topics are a terrific fit for photo use! There is nothing like a visual prompt to get everyone involved in something like space, earth science, growing things ... any topic you want. 

KWL charts can be enhanced by using a few photos to boost the interest and grab your visual learners, prompting them to participate. 

An area where real life photos is underutilized is Math! Photos of block arrangements, groups of scattered manipulatives, or partially-filled containers with a “What do you notice?” will get your students thinking, looking for groups, similarities and differences, shapes or whatever else they come up with. They will begin to view math as a part of the everyday world. Great discussions and lessons can ensue! 

The BEST part is that, using technology, ALL of your students can see these photos at the same time and can feel that engagement of learning and exploring something new. A puzzle or mystery to be solved is sure to grab their attention.

Use photos as transition tools or do it just for fun, but toss a little learning in along the way ... What words can you make with these letters?

What do you see on these picture cards? Matches? Sizes? Lots of math concepts here ...

Have fun!

“Socializing” for Hybrid/Remote Learners

As the days stretch on in this age of COVID schooling, children are seeking social contact with others - friends, classmates, even family members. Some may be sad and quiet, some may be acting out - many are having trouble focusing on lessons when they are hungry to just chat and be a part of a social group. 

It’s also more complicated when some are in-person and some remote, or all remote ... and all “socially distant.” This lack of contact is becoming even more pronounced with the colder weather. 

In the interest of meeting the social needs of your kiddos AND getting those students on track for success, some time needs to be carved out for some simple, creative solutions. 

Try these ideas: 

Classroom Pen Pals: 

Since finding time is always a factor, incorporate some socializing into your writing time. Have students do pen pal activities, but do it within your class, to let them “mingle” without moving around :)  Pair remote students with in-person friends to improve spirits and make connections. Any age students will benefit from this - whether they are sending written letters, pictures or cards. Each week, pick names from a hat to rotate who is “pals” with who! 

Show and Tell: 

Each day, make it a part of your meeting time to give students a turn to talk about something personal they’ve been desperate to talk about. You can choose a theme, such as family or season, or even tie it to a science or reading lesson. A favorite book, artwork, or a family photo would work, too. Try an author’s chair - virtual or in-person - regular chances to interact with friends and express themselves will do wonders for morale :) 

Class Yearbook: 

Have students work on writing about themselves and doing self-portraits to compile a “directory” and provide one to each student. Establishing connections and finding out more about each other can only help with any isolation that students may be feeling. 

Good luck! And .... Have fun!