“The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them.” – Unknown
Stumbling blocks or stepping stones? What times we are living in now, with such a large distance between us and our students. In our presentations, we ask teachers WHY they went into this profession, and we receive answers like:
- The light bulb moments when a student works through something challenging
- I had a teacher who made a difference in my life so I wanted to be that teacher for a student
- I just love kids
- Their hugs, smiles, laughter…
And all of those things are what we find IN classrooms all around the world! When we can be IN classrooms we don’t forget our WHY.
But things are very different right now. This is not anything anyone could have predicted. Teachers are DOING things they never thought would be necessary So while we cant’ SEE you in your classrooms, and we didn’t see your stumbling blocks. Let me remind you of your stepping stones!
We see teachers who are taking in-town road trips to parade by the homes of their students, just so that they can wave and yell and remind them they are dearly loved and missed.
We see teachers attending online staff meetings to ensure that they are up-to-date on what is happening in their schools and districts.
We see teachers embracing new and daunting technologies so that they can connect with their kids virtually.
We see teachers who are embracing online PD so that they can continue learning and growing during this time.
We see teachers who are creating videos with their co-workers, stepping out of their comfort zones, to dance and cheer and sing, ON VIDEO for the sole purpose of bringing joy to a child.
We see teachers balancing home life, and work, and teaching their own children too.
We see teachers who are emotionally drained, yet still smiling for those kids who need them.
We see you…doing what you do best. And you inspire us.
Truly! Everything you are doing, each little effort you are making, makes us so proud to be just a small part of the education field, working alongside all of you! You offer hope to students, to families, and to our community during these times.
Elie Weisel said, “Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.” If you know any of his story, he truly understands hope in tough times.
So, how can we offer hope? How can we provide hope to our students and their families? From one human being to another? Since we cannot offer our usual hugs and high fives, we have had to get creative in our attempts to stay connected. You are asking and answering that question each and every day.
Here’s a little way that Leach Literacy Training would like to celebrate some of you who are doing just that…going above and beyond to stay connected to those sweet kids in your class.
Maybe you’re writing postcards!
Maybe you have daily Zoom meeting where you let them just ramble, show off their pet, run around giving you motion sickness showing you their house!
Maybe you’ve done a driving-wave parade!
Maybe you created your own YouTube video to share with all of your students!
You all are the most creative, and I know there are more ideas out there. So, we would like to celebrate some of you!
How are you maintaining relationships with your students, giving them hope, during these difficult times?
Share your response in the comments section of this blog post, and four people will be selected to win a set of postcards AND a $25 Amazon gift card.
THANK YOU for everything you are doing. You are beyond incredible, and we cannot say often enough that teachers are some of the hardest working people on the planet.
I cannot wait to hear about all that you’re doing for your students and their hearts!
Comment! Comment! Comment! Share a picture if you have one? We are creating stepping stones!
I am calling and speaking with kids directly. Not always focusing on academics but I always start the conversation with how are they doing as a human being.
I typically do an end of year countdown so we still are but virtually. I’m planning themed virtual get-togethers with my kids throughout the month of May! ????
This article is wonderful! Teaching first grade is defiantly different on-line. I have wonderful set of families that share their spectacular kiddos with me each day! We have google meets twice a week (small group instruction for new learning and whole group for fun activities to build relationships) We have scavenger hunts on google meet, directed drawings, “would you rather…” questions. We did have a teacher parade to show our baby eagles we love them. First grade teachers “shared the marker” and made a video to send to students. We have “Fri-Yay” shout outs! Or “Miss you Monday & Thankful Thursday”. Our campus has continue morning announcements each day using silly outfits or snap chat disguises. This week on our writing choice board they can choose to write a teacher and start a pen pal connection. We have strived to keep school fun and continue our expectation of learning while at home. Connecting with them each day by voice, goggle meet, videos, or emails has been crucial. My technology world has grown tremendously and defiantly made our virtual classroom better!
We have zoom meetings every Tuesday and Thursday, we do FaceTime math lessons, we send ice cream coupons and give shout outs for amazing work!! Most of all we tell them we love them ALL THE TIME!!!
I have been printing out our work from my home and delivering that and supplies for those students who are struggling with online learning to their homes. I also made a class picture since ours were supposed to be 2 weeks ago and wrote a letter to each student on the back :). I am not a tech person at all but they came out awesome and I can’t wait for them to get them!
I have been printing out our work from my home and delivering that and supplies for those students who are struggling with online learning to their homes. I also made a class picture since ours were supposed to be 2 weeks ago and wrote a letter to each student on the back :). I am not a tech person at all but they came out awesome and I can’t wait for them to get them!
*Link to students photos removed for privacy!
Trying to connect with my students is hard during these times. I have been holding zoom meeting to see my students and to let them see each other. I have also reached out to a few students and have dropped off items to their homes. I will also begin writing letters to my 8th grade students, to let them know how much I care for them and love them.
I Zoom with my student each morning at 9am. We do a game or play show-n-tell. We go over work for the day and just have fun conversation. Sometimes we have special guests such as a counselor or reading buddy. I miss them so much. They are truly enjoying a little snippet of normalcy.
This has been one of the hardest things to do in y teaching career. I’ve been staying in touch with kiddos and their parents but it is definitely not the same as being with them in the classroom. I know that when we are able to return, I will treasure every moment and be more patient with each and every child and welcome any interruptions from others with open arms. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I LOVE this!!! May I steal the idea for my staff this week?! My teachers have stepped it up and are rocking distance learning! So many good ideas and I too want to celebrate with them!!!
Loved this! I record myself reading out loud to my students every day. I read out loud to my 6th graders every day when we were in school and I did not want that to end. So far we finished Firegirl and now I am reading This Promise of Change. Next up Lawn Boy! No official assignments just me reading, and posing some think about questions!
I meet with my students twice a week on google meet. Tuesdays I try to keep educational and Thursday’s are usually games. I have made some very rough videos for the kids. This week I am sending post cards out.
I personally delivered all of the books my students had ordered from Scholastic to their homes after our school closed. I knew the books would be a welcome surprise for the students and I was so happy to see my awesome students! Not many students expect to see their teacher when the doorbell rings:)
I am having Zoom meetings with my class. I am sending postcards. I am reading the sequel to the book we finished reading right before spring break. I’m recording a few chapters at a time and posting them on my blog.
I am the literacy specialist at an elementary school and I am recording myself reading books on Google Meet and then uploading them to our school’s library website. I hope they enjoy hearing a new story and seeing a familiar face!
I’ve set up a weekly zoom meeting with the littles. I’ve also created a padlet with a variety of resources to share with the parents as well as simple activities they can do at home with the children with materials that they may already have in hand. My co-workers and I did a zoom video recording of us all singing “baby Shark” in ASL. Setting aside a few minutes to chat with the kid who couldn’t join the group chat. I also plan to start having one of my own kids record me reading books to share with my families!
Since we have moved to the distance learning format, right away, I started with digital morning meetings, It’s something we did in the classroom every day, and I felt it was important to hear my student feelings. We meet on zoom at 3 pm to play fun games, some instructional, others just for enjoyment. I hold tutoring sessions anytime parents are feeling frustrated and need extra support. A few weeks ago, I mailed letters to my class to let them know that I missed them and to tell them that I was here for them during our time away from the classroom. After we learned the school was closed for the year, my heart was heavy at the fact I would get to say goodbye in person to my fantastic class. I thought of the idea to bring a little bit of happiness to them after I saw a post on Instagram that referenced “choose happy.” It was then I started gathering ideas for my very own happy packet. I ordered several books for each student; I made personalized water bottles with their names. I also created inspiration cards and stickers to cheer them up. Of course, I added plenty of snacks to lighten their mood. Lastly, I included a handwritten note to each child to let them know how important they are to me. I did a porch drop off to deliver each “Happy Package.” It was all worth it.
I’ve been hosting a daily class meeting on Google Meet, and I set up a FlipGrid so students who can’t make it to our real-time meeting can still talk with their friends! In our class meeting we’ve been focusing on the positive parts of this time apart and added more fun things to it like GoNoodle, Quizizz, and scavenger hunts. I also call/text every family each week to touch base and offer any support I can.