Going back to school is an anxiety-inducing time when everything else in the world is running smoothly. Add a pandemic to the mix, and it feels like both teachers and students have been thrown into some sort of poorly-planned reality show called “Whose Education Is It Anyway” where everything is made up and the points don’t matter. This isn’t easy, and there are no good answers. Teachers are doing everything they possibly can to prepare for lessons, but perhaps more importantly, they’re preparing countless things that need to be in place to keep both students and staff safe.
When most kids walk into a brand new situation, there’s some degree of anxiety. They don’t know exactly what’s going on, so they’re going to look to the nearest trusted adult to figure out how to feel. Even as adults, it’s easy to let stress overtake you – but teachers are finding some creative ways not only to ease kids’ stress but to help them start the year off on a good note.
One Texas kindergarten teacher named Jennifer Birch Pierson had the brilliant idea to turn her classroom into a parking lot, which makes total sense when your goal is to keep your students in one specific area. I mean, why not give them a parking spot? This crafty teacher completely transformed her room, with each desk decorated as a Jeep. Windshield, face shield, it’s basically the same thing anyway. Walking into this colorful classroom would make any 5-year-old enthusiastic about learning – and it wouldn’t hurt to see colleges and even office buildings follow suit. Better yet, everyone can just work from their car in the parking lot of their office building. You know, for safety.
Just imagine the rush of pure joy any kid would feel walking into this incredible learning lot.
In Virginia, one teacher solved the very real problem of giving students positive affirmation for a job well done. Sadly, high-fives are out of the question for the foreseeable future. But what if you didn’t have to use your hand? Michelle Clark created a simple yet extremely creative cardboard hand, for safer high-fives. Each kid has a small cardboard hand on a stick to high-five the teacher’s slightly larger hand on a stick. Hands on sticks for everyone (is a sentence I never thought I’d write!).
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Michelle Clark is truly on a roll – she also brought the classic “staying up late talking to your next-door neighbor before you could afford walkie-talkies” tool to the classroom. That’s right, partner work and small group discussions are done from 6 feet away via cans-on-a-string. Really, who needs Zoom when you have Can-On-A-String™?
Can-On-A-String™: It’s Adequate
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This teacher made e-learning a little more personal by giving each student a stuffed animal that sat in their otherwise empty seat during the virtual school day. Though the kids can’t be there in person, having a name-tag and fuzzy representative makes the whole experience a little more special.
Nothing sadder to a teacher than an empty classroom but I’m determined to not be lonely this year! After virtually talking to some new students they picked their desk. One student said Daddy look I’m the sloth desk❤️. FES Falcons are ready to SOAR! pic.twitter.com/MTHE5RMNcj
— Smart Readers (@SmartReaders4) August 14, 2020
This handy Dad invented a device for his wife’s classroom so students could use hand sanitizer without actually using their hands to dispense it. Simple, effective, and bonus points for excellent use of PVC pipes.
Teachers and students are learning side-by-side, figuring out how to navigate this strange new reality. While it hasn’t been easy, it’s reassuring to see just how many teachers have figured out ways to make their classrooms both safe and exciting for their students. High hands-on-a-stick fives all around, teachers. You’re absolutely nailing it.