How's it going this week?
I wanted to remind you that everything we know about how best to teach young children in developmentally appropriate ways still applies.
This is true, even if you are teaching children virtually or supporting families by sending home activity ideas.
...and, everything you know about how young children learn can guide you even if you have to ask children to not share toys in order to prevent the spread of germs.
Everything we know about the importance of centering play...about the necessity of keeping things active...about using music and movement and dramatic effect (puppets!?) to engage...about following the child's lead and basing the activities we offer on their interests, is all still of paramount importance.
What we do with that information just looks different.
Everything we know about preventing, addressing, and transforming challenging behavior still applies.
It just might look a little bit different.
And, just like during the days of yore it's OK and always best practice to scrap an activity right in the middle of it if you see the children losing interest (that means you're an excellent teacher, it doesn't mean you failed).
By the way I am SO completely sorry that on top of the ever-challenging job of teaching during a pandemic, you have to complete theTeaching Strategies Gold (TSG) or the Developmental Rating System Profile (DRDP), or some other assessments.
I'm not sure how on earth you're realistically going to get all that info - and with documentation no less - if you're teaching remotely (in theory from families, I guess?) but just do the best you can with that cause we both know it's a funding, standards, and accountability thing.
I guess a group Zoom shot of everyone singing the ABC song and other songs can be used to show that you're working on all sorts of pre-literacy and phonemic awareness skills? I like to Eat, Eat, Eat Apples and Bananas? Check with your supervisor on that if you need to though, of course!
I just want to make sure you know that I see you. I believe in you. I know you are doing the best you can under exceptional circumstances...and you might even find out months or years from now just how much of a difference you made in the life of a child or family who rarely shows up.