Nah. Let’s not do this...

This is a photo taken and below is the link to the article: (RETURNING TO SCHOOL: Thrall ISD, a Central Texas school district in Williamson County, reopened its classrooms Aug. 10, one of the first in this area. Here's a look at what the school day looked like for these kiddos (📸: Thrall ISD): https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/schools/thrall-isd-reopens-school-buildings-august-10-one-of-first-central-texas-school-districts/269-78065b94-54cd-4af3-96c0-db74177c33ef )

So in my mind thinking consciously, and with a pandemic mindset at the forefront, social distancing in school does not have to seem/look/feel lonely. Lunch time could include something engaging like playing music or a show/video on the screen, Bingo, one of those put a finger down if or some other game combination. You could incorporate reading days or book reviews. Classroom teachers usually know how to be inventive with activities for learning during the instructional setting and although group work seems as if it’s the end all be all and ideal at all times, there are instances in...dare I say it; this life where we don’t get to rely on someone else’s opinion or thoughts to formulate an answer to a question or critically think.  Read alouds, silent solos, writing prompts, Gallery walks, show and tell, call and respond, sharing circles were kids are spread apart in groups and have topics to learn and discuss, I could go in and on...but these are all ways to learn in an educational setting and still remain socially distant....AND they are good instructional practices!

I repeat social distancing doesn’t have to look/feel/seem depressing or sad or even mundane. We, the adults, just have to be more inventive and creative. I’m thinking of this pandemic as the resurgence of educational practices. Perhaps we’ve become stagnant in our ways of teaching and stopped thinking outside of the box to inform and entertain kids.

These next few months won’t be a slow walk in the park for anyone because it’s new territory and with new territory you could feel stifled or stuck or lost or discombobulated or even frustrated when you have an idea in your head and the experience doesn’t match the expectation but I’m here to tell you to think positively about the opportunities to shift culture and the entire educational experience!

Use some of the suggestions I gave above or research others. Those few were the ones I came up with while typing out this blog so I’m quite sure if I went back into my mental Rolodex, catalogue of activities, or chose any of the tons of books I have on instruction off my library shelf I could come up with more or adjust and refine something else to fit my needs. You can and should do the same! 

Good luck and reach out to me if needed to assist you! I’m open to help!