Amy's Stories

As I Look Back

Reflecting back on my R2P blogs, I think my work has come a long way. At the beginning, I had never written a blog post before. I did not know how to address the audience, nor did I know how to make my space welcoming to readers. Over my blogs, they got more detailed, included more pictures, and got more welcoming. My last blog included a video, but none of my other ones did, which made it more fun to read / watch.

As I Look Forward

Looking forward, I think my “blogging” could still be improved greatly. Obviously time and practice are the best way to improve blogging. Although I never saw myself as a blogger, I found this activity fun and enjoyed watching myself grow over time. Moving forward, blogging will be super helpful as a future teacher, whether I’m writing my own or looking at others.

Are you Struggling with the Transition to Remote Learning?

Amy Walsh

Hi y'all and welcome back. Today, I am going to address for us teachers, the best ways we can effectively teach our kiddos through online learning. In addition, I will talk about how to keep up with Self-Care and the importance of it. Lastly, I will share some positivity with you guys and spread some laughs in this hard time.

Teaching Remotely

Teaching remotely at this time, we need to consider our students, their parents, and ourselves. In order, to create a safe and friendly environment for all, we must NOT push ourselves or our students and families too far.

1. Do NOT overwhelm yourself or your students

• • Now is NOT the time to add more assignments to the work load. Changing assignments around to fit resources is 100% okay.
  • Make assignments & resources accessible, in addition to submissions.
    • • • Having a clear way of communication with your students and their parents is key during this time.
        • Allow assignments to be submitted with leeway for what works with the family.
  • Give different options for assignments (with and without internet access).

2. Create a routine & be available

• • Having a routine with your virtual class can help keep the work and learning organized.
    • • • Pick a specific date and time for each day/week to virtually meet with your class.
        • Make assignments due by the same weekday each week.
        • Email updates on the same weekday each week to parents and students.

Working from home during Coronavirus – 10 Tips

Coronavirus (COVID19) requires that we work and study from home to limit the spread of the outbreak. How can you work and study from home effectively? This video provides 10 tips for things that you can do to help you be more productive and efficient while working remotely.

3. Make assignments clear

• • When you make clear & concise directions, it lessens the confusion for students and parents when completing the assignment at the time it works with their schedule
  • Unclear directions are very stressful for any grade (and parents trying to teach right now), so making them clean cut will take confusion and stress off your students.

4. Help out your students parents

• • Parents are struggling at home with their kids right now. Some are even working from home in addition to trying to keep their kiddos busy. As teachers, we can lessen their load with sending them educational and time consuming resources.
    • • • Constant communication lessens stress and confusion
        • There can never be too many resources and ideas for activities at home
        • keep a clear cut schedule and keep it up to date
  • BE AVAILABLE.

Self-Care For Adults

Just recently, I have created a daily self care and skin care routine for myself, since I have come upon extra time. If you find extra time in your daily schedule, even 10-15 minutes, it can be helpful to create a routine for yourself as well.

1. Create a routine

• • “Routine can be an anchor. No matter what’s going on in our day, knowing that we will be having our evening meal around 6 pm, and going to bed around 10 pm, can be a real comfort. The certainty of our routine can help us to manage the uncertainty that life can throw up. Coping with unpredictable periods of time can feel more doable when we have a little structure in place to look to” (Blurt Team, 2018).
  • Including a daily routine can increase self care and skin care when incorporated into each day.
    • • • Routines can be anything such as creating daily schedules, skin care routines, or meal schedules/prep.

2. Get outside every day

• • Vitamin D and fresh air can clear your mind and put you on a positive track for the day
    • • • “Research has shown that vitamin D might play an important role in regulating mood and warding off depression” (Wilson, 2017)
  • “Not all of us are a fan of exercising, but exercise can boost our mood” (Blurt Team, 2018).
    • • • Going for a walk or bike ride each day can boost your mood and outlook on the day tremendously. Even 15 minutes outside can help.

3. Take time each day for yourself

• • Incorporating time out of each day and dedicating it to bettering yourself can relax your body and clear your mind
    • • • light workout, tidying up / organizing, listening to music, sitting outside, daily devotional, etc.

Positivity / Memes to Brighten your day

Whether you are stressed, missing your students, or tired. I hope at least one of these can make you smile.

Here are some extra resources to help you out if you are struggling in any way right now:

Do not be ashamed, we are all struggling in one way or another. It is okay to be confused and it is okay to ask for help. Please use these resources as you need!

Teaching Online:

• http://neatoday.org/2020/03/16/resources-for-online-learning-during-school-closures/
• https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/55521/resources-for-teaching-and-learning-during-this-period-of-social-distancing
• https://www.weareteachers.com/free-online-learning-resources/

Food Banks:

• https://www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-food
• https://www.shfb.org/get-food/
• https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/food_banks.html

Financial Help:

• https://www.debt.org/advice/financial-help-teachers/
• https://www.incharge.org/understanding-debt/teachers/
• https://www.mymoney.gov/Pages/for-teachers.aspx

References

https://www.blurtitout.org/2018/11/08/mental-health-benefits-routine/

Vitamin D: Benefits, Sources, Deficiencies

Vitamin D is involved in bone health and your immune system. You may be wondering about vitamin D benefits and how much you need. Learn more about vitamin D and your health, as well as what happens when you get too much and how much vitamin D you need.

Have you found yourself becoming your kids teacher with little to no notice?

Amy Walsh

Hi Ya’ll, welcome back! Today I’m hoping to give all you parents some tips and tricks you can use at home with your kids during this tricky time. I will touch on all the issues we are all struggling with in addition to adding some resources to keep your kiddos education flourishing.

Having trouble keeping your children occupied?

I know it can be difficult to keep your children occupied in your house all day long, all week long, and all month long. Being cooped up is hard for kids and parents so here are some suggestions to spice up the everyday routine

• Alphabetical scavenger hunt (around the house or in the yard)
• Allow your kids to pick an attire for a meal (fancy, crazy hats, silly shoes, etc)
• Baking and/or cooking! (kids love to eat and so do we. why not learn some recipes with them and encourage them to be involved)
• Write encouraging notes with sidewalk chalk on your driveway
• Play “the floor is lava” (BE SAFE!!)
• Bubble baths (& include washable paint or markers for extra fun)
• Make homemade play dough
• Build a fort (using blankets, couches, pillows, etc)
• Outdoor family walks, bike rides, or adventures at near by parks or neighborhoods
• Foster a puppy at your nearest foster care! (or adopt an animal)

  

Feeling Stressed, Worried, Never Enough? How to Deal with These Emotions:

You are doing GREAT! Your kid thinks so too. Even if every other day is an off-day, you are still doing more than enough for your new students ;). Take time each day to relieve your stress, your mental health is important too! Everything will be okay in the end. Although it might feel like it, it is NOT the end of the world.

If you are financially struggling or lacking resources, here are some links:

• https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/
• https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/resources-educators-parents-during-covid-19
• https://www.parentcenterhub.org/coronavirus-resources/

Some Memes To Make You Laugh in this Time of Need

We all need a good laugh, to lighten some frustrations with children write down what they do and sub out their name for "my coworker" and read the list at the end of the night (with some wine).

Teaching Your Kids Self Care:

Self care is so important for all ages, but we often lack implementing it with our children because there is so little time that they are home when school starts. So, now is a perfect time to implement some self care an self love while everyone is home. It is possible to make it fun!

• Washing hands is SO important right now! Properly teach your kids how to wash their hands and the importance of it (not only now but ALWAYS)
  • washing their hands before dinner, after blowing their nose or using the restroom, after being outside, after playing with toys, etc.
• Get in a routine! (daily routines with your kiddos can look like anything)
  • shower or bathe everyday or every other day
  • brushing teeth morning and night
  • have older kiddos? Get into a skin care routine with them
• Repeat loving and uplifting words to your kids everyday and often.
  • ex: “you are beautiful”, “your hair is so pretty”, “your face is so cute”, “you are a great reader,” “you have so many talents”, “I am proud of you”
• Allow your children 5-10 minutes at least once a week to stand in front of a mirror with a white board marker. Teach them to write positive and encouraging messages, or to just draw how they see themselves.
• Allow your kiddos to help prepare family meals and their own meals to get into routine and be proud of their work.

Need School Work/Activities for Your Kiddos?

FREE Printable Educational Worksheets for Kids

LOTS of FREE Printable worksheets for kids to practice math, literacy, science, & history with kids of all ages from 123Homeschool4Me.

100 Fun Things to Do with Your Kids at Home

When your kids are stuck at home, the hours may seem to drag on forever. To help, we’ve come up with 70 awesome activities for kids to do at home. Most of the ideas on this list are activities you can easily set up with supplies you already have at home.

Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. I’ve had many inspiring teachers over my years, but the first to inspire me was my mom. My mom is a preschool teacher at our old church. She is the most creative person I know, she always went the extra mile to make her class fun and engaging for her students. I have always wanted to follow in my moms footsteps, but now that I’m here I don’t know if I’ll be half as good as she was. At the preschool my mom worked at, she was allowed to bring in snacks for her class and she even put in effort to have snacks that matched her lessons every class. Although she may have passed down her procrastination to me, she got her work done. One thing I admire about my mom is how caring and compassionate she is to every one of her students. Often I am allowed to help out in her class, so I always get to observe her with her students and she really pushes me to let my guard down in the classroom. I have gained a lot of experience and knowledge working with her, but the most important thing she has taught me is to never let anything affect your mood in the classroom, drop your baggage at the door and fully be there for your students.

One thing I never learned about until college was philosophers, but since then, we have never stopped talking about them. Philosophies are A LOT to take in and learn, but few have really stuck with me because I found them important for my future classroom. I am very fascinated about Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). I think it is important to have “all” your students in that zone where they may need little assistance but are not finding the work to easy. Another theorist I share similar desires with is Jean Piaget. Piaget discovered the Theory of Cognitive Development, “Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development suggests that children move through four different stages of mental development. His theory focuses not only on understanding how children acquire knowledge, but also on understanding the nature of intelligence.” (Cherry, 2019). Like Piaget, I believe that our students take an active role in their learning process.

But, I have not learned all I know from my mom and theorists! Throughout my time here at Millersville, I have received the best education to prepare me to be a future teacher. From observing classrooms freshman year to starting professional development this past semester, I have grown so much in my knowledge of teaching the future generations. Almost all of my professors so far have been school teachers in the past, so they always share positive and inspiring stories with us. Although sometimes our classes can be overwhelming, being in the field is always reassuring for me, that this IS what I want to do.

Sources:

Cherry, K. (2019, August 12). What Are Piaget’s Four Stages of Development? Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive-development-2795457

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