Reflections on Teaching During Covid19

Introduction to the 2020 School Year

The 2020 school year began with in person classes.  There was a lot of hesitation and  uncertainty surrounding how we would navigate a classroom experience especially at the kindergarten level. The school administration put everything in place to ensure teachers would be prepared to deliver quality supervision and instruction to students. Personal protective gears and items for effective sanitation were put in place. As much as possible, the classroom was arranged to keep students at a safe enough distance for effective learning. 

The kindergarten program, being more play-based in nature, was set up to still get students to learn through exploration. One major adjustment that was made was to get rid of structured centres such as the drama and building centres. Students were provided with their individualized bins with materials they could use to explore as they learned. These bins would be changed every two weeks to keep students engaged. 

Classroom set up to accommodate students when two classes merged

At the start of the term, I had a small class of 15 students which was ideal. Somehow I was able to provide the kind of one to one teaching students needed to get them to achieve individualized goals. After the realignment of classes in October, with more parents opting for online learning, my class was merged with another kindergarten. I ended up with 26 students.  It was somewhat of a challenge fitting students in the space while keeping them 6 feet apart.  The 6 feet, though ideal, was just not possible. Students made the most of their space and we got through a difficult term. 

Students attempting a writing task

Outdoor Learning

During the first term of the 2020 school year, there was every attempt to get students outdoors for learning. Outdoor learning was much appreciated and gave students a chance to take their masks off and engage in different activities. 

Students creating chalk art on the ground

Students loved the fall season where they could create leaf piles and do all kinds of creative designs with items in the environment. Social interaction is crucial to the development of small children. The opportunity to engage outdoor gave them a chance to play and socialize in their own way. 

Student happily shared her cake design

Students putting a pile of leaves together for jumping

Outdoor learning provides so many opportunities for students to apply what they learn in the classroom. Below I share a video of an ESL student who used sticks and a ball to make the number 10. We had been reading a book titled "Not a stick". This is definitely a recommended read for kindergarten. It opens up their imagination to see objects in different ways. 

Looking Ahead

Overall, it was a better than anticipated start to the 2020 school year. Kindergarten students have done a fabulous job with wearing their mask and ensuring that they wash their hands and sanitize often. Heading in to the Winter season, I am hoping that learning will continue to be engaging and that students will have fun as they interact and navigate the learning environment in the midst of a global pandemic. 

Virtual Field Trips

Virtual Field Trips can greatly enhance the online teaching experience.  Students in kindergarten are particularly fascinated with trips that take them for a visit to the zoo or the aquarium.  Several sites offer this experience with zoo cams that capture the animals in real time. 

Throughout the online learning experience students were directed to various sites where they had to observe animals of their choice and write about their observations.  There were several opportunities to embed Math and Language in the virtual experience.

Student was asked to observe the Panda Cam for a few minutes and write about what was observed.  

Sites that offer Virtual Field Trips

The Georgia Aquarium

San Diego Zoo

Panda Cam (Atlanta Zoo)

Zoo Cams Around the World

Thanks to Essential Workers

Kindergarten Art

Learning at home in an online environment has become our new normal in the kindergarten classroom.  Students have many questions and some understand that a terrible virus has invaded our country and so in order to stay safe we have to learn at home. Students have also learned that in order for many services to continue in our day to day lives, there are special people who continue to go to work every day. In their own way, they are expressing thanks to all the essential workers and recognizing the great job they are doing.

 It is a joy to see art from the perspective of a child.

Kindergarten Online Learning

My Thoughts

There are less than two months to the end of the school year and for the next few weeks I will be sharing my experience of online learning with my kindergarten class.  Navigating the online learning environment has been somewhat of an adventure.  I must confess that I miss the person to person interaction in the physical classroom space. Nevertheless, the students and I have gotten into an online routine that seems to be working.

We have weekly Zoom classes where some student interaction is facilitated through games, stories and other creative expressions.  Students get the chance to share their home learning and participate in weekly Show and Tell. Being in the comfort of their home with parents around, gives students that extra exuberance to share with friends.  Mark you, there are a few of them that still need that prompting to share openly.

It has been fascinating to watch their growth and share in their learning in the online space.  The school year will be completed in this online environment and as much as I would love to be able to see them in the classroom, we will make the most of what technology affords us.