NOTE: I learned the phrase “the New Now” from Lawanda Wesley, an ECE school district administrator who used the phrase on one of the webinars referenced in this article…
Back in April I hosted a series of webinars.
One of the webinars was about providing remote teaching and support to young children and their families during Covid-19 school closures.
Another webinar was an early-days discussion of teaching - and using practical & FUN strategies to support yourself and young children during this wild and often difficult new world of the pandemic.
Both of them were panel discussions.
Both of them were FANTASTIC.
On those two webinars we certainly discussed strategies, strategies, strategies (I always like to keep it super practical) and worked to tackle some of the difficult day-to-day struggles you all are facing…
...and, interestingly, some of the feedback I got was that it was the more how-to-think-about-teaching-right-now ideas that were the most helpful.
So, since many of you recently responded to the survey I sent out to say that you needed help teaching during this unprecedented time I wanted to share my personal top take-aways from those two panel discussions with you.
My hope is that these ideas may be helpful to you right now, whether you are currently in a program that is open or closed...opening or closing...some combination of the two...or, stumped, stalled, or flip-flopping on the decision (and I hope that those of you who are teachers are a part of that decision!!!).
1. Keep getting creative with how to engage and support families and don’t think you’re failing if they don’t write back, show up, or respond to your calls.
Who knows what’s going on with them? Probably a lot. Probably things are hard. Maybe you reaching out is actually helping immensely even though they can’t find the time or wherewithal to let you know. This goes for those of you who are offering remote learning/support but also is relevant to working with families who drop their kids and run or have erratic attendance.
2. Focus on play as the vehicle for teaching, learning, supporting and healing.
Children from birth through age 8 learn best through play. How can we support families to play with children? How can you give children an opportunity to work on the goals you have for them via play - whether remotely or in-person? Do you take a break from Zoom teaching and send home materials? Do you use small groups? If your program is open do you have dramatic play props that can help children process the pandemic? (Masks for dolls, take to make “6 foot apart” X’s near block structures for the “Lakeshore People” or Lego figures to stand on?) Can you give a piece of blank paper with no directions instead of a writing assignment so children can learn to draw which is the pre-cursor to writing?
3. Use a puppet to help children process what’s going on!
In one of the webinars I mentioned classroom teacher and TCBOC community member, Marianne Morup-Smith showed us how she uses her puppet, Mr. Bee, to help children process what’s going on. Mr. Bee didn’t understand how come he had to stand 6 flowers away from his friend and he thought a mask went over his eyes. Using play, humor and common “why” questions you can help children make sense of what’s going on.
4. Get creative about what “remote teaching” or Zoom/video teaching means.
Credit for this idea goes to a TCB Online Conference participant, who wrote in and I read it on the webinar. She said that rather than do a Zoom session with the whole class or even a small group she sends out a calendar link to families and they can schedule a 1:1 time for their child with herself and her co-teacher food a child-led 15-30 minute video call. One child wanted to give a tour of their room. Another requested to sing familiar songs. Some shyly hid behind a parent’s leg while the adults spoke. Another showed a drawing. Some families didn’t do it. Some did it weekly. Some did it sometimes. BEAUTIFUL. This is what good early childhood teaching looks like (one way).
5. Take care of you.
I know it’s easier said than done! Interestingly, in the survey I just sent out to you all only 6% of respondents said how to take care of themselves during this time was their #1 priority….but 13% said it was there #2 priority. That’s almost twice as many people. So...we know we should do this but it’s hard to make it THE most important thing even though we’ve all heard the put your oxygen mask on first thing. Hmmm...how can you do one small thing to take care of yourself today or this week? In my interview with Julie Kurtz, Lawanda Wesley and Julie Nicholson on Culturally Responsive Self-Care they really blew up the concept of “self care” (and made me come around to it) - we’re not talking spa day here. Chop some veggies on sunday so you have them for the week, cook for a loved one, take your vitamins, 20 minute power nap (I know that one may seem especially impossible) do something that’s been nagging at you...what does self-care mean for you? Maybe it’s just taking 60 seconds to focus on your breath.
6. Lower your expectations.
This one’s a tricky one and I don’t mean lower your expectations of the children. To be fair this advice was given in April and now it’s 3 months later but we are still adapting to our current reality. We need to go easy on ourselves and each other. Many people have had old traumas triggered, are less productive, less focused, experiencing depression or mood swings...the way our lives have changed boggles the mind and we’re not in the clear yet, sadly. Maybe “lower your expectations” is not the best way to say it but PLEASE cut yourselves and others some slack.
7. Rely on the same good ole early childhood principles you’ve always relied on.
Meeting families where they are, centering play, using playful teaching like puppets, taking care of you, accepting/meeting yourself and others where you are, are all tried and true early childhood principles. How we apply these ideas just looks a little bit different right now.
Of course this doesn’t begin to do those two, 2-hour conversations justice but these are the guiding ideas that have stuck with me 3 months later and I have seen many of these ideas echoed in the articles, social media posts, and webinars I have attended since then.
Hope it helps even just a little!
Will you share your ideas or questions about how you will or already are applying these 7 ideas with me?
PLEASE COMMENT BELOW!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts…