Thank so much Naomi.... These resources are so helpful. in these times when teachers must connect with children through technologies.
In March 2020, Early Childhood Educators across the country had to face the challenge that their School buildings and many childcare centers abruptly closed for the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers were expected to quickly ramp up distance learning and family supports for the young children in their classes, using their school's existing technology tools.
Through a Mini-grant funded project through the NAEYC Technology and Young Children Interest Forum, Bonnie Blagojevic, Kelly Dalsemer. Diane Bales, and I supported four educators - Kelsey, Juana, Noelle, and Katie (PreK, K, ESL, Migrant Education) in culturally diverse programs to share their experiences through webinars and a Wakelet * They focused their intentional teaching focused their intentional teaching with guidance from the NAEYC & Fred Rogers Center Position Statement on Technology and Interactive Media (2012).
- putting the child first; ensuring that caring relationships take precedence over technologies
- carefully selecting materials to promote collaborative rather than isolated uses
While hands on learning is the way children learn, the switch to digital communications required teachers to rely on the supports from families. Through interactive technologies, teachers provided direct instructional support and continued rich conversations with children. These digital resources encouraged children to think-aloud to clarify, extend, and explain how they utilized hands-on home resources.
*Links to webinars, additional mini-grant activities and related resources can be found in the "Children and Families as Digital Creators and Storytellers" Wakelet Collection. https://wke.lt/w/s/7ELzSR
Educators:
*Noelle Chung, Title I Pre-K teacher from Knollwood Elementary, Salisbury, NC
*Katie Gardner, Kindergarten ESL teacher, from Knollwood Elementary, Salisbury, NC
*Kelsey MacLeod, Kindergarten teacher at Whispering Oak Elementary, Winter Garden, FL
*Juana Rodriguez-Vazquez, Migrant Education Regional Coordinator, Mano en Mano, Milbridge, ME
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Lynn Hartle
Professor of Education
The Penn State Univ. Brandywine
Media PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-04-2020 12:25 AM
From: Naomi Hupert
Subject: Developmental Appropriateness of Distance Learning
Hello members of this list:
I've been following the discussion about whether distance learning is developmentally appropriate for young children and wanted to share these resources that our organization developed and has made available to anyone interested:
Using Technology to Support Learning At Home:
https://www.edc.org/using-technology-support-learning-home
Integrating Technology Into Early Learning and also Supporting Emergent Bilingual Children in Early Learning using Technology:
https://www.edc.org/early-ed-tools
The resources are available in English and Spanish, with the second two also available in Chinese, and all are available in easily downloadable and printable format. The information is based on current research and best practices for supporting developmentally appropriate technology use for young children. We developed these resources before Covid 19, but are hoping they can help educators and parents make good decisions about how to support their children's learning during this challenging time.
I am regularly inspired by all the educators on this list who are working so hard to support children and families during this very challenging time,
Naomi Hupert
Center for Children and Technology/Education Development Center
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Naomi Hupert
Center for Children and Technology/
Education Development Center
Original Message:
Sent: 08-03-2020 12:56 PM
From: Jonathan Navarrete
Subject: Developmental Appropriateness of Distance Learning
Hi Everyone,
In our supply bags, we include: pencils, pencil sharpener, crayons, markers, kid scissors, glue sticks, elmer's glue, construction paper, writing practice paper, cardboard tubes, pom pons (multicolor fluffy puffs), fabric scraps, playdough, bubbles, a few of the books that we will be reading throughout the weeks, and anything else we anticipate the children using for our planned activities. The only thing we do not include is food/ingredients for our cooking activities. I sometimes email out activity packets for the children to practice writing their name, letters, and numbers or I post a link to downloadable PDFs on our webpage.
I also send out an email every Friday or early Saturday with a list of supplies the children will need for each day that upcoming week so that the parents can have it prepared. It also allows time for a shopping trip, especially for the cooking activities, if it is needed.
It has worked out pretty well for us. We also partner with the local Assistance League, and they fund the tangible supplies that go directly to the kids whether it be for the classroom or for home.
I hope this helps.
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Jonathan Navarrete
Preschool Director
Even Start Preschool- Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach
Dana Point CA
Original Message:
Sent: 07-30-2020 08:55 PM
From: Jicell Taylor
Subject: Developmental Appropriateness of Distance Learning
Hello Jonathan, I was wondering what type of items you included in your "supply bag" for each student.
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Jicell Taylor
EC Director
Greater Miami Adventist Academy
Miami FL
Original Message:
Sent: 07-30-2020 10:56 AM
From: Jonathan Navarrete
Subject: Developmental Appropriateness of Distance Learning
Hi Barbara,
I had the same concerns about distance learning. After a little bit of research, I found that as long as the screen time is limited and appropriately engaging, it's not as damaging as having a child watching YouTube for long periods of time. I had to adapt my preschool program in the past few months to distance learning. I structured it to be only 3 days a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays), no more than an hour a day, and made sure to include plenty of movement and parent engagement. My team and I made supply bags for each student so that they had all that was needed to participate in our activities and lessons. As a result, our program became more STEM based. Our 3 and 4 year olds were making playdough, cooking chicken strips and making pancakes and popsicles, and our parent engagement increased. Teaching via Zoom is not ideal, but it has helped to stay connected to our students and their families throughout the pandemic.
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Jonathan Navarrete
Preschool Director
Even Start Preschool- Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach
Dana Point CA
Original Message:
Sent: 07-29-2020 02:59 AM
From: Barbara Gallios
Subject: Developmental Appropriateness of Distance Learning
Does anyone else question whether distance/virtual learning is developmentally appropriate for children under 5 years old?
Have we fully thought out the ramifications of all this screen time on young children? Up until shelter in place screen time was shunned as harmful, but now it's ok? What are we teaching children about electronic v. real experiences? Are we interrupting with screens the time they should be spending playing and moving their bodies, having concrete experiences in nature, being hugged and spoken to face to face?
Wouldn't it be better to tell them "Go play and I'll see you later when school opens"?
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Barbara Gallios
PreK Teacher
Presidio Early Education School
San Francisco CA
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