Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  virtual classes for kids going to Kindergarten in the Fall

    Posted 06-29-2020 07:58 AM
    Hello,
    I am looking for ideas, thoughts, feedback on holding virtual meetings for children entering Kindergarten in the Fall. We do an in person program every year, but this time moving it to virtual time, so any ideas you have will be greatly appreciated.
    thank you

    ------------------------------
    Cecilia Arce
    Director of Programs
    Maternal and Child Health Consosrtium
    West Chester PA
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: virtual classes for kids going to Kindergarten in the Fall

    Posted 06-30-2020 10:31 AM
    Hi Cecilia,
    If your kindergarten is exploring virtual meetings, encourage as much active outdoor learning as possible! There are many ways children can search for items outside, take photos, watch things grow/change over time, count, tell stories, journal, etc. Being outdoors can be motivating, healthy, interdisciplinary, and a great way to keep kids excited about what's next during "virtual" school!

    Many nature preschools and forest kindergartens struggled with the same thing at the onset of COVID-19, so we put together a framework for nature-based distance learning and a document with tips on staying connected as a learning community through nature play and learning (attached). Much of this could apply to your kindergarten next year, too!

    Warmly,

    Monica Wiedel-Lubinski
    Executive Director
    Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS)
    ERAFANS.org | it's our nature
    NaturalCommunity.org







  • 3.  RE: virtual classes for kids going to Kindergarten in the Fall

    Posted 06-30-2020 11:14 AM
    thank you so much for your ideas Monida, they sound fabulous, and now you have helped me think of a different kind of virtual setting, thank you so much, and hope we continue to share ideas

    Cecilia M. Arce, BA, MEd

    Director of Programs
    Maternal and Child Health Consortium
    Tel: 610-344-5370 x 102
    Find us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram
    Start Healthy, Stay Healthy and Succeed in School

    This message is intended for the addressee(s) named above. It may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected from use and disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, disclosure, copying, or dissemination of the transmission or the taking of any action in reliance on its contents, or other use is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please delete the message and notify the sender via return email immediately. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.








  • 4.  RE: virtual classes for kids going to Kindergarten in the Fall

    Posted 06-30-2020 11:36 AM
    Hello Cecilia,

    I agree with Monica's post about taking the virtual learning outside as much as possible.  During COVID-19 our preschool used a variety of methods with a parent survey sent out at the start and at the end.  

    Please note that most of our students had access to working internet and our school loaned iPads (grant provided) to any student needing one with school internet access.  I recognize not all schools or children have access to this; a topic of great disparity among us as a larger community.

    Some things that worked (based on the parent surveys and our observations) which might work for you:
    • small group live sessions (i.e. Zoom) and one-on-one live sessions (art classes, photography, games, questions, outdoor adventures, would you rather, etc.)
    • a flipped classroom model where the prerecorded lesson is sent home prior to the live class (i.e. a photography lesson using close up and far away shots of the same item had a link sent a few days prior with a story about Georgia O'Keeffe and how she viewed objects, the live lesson was "I spy..." using an iPad with a small group of students and having them guess what was spied from afar and then walking closer and zooming in on the item in nature up close -- the assignment -- go out in nature and photograph 1 item far and the same item close
    • small group outdoor interactive games/exploration via live session (Zoom, etc.)
    • recorded (we have a YouTube school channel) sessions with outdoor walks, gardening, experiments, lessons, etc. so families can use as needed -- mailing or dropping off seed packets for home use -- care of pets and steps recorded, storytimes, etc.
    • links for families with emotional and educational support materials
    • acceptance, listening, and acting upon parent/caregiver concerns and student individual needs/meeting people where they are without judgment, offering support
    • personal phone calls to caregivers to check-in
    • personal phone calls to students to keep connections, especially to students not engaged -- offering different models to those on the margins or with special needs
    • keeping a daily journal with a daily journal task (school provided the journals prior to closure)
    • giving weekly jobs to child to do at home (photo uploads of tasks by children or child communicating thoughts on task)
    • writing letters to community helpers (mail carrier, trash personnel), family members, classmates (over time, each child wrote to all classmates -- child received a set of letters in the mail at the end of the session with teacher collecting and then printing uploaded letters)
    • turned in "assignments" involving as much communication and language as possible -- short 30 sec. videos, etc.
    Not the ideal way to teach, but we're all trying to make relationship and connection a priority through this strange method as best as possible.  

    Stay strong,

    ------------------------------
    Elvia Montanez
    Director
    Holy Name of Mary Preschool, Director
    San Dimas CA
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: virtual classes for kids going to Kindergarten in the Fall

    Posted 06-30-2020 11:48 AM
    Good Morning Cecilia, 

    This is definitely a challenging new frontier for little learners (and educators!). We do not currently have a Kindergarten program, but we did run our Transitional Kindergarten program in a virtual setting for the last couple months of school last year with success. I would be happy to share more information with you on what we did and I can even share some schedule examples, etc. if you feel like that would help you!



    ------------------------------
    Chelsea Robberson
    School Director
    Pathway Early Education Center
    Colleyville TX
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  • 6.  RE: virtual classes for kids going to Kindergarten in the Fall

    Posted 06-30-2020 01:07 PM
    hello, and thank you for your email, I would love to see examples from your experience, thank you so much for offering!

    Cecilia M. Arce, BA, MEd

    Director of Programs
    Maternal and Child Health Consortium
    Tel: 610-344-5370 x 102
    Find us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram
    Start Healthy, Stay Healthy and Succeed in School

    This message is intended for the addressee(s) named above. It may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected from use and disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, disclosure, copying, or dissemination of the transmission or the taking of any action in reliance on its contents, or other use is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please delete the message and notify the sender via return email immediately. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.