Online Learning

July 9th, 2020

COVID-19 has transformed the educational landscape.  Virtual learning is new to most educators. Online meetings, small group instruction, project-based assignments are new territory.  Students need many soft skills in order to be successful with online learning (responsibility, compromise, positive flexible attitude, teamwork, communication skills, leadership skills, decision making, and more). My goal is to share resources that will help educators in a virtual setting.  

1.  Zoom Communication Posters: These posters help students (grades K-5) with teachers.  Students hold up 8 1/2 x 11 posters to get the attention of the virtual host.  Poster link.

2. Online meetings need to have clear expectations.  Virtual learning is new to students and the expectations will need to be taught.  Below is a photo of an example expectation poster.  Managing your Zoom settings (mute participants, breakout groups, private chat) will also help you establish expectations in an online environment. 

Keeping Our Preschoolers Growing and Learning During the Winter!

We know it is hard to keep our kids active, engaged, and challenged during the winter. Here are some low cost educational activities for the the winter months.  

Physical Education

“Dancing Balloons”-  

• Try to keep the balloon off the ground. (music)

• Have your child lay on his/her back.  Put the balloon between their feet.  The child tries to pick the balloon off of the ground with straight legs and bring the balloon over their head.  Then lower the feet without letting go of the balloon. Many people do this exercise with a Yoga ball.

Movement

• Rent a kids movement DVD.
• Example:  “Bo on the Go”  or  “Wiggles”
• Zumba Kids-YouTube 
• Create a hopscotch with tape in the garage or in a spare room:

Math

Measurement:

• Rice Bin-Supply the bin with variety of scoops, measuring cups, counters.

Spacial:

• Cookies-The child rolls out the dough and estimates if the cookie cutter will fit on the flattened dough.  Is the surface area enough?  Do we need to roll the dough more?   Do we need to add more dough?

Literacy

Writing Activities:

• Take a cookie sheet and cover it with shaving cream.  Have the child practice writing letters and their name.
• Also you can fill the cookie sheet with rice.  

Take a mirror and Crayola Window Markers.  Have the child practice writing letters and their name. The markers erase with soap and water.

• Create a simple story with a beginning, middle, and end using PowerPoint, Prezi, Page Maker, etc.

Literacy Technology

Computer Games and Apps-

• Articulation  
• Starfall 
• PBS 
• Toddler Flashcards (Free) 
• Baby Flash Cards-Letters (Free) 
• Write My Name

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Building Number Sense Before School Age

We know that babies, toddlers, and preschoolers need opportunities to explore with their hands. Sometimes it is hard to move children from exploration activities to higher level comparisons and questioning. 

Activity 1: Less than More Than

Step 1:  Take two containers and label them “ 1” and “2”.

Step 2: Student counts items in each container.  “Which container has more stars (objects)?”

Step 2: Student counts items in each container.  “Which container has more stars (objects)?”  "Which container has the greatest amount of stars?"

Step 3: Keep doing the activity.  Repetition is important. Make sure to do the activity with an empty container.  It is important for the child to see what “zero” or “none” looks like.

Extension:  After the student understands the words "more" and "greater than."  Take time to move to "less than"  and "least."

Look for "Number Sense: Counters, Scoops, and Rice Activities" @ our TPT store.