Looking back…

When I initially started this blog in January it wasn’t something I wanted. I was nervous and definitely NOT excited. I didn’t think I had anything important to say or anything relevant, at the least. Looking back I realize how silly all the worry and fuss was. It gave me an opportunity to learn more about not only myself but my peers.

My 1st Blog Post…

It was a very slow start…trust me. I took my laptop, sat down and stared at my computer screen. My mind went blank and I had no idea where to start. But then inspiration hit me…Ms.Frizzle my educational guru. I mean, who DOESN’T aspire to be Ms. Frizzle. I was so nervous but so proud of how my first post turned out. I was confident and ready for more.

Moving Forward…

    Moving forward I plan to utilize the skills I’ve acquired through blogging and blogging itself in my future classroom. Blogging is an effective tool to store in your teacher toolkit to successfully and effectively communicate with parents. Especially with times that include distance learning it can be one of the only means of staying in touch as a class.

The New Beginning of the End

You’re nearing the end of the school year and summer is just in your reach. Your students have finally began to mold into their daily routine and boom. Everything has been flipped upside down. You’re forced to teach all of your kiddos from home…. now what? You’re forced to face new technology struggles on top of tending to your family as well as teaching your children and their parents how this is all going to work.  It’s a hard and difficult time filled with many emotions and struggles. Challenges will come but like usual, we will overcome them. Teachers are important. Teachers are heroes. Teachers can do this!

Routine

The first and most important thing that as a teacher you need to do is get into a routine. Treat this time as you would the beginning of a normal school year because it kind of is. Your kids are entering a new virtual classroom, a new learning dynamic, etc. A routine can be the foundation of your peace of mind. When your home becomes your classroom it can become quite overwhelming to get everything done. Make schedules a day or

even a week in advance to give yourself time to fully prepare. Most importantly when creating your routine don’t forget about mealtimes and self care. If getting up early, getting ready like you would for a normal work day and getting to work makes you feel better, DO IT! If sleeping in a little and wearing comfy pants with a nice top to your virtual meetings and classes feels good to you, DO IT! It’s important that you can get the hang of your routine so you can give your kiddos the best virtual education ever. It’s a learning experience for us all. Break it down, day by day. It’s important to remember that we’re all going through this and learning together. Below I dropped a link that provides tips and tricks to establish an online routine:

https://www.connectionsacademy.com/the-monitor/tips-for-establishing-online-learning-routines

 

Teaching from Home

Teaching from the comfort of your own home can be both rewarding and challenging. You get to snuggle up in your favorite sweats and blankets while working but you don’t get to see your kids and for some of them be their safe place. It’s okay though. We will all get through this together. We are far from perfect but we are trying and our kids know that. Below I’ve provided multiple resources to help ease your transformation from classroom to home.

Setting Up Your “Classroom”

How to Set Up Your Digital Classroom for Success

Spread the loveWhether you teach entirely online or have a physical space, your digital classroom needs to facilitate successful learning. There is no one right way to arrange or present education to your students. However, there are markers and go to ideas for a healthy digital learning environment.

 

What to expect

Peer advice for instructors teaching online for first time

Seventeen instructors offer guidance for colleagues teaching an online course for the first time (and for those seeking a few new ideas).

Getting Started With Distance Learning – The TPT Blog

The practice of distance learning is new territory for many teachers. Here are seven tips from experts in the TpT community to get you started in supporting student learning from afar.

Resources to continue learning

16 Ideas for Student Projects Using Google Docs, Slides, and Forms

Your students probably already use these tools to write papers or create presentations, but they could be doing other projects you may not have thought of.

Talking to your students

Your students are young. They currently are struggling to understand why they can’t see their friends, family, their teachers, etc. Help your students by discussing their feelings, discussing the world and its turmoils. You, as their teacher, are where their knowledge and understanding is driven. Help them understand. Some students come from a relatively poor background and struggle with emotions, hunger, inability to access technology from home. They all need you. Below are links provided to help you build a solid foundation to begin a conversation with your students.

Staying in Touch: Why Kids Need Teachers During Coronavirus School Closings | KQED

While some schools remaining closed with no distance learning options, teachers find ways to stay in touch with their students through much-appreciated phone calls, video conferences, emails, etc.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/talking-with-children.html

How Teachers Are Talking to Students About the Coronavirus

As the coronavirus spreads across the United States, teachers are put in the hard spot of educating students about prevention without scaring them.

The ultimate kids’ guide to the new coronavirus

“Will school be closed?” and “Should I be worried about getting sick?”

 

 

Additional Resources

Distance Learning: A Gently Curated Collection of Resources for Teachers

An overview of the nuts and bolts of distance learning, including general tips, advice on tech, and troubleshooting some common problems.

Teaching Through Coronavirus: What Educators Need Right Now

We asked educators what they need, and we listened. We hope this message-and these resources-offer some help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Parents to Teachers

It hit you like no other…one day you had your normal day job along with your job of being a parent. Then suddenly you’re hit with a third completely unexpected job…home school teacher. That’s right..a teacher. One job  that you probably feel totally unprepared for and lost. How are you suppose to juggle your job (if you’re potentially still working), attempting to control chaos, keep your home straight and orderly as well as teach your students on content that you haven’t thought about since you were in school? Throughout this post I’ll drop a few tips and tricks to help lessen your daily chaos.

Setting a Schedule

In means to help you keep your sanity I highly suggest setting a schedule for not only your kids but for you as well. A schedule has the ability to help you hold a sense of consistency and normality. Through utilizing a schedule you will feel a sense of ease rush through your home. Your children are used to a daily routine and schedule during their regularly programmed school days so implementing a schedule at home should be a breeze. The question is what should the schedule look like that is both beneficial and realistic? Because lets be honest…kids are crazy and throwing in a new dynamic of school at home doesn’t help but nevertheless we shall persevere for the sake of our sanity.

Obviously these schedules can be used a simple guides to set your own or feel free to utilize the ones I’ve created!

Time to Shine… Teaching Kids Resourceful Skills

You’re stuck at home 24 hours a day with your kids with no where to go. What should you do? That’s easy! Introduce your children to a world of practical life skills that will be fun for them and can also be very helpful for you. I mean lets be honest, with all these extra little bodies and hands hanging around why not make them useful? These are skills that your child can carry throughout their entire lives and be especially helpful to you through these trying times with extra hands to get things done. Through the practical use of free time you are able to introduce your child to life skills such as:

Self Care

Nine times out of ten parents get so caught up in trying to keep control of the chaos that they neglect their personal care and health. How do you expect to take the absolute best care of your children if you don’t feel your absolute best? That’s right, you don’t! Your self care matters! Now I know what you’re all saying… I don’t have time or I’m to busy or the infamous…. I’ll do it later (knowing darn well you won’t). So the real question is…

what self care tactics are easy and quick but also meaningful for me?

The answer to that is simple. Self care isn’t something that is intended to be stressful, it’s actually quite the opposite. Self-care can be as simple as sitting on your front porch and enjoying your morning coffee (or tea, whatever your preference may be) while everyone in your house is still peacefully asleep. Self-care can also be as complex as locking your self in the bathroom leaving your significant other to fend off the grumpy, sleepy children on their own while you enjoy a nice long bath with your favorite face mask. Oh, and don’t front to have music playing to drown out the pleas of your significant other. Nonetheless, whatever you do just do it for YOU and enjoy it.

Resources

Thought your child’s teachers may have given you additional resources to fend through these trying times I’m posting a few more just to help you out.

https://www.learningresources.com/free-at-home-learning-essentials

Learning Resources is not only a great site to buy educational toys and materials but it’s also a great site to go to for tips and tricks about distance learning!

Sub Success Resource Center Archives – Swing Education

Resources to help substitute teachers succeed in the classroom

Swing Education is a great resource that provides teachers, students and parents resources they need to survive unexpected crisis’ such as COVID-19.

Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus Crisis – Child Mind Institute

What parents and other adults can say to kids about the coronavirus COVID-19. How to answer their questions and keep kids feeling safe.

Child Mind Institute provide hundreds upon thousands of resources and help for families experiencing traumatic events, alcohol/drug abuse, divorce, military families, etc.