Creating a Healthy Classroom

I want to keep my students safe and healthy. We have added pressure to keep classrooms clean and have rigid sanitizing protocols. I have been wearing a mask in public, but I forget it is important to clean my mask. I use my own water bottle, but I forget to clean it with soap and water. Recently I listened to a doctor explain that a dirty mask can create its own complications. I want to keep striving to create a healthy space for learning. The CDC has mask washing guidelines/suggestions.  

1. Wash your mask after each use.

2. Machine Washing: Use regular laundry detergent and the warmest water possible.

• Hand washing: 
• 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) household bleach per gallon of room temperature water or
• 4 teaspoons household bleach per quart of room temperature water (check to see if the bleach is made for disinfection).
• Soak the mask in the bleach solution for 5 minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool or room temperature water.

 

It can never hurt to help students and families navigate through these new health protocols.  Let's keep helping each other.  Look for more resources at Liz and Ron's Educational Resources. 

Teeth Care and Technology

In our house, we have battled over brushing teeth.  We have interviewed dentists, watched YouTube videos, implemented reward systems.  None of these strategies have worked! 

Just recently, our son wanted to buy his own electric toothbrush (we were in shock and denial).   We did not waste time. We went to the grocery store to make some comparisons.  The Philips Sonicare Kids Brush was his first choice (fun design).  We were naive. We both had Sonicare toothbrushes so we bought the kids version. 

We had no idea that this brush had Bluetooth capabilities and works with an online application.  The application teaches children how to brush their teeth effectively. The app program keeps track of morning and nightly brush routines.  Sonicare has developed a quirky animated creature (looks like a Furby).  When a child turns on his toothbrush the creature starts to brush his/her own teeth.  A child can see the plaque being scrubbed away.  After each bushing period, the child receives a virtual gift. 

We like to be frugal at our house, but this purchase has been a wonderful educational tool! 

Keeping our Kids Out of the Winter Time Blues

Days are short and dark.  Our little kids feel as if their afternoon nap robs them from daylight playtime.  Preschool through sixth graders sometimes have indoor recess on sunny days.  The temperature needs to be high enough to eliminate the risk of frostbite.

I do not have all of the answers, but I am trying to make this January-February time full of wonder and fun. Exercise and food can make a big difference.  Our children lose focus in school when these two areas are lacking. 

Exercise:

• bike: make the garage a fun place to peddle.  
• keep taking walks in the snow. Getting outside in the winter is important.
• go to a local gym and just run.
• go to a kid exercise class.

Healthy Food Time: Many kids do not want to eat carrots, nuts, and other healthy food during lunch time.  I am trying to identify some creative times during the day to introduce foods with essential vitamins.

Snack time:  put out little bowls of food to snack on. Sometimes in different locations.

• carrots
• nuts
• fruit

Nap time: Kids are bored during this quiet time.  Hopefully they will snack on the following items to wind down.

• supply a little bowl.
• nuts
• soy nuts
• peanuts
• carrots
• broccoli
• red bell peppers
• onions
• corn
• eggplant
• Fruit
• prunes
• raisins
• blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, rasberries, and cranberries
• plums
• oranges
• red grapes
• cherries
• kiwi
• cup of milk or soy milk
• vitamin D-
• site 1