School, Students and Washing Hands

                                    How to Wash Your Hands Song

                                     (To the tune of Frere  Jacques)

                                                                                                     

                                            Scrub your palms.                                 

                                             Between the fingers

                                             Wash the back

                                             Twirl the tips around 

                                              Twirl the tips around

                                              Thumb attack

                                              Thumb attack

      Who would have thought that washing your hands would come to be so crucial. Of course this use to be a no brainer. You are expected to wash your hand after using the bathroom, before eating. As teachers, parents and caregivers we expected this from our children as we tell them to wash their hands all the time.

   But with Covid 19 washing hands has taken on a new meaning and is emphatically emphasized as being crucial to keep Covid away. Children must now be closely monitored both at school and home to make sure that they are not just washing their hands, but they are washing their hands rigorously. Therefore they are told to sing or count in order to make sure they are washing their hands correctly.

   Teachers and school administrative boards are already over worked and under paid but in these times their work load has tripled. In order to keep both themselves safe and their students safe they must go beyond and above to perform ritually cleaning of the classroom and school environment.Parents are also stressed out with children returning to school and they must also pay critical attention to symptoms as well as washing routines. While this takes a toll it is obviously necessary. But as I have said before we are stronger together.

    I have found that in the few weeks that school has opened I have been running around like a chicken without a head. Getting the children at school to wash hands, to follow up with going to bathroom, keeping the masks on, to stay in their group.To use the sanitizer after each activity, School life has a different look this calendar year and definitely a different routine. As educators we must do all that we can in oder to survive.

   Children learn repetition, rhymes and rhythm. Therefore as I started the blog with singing a song, it is about getting children to do what we need them to do during this time. Singing and dancing gets children moving and this works at any age. Adding music to your daily class room tasks will get your students moving. They will be happy to go and wash their hands, use the sanitizer etc. They will not see it as a chore but more as a game or an activity.

To fight Covid we definitely need the children we are trying to protect involved. So how do we get them involved? 

1. Teachers as many of you have done already I am sure. Get your children involve to help with keeping on their masks and social distancing, as well as washing hands etc. children are very good at keeping each other accountable

2.Let children be a part of the cleaning process within their classroom to an extent.Tasks can be delegated based on their age.

3.Give them wipes to wipe down certain ares as assigned, eg books, toys etc. Children like to feel as if they are apart of something. Getting them involved makes them feel grown up. Telling them that even though they are small they are doing their part in contributing to prevent Covid. This makes them feel special.

4.Place them in groups and assign each group a leadership roles or goals. Example one set of students can be in charge of sanitizing the books and wipe them down, or one group 0f students each day get to demonstrate  to the class how to wear masks correctly, or how to social distance during school etc

5.Get children to write and make up their own songs and poems for washing hands, social distancing and wearing masks. The songs can be to the tune of other songs from different genre. These can be displayed in the classroom and they can also be presented to the class and the class take turns to learn the song or recite the poem to the class. Children are naturally creative and by getting them to create their own songs to the very activities they must now perform daily. It gets them into the present stage of acting upon what is expected therefore it becomes a part of them. So having a song in their mind or singing while washing your their hands. This gets into them in forming a habit while having fun at the same time.

   During this school year as teachers we have had to program an entire different existence inside the classroom, and learning has taking on a different narrative.These are some of the activities I have used during the learning process this year.If you have different creative ideas that you are using inside your classrooms I would love to hear from you. These ideas can also be used by parents at home on a different scale as you can challenge children to pen their own songs or poems for the family to follow for Covid 19 guidelines.

Have a great week and let us continue to care for each other and most of all be safe.

   

                                                                                                                                                               

                                              

                                          

 

     

Parents and Teachers become one Team to fight Covid

   

           School has been in full swing as the school year has started with many anxieties and fears regarding Covid 19. School administration and teachers are left in a chaotic humbug as they try to work around health guidelines as it pertains to the virus. Many schools are already reporting cases of teachers and children in North America who have contracted the virus since the reopening of schools.Despite school boards best intentions in trying to get classes ready and internal spaces for social distancing , it will be an uphill battle. Many schools are over crowded, also many schools are already underfunded and their budgets cut in half.

      Let us face the realities that Covid will be with us for some time. Schools are always the last to receive any assistance and this is apparent right across the globe.It is a sad admission but one that rings true and if you an educator like myself you will know exactly what I am talking about. Therefore teachers, parents and school administrations will need to join forces in order to keep our children safe. Let us be operation Covid as we can and will come through this if we work together.

  Parents form a committee with your class teachers and find out what is it that they need.Choose a class leader and get that parent to reach out to other parents, delegating things needed for the class or anything that needs to be done. If the school allows it and parents or guardians who can volunteer, then they should bearing in mind social distancing protocols.In a class that is large having a volunteer who is able to come in on certain days can be of great help. With extra help a class can be divided into groups for certain lessons or activities.

   Parents and teachers can also brain storm together how to get donations from community groups, or even athletes or corporation who are willing to help with resources to keep children safe in and out of class at school. Take an inventory of what is needed in the class or school to keep children safe. I believe that many persons are willing to help and they will if when asked. Both parents and teachers make a note of what is needed for a successful year, for example do you need partitions, sanitizers, wipes etc. How will the classroom be cleaned  each and by this I am not talking about a deep cleaning. I mean the things teachers would do at the end of their class like putting books away, toys and mobiles or learning instruments. These will now need to be sanitized at the end of each school day.

 The target should be more rigorous for the younger children from grades 3 to Kindergarten. It is especially harder for them to social distance as somethings are abstract to them. Trying to explain Covid to younger children can be daunting at times. Try to take it to their level. Talk about their stuffy or favourite toy and what would happen if their toy got sick. Build on different scenarios.Incorporate and simplify what is happening in the news about Covid, and speak to children about it. Ask them to tell you how they are feeling. Let them share as a class what they are doing to help stop the virus.Parents and teachers can work together so that children hear the same thing as it pertains to the virus.

  Have daily classroom routines of children sanitizing and washing their hands. Even using a Stuffy or doll each day as a class mascot.Let the class give the mascot a name and check in at certain times of the day to make sure the mascot is following all Covid protocols. Repetition works best with young children therefore do not stop repeating all the guidelines of what is needed when they have to use the bathroom, or to wear their mask and so on.

 We can do this. Yes we can and will, but it is going to get really bad before it gets good. My fellow teachers and educators, this can be a thankless profession, but we never chose this career for fame or money. It was to serve and guide young minds. Like many of our students that have passed through our hands, we will get another generation through this. Later on they will reminisce about school life during this invisible enemy that have claimed so many. They will be grateful whether or not you are around for them to personally express it to you. We are at war with this virus but with proper strategies and armed with Science we can combat this.

 Parents be good to your teachers. Remember they are carrying a heavy load just like all our frontline workers, and like wise teachers be gentle to your parents, as they also under stress and are fearful. Let's build bridges and not walls. We will need to work together and not rely on our political leaders. Reach out and support each other. Also feel free to reach out to me through this blog for support or even just to share ideas.

 Together we are stronger and we will overcome. Let us keep our children safe as they are our future.👊

  

  

Schools Are Opening!!!

 

    Parents! Get set, Get ready and we are off to the races... ok not exactly we are off to school. Normally this time of the year brings excitement as well as anxiety.Kids are excited to see their friends to learn all the things they experienced over the summer. Those moving on from one level, like from middle school to high school, or from high school to college may have anxieties.

Parents are very stressed and confused and this is very understandable.One group of students that I haven't heard mentioned are the Junior Kindergartens going out to school for the first time.It is going to be very hard on these little ones going out for the first time. For some of them it will be the first time leaving their caregivers or parents for a more structured environment. It has been my experience as an educator that some of these precious little ones take a while to adjust, and some cry for the first few weeks. With Covid this will even more unsettling.

No doubt trying to explain Covid to infants has been quite emotional both for them as well as adults.Their normal routine and life has been disrupted as we know it.This has not been a normal summer by any stress of the imagination and if we are going to be honest, things will not be returning to normal any time soon. How can parents navigate during these stressful times knowing they have to send the children out to school. Many parents do not have the support or resources to keep children at home as they need to return to work themselves.

Here are a few tips for parents:

1.Have an open honest conversations with children about what school will look like

2.For younger kids talk about bathroom drills with them and tell them to ask for help. Have this talk with them everyday.

3.Show children how to ear their masks

4.Have a supply of masks on hand as children will lose them, but also try their masks each day as children will lose them. Also masks need to be washed and changed each day.

5.Give older children sanitizers but be careful with younger children as you do not want them ingesting it or getting it their food.

6.Keep on top of what the school is doing in terms of cleaning and social distancing. Keep constantly in touch with your child/ren's teacher.

7.Find out from your kids what goes on at school. Constantly check your child's temperature as well as finding out how they are feeling.The moment your child indicates that he or she isn't feeling well you should keep them home just to be safe. Also if it persists parents should get their child/ren tested.

8.Find parents in the class or school and form a support group.This is very important as parents can be a strong support for each other.Parents can arrange to pick each other's child, and look after each other's child on alternate days. This will help parents in getting a break which can help to reduce stress. It also helps children in maintaining some normalcy with hanging out with their friends.

9.Do not feel that as parents you must go through this alone, especially for single parents with no support or little resources.Find groups to join or listen to your local counsellors  as well as scientists and doctors. Covid 19 is an invincible enemy therefore we must be informed on how to managed it. Let's all do our part. Until a vaccine is found the virus will be us for a while. We must protect our precious gems which are our children.

If you someone struggling, please reach out. We all need each other at this time. The virus does not discriminate. Check up and check in on others and be kind to each other.Let us take care of each other.

Parent, teachers, and everyone let us have the best school year possible in 2020 for our children. One love, and be safe.