I'm sure all of this feels VERY overwhelming. Remember to BREATHE!! I live in Oregon & have no understanding of your guidelines, policies, and exactly
how the rules for re-opening are supposed to be laid out and implemented. However, after reading a lot of these NAEYC discussions about COVID-19, and from other information & articles I've read about the virus and some of my state's re-opening guidelines during the different "phases". So here are a few suggestions (some of which I know are mandatory):
1) During drop-offs- Use a thermometer on each child and adult wanting to come into the classroom. Unless they give you a specific sheet, I would create one and write the date/time that you took each person's temperature, what it said, and sign it each time (since there could be more than just one teacher and/or volunteer checking-in students. (At my daughter's work, they take their temperatures several times per day, just an idea to increase everyone's health & Safety)
2) Have adults wear masks before entering the building. If a child can handle wearing a mask while at school, encourage that by giving positive feedback. Read a book about the reasons/importance of wearing masks during this time. This would be a good use of using "Persona Dolls" if you have any. Talk about it daily; I'm sure children have overheard
a lot of adults' conversations&/or what they've seen/heard from the news as well.
3) Make sure that parents/adults know that if any person that has been around their child that tests positive for the virus, they're not allowed back until after 2weeks. Send a letter home stating any new policies and the reasons for each; welcome any parents' comments, feedback, questions, and concerns. Make it a, "We'll get through this as a community" project. Some families may need masks due to a lack of resources. As ECErs, we should be able to give out helpful resources during his time especially.
4) Try to keep social distancing by marking a square on the tables and taking away the chair that would go there, so that there's the distance between each student while eating and doing activities (I'd suggest doing the same on the circle rug and where children line up to wait (to go outside/inside, washing hands, bathroom, etc.). If you
do have a smaller class size, give each child their own "sensory table" by using a different bin for each student that contains the same materials and "playthings" in, that way nobody will feel left out. Unfortunately, you will most likely end up having to take away A LOT of the toys (especially ones that are constantly being put in infant's/children's mouth) and keep things that can be cleaned frequently throughout the day. Although, if you have a really small class size, maybe you could separate some of the more popular toys and each child plays with their own set?? Make a rope, with knots for the children to hold onto that, keeps them apart to help with social distancing during transitions to/from the classroom or on walks. As for "Sensory Tables" (& playdough too)
5) Make a habit (find a creative way to encourage children to follow it/them) of coughing into the crook's of their elbows & NOT in their hands (if they do, make sure they know to immediately wash their hands!) and set a timer and have the entire class wash their hands (may need to educate/demonstrate the proper way to wash our hands to make sure all of the germs are washed off & down the drain- sing a song that lasts about 20-25 seconds & have each child scrub their hands with soap & water during the entire song, then rinse hands) We can make this fun if you use different creative ideas: use different songs, rhymes, use different sorts of timers, etc.!
I hope some of this helps! Like I said at the beginning, I'm in Oregon & have zero clues as to how your state is going to handle the difficult challenges ahead. I just thought that giving you some of these ideas, might help a little & hopefully spark better ideas of your own!
I wish you ALL the good luck & success & as much serenity and calmness you can have during this awful crisis/pandemic!
Sincerely,
Nicole
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Nicole Coffman
Student, volunteer, substitute
My. Hood Community College ECE program, graduation date spring 2020
Gresham OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-08-2020 01:04 AM
From: Laurie Rouder
Subject: NYC Opening Daycares
In NYC we were told we can open as of Monday July 13th. But up to this point, we received no support, no direction- so most of us assumed we wouldn't be opening until September. And now we need to pull everything together very quickly.
Has anyone completed the NY Forward Safety Plan Template? Any guidance?
Do you need to screen the adult even if they are only doing the drop off?
What kind of cleaning logs are people using?
What else do I need to consider?
And don't even get me started on how poorly this plan was laid out! Just when we thought people were appreciating early childhood educators, NYC goes and does this!
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Laurie Rouder
NY Early Childhood PDI
Valley Stream NY
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