Connecting with Students During Shelter in Place

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Working from Home and Home Schooling 

Day 3 - Has it only really been 3 days?!
I'm trying to settle in to a routine that will be our new normal for the next month or so.  Today was the first morning that I was able to do anything productive - home schooling wise - with my own kids.   I started by getting up early and doing a workout video followed by a guided mindfulness video from my friends at Momentum in Teaching.  We had a family meeting where we wrote down all of our goals and things we HAD to do today.  I'm pretty sure the only two things the kids got done were reading and girl scout cookie math.  The rest of the day were crafts and screetime as I participated in conference calls and watching California Department of Education's Press Conference.

We also had a video chat with Gma, so on second thought, I'm thinking it was a pretty productive day!  We've got to be kind to ourselves, right?!

Connecting with Students & Distance Learning

Maslow's Hierarchy from simplypsychology.org

Right now with great concern for equitable access, the best that many districts can do is provide suggestions and resources for "Distance Learning."  Requiring completion of work or participation in classes can be sticky ground.  So, a few days ago, I set out to find ways to just connect with our students and families during this uncertain time.  As our education saying goes, "Maslow before 

Bloom's Taxonomy from cft.vanderbuilt.edu

Bloom."  Meaning, we have to address those needs for safety and security before we have any hope of teaching content.  So, my staff and school community are working together to create opportunities for that connection.  Teachers are holding zoom meetings with parents and students and I've been doing read alouds on Facebook Live.  

I couldn't believe how nervous I was for that first book!  I forgot everything I wanted to say.  For the second one, I rehearsed a little more and worked on the framing with my camera person, my eldest daughter, Annabelle.  

The response I got from that first video though was overwhelmingly positive.  Parents and students were checking in and responding to questions I was posing about the book.  It even reached families that no longer attend the school - reminding and reaffirming for me that connection is essential and how social media, used in this way can be that thread that many people need.  Today, while posting for my school, even my nieces and nephews tuned in, which was even more powerful for me.  💜💚💜

Tomorrow I'm reading Enemy Pie by Derek Munson, a favorite of mine, and a part of the Project Cornerstone Curriculum.  With the help of the parents who teach Project Cornerstone in my community, we've compiled follow up activities for parents to do with their kids, if they wish.  I've also taken a page out of @nupurssethi's book, I created a Flipgrid activity that students can do by logging in with their district google account.

I have no idea how it will go, just trying to find ways that the students and I can connect with each other from home.   I am inspired by all the other educators out there practicing what we preach with our 21st century skills and mindsets!    

I think it's fun to try these things, but I also have to remember to give myself grace.  After only 3 days, I'm starting to feel the drain. 

How are you connecting with your school/district communities?

How are you keeping balanced?