Boulder Journey School - online resources for learning at home

Online Learning Database

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 07:00:00 GMT

Dear Families,

Boulder Journey School has always been a space for children and adults to learn and grow together. While we are all challenged by this new way of life dictated by social distancing, we look forward to the innovative ways that educators and families, as well as the larger educational community, will find to continue learning together.

At Boulder Journey School we strongly believe in advocating for the rights of children -- children’s rights not just to protection and provision, but also their right to participation. Children want to participate in all areas of life. All areas of life have something to teach and children have something to offer all areas of life.

Making Room - Our second social story

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 21:20:51 GMT

After returning to school, we realized that we needed a second social story to closely examine some of the new differences the children were experiencing.

We also realized that we wanted to solidify our language as a school around "physical distancing". We chose to use the language of "Making Room".

Download and read our second social story here.

Making Room for Each Other at Boulder Journey School
File Size:	16618 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Social Story for coming back to school

Wed, 06 May 2020 18:12:20 GMT

To prepare for reopening, a team of teachers created this Social Story to offer to the children and families. It walks through things that will be different, as well as things that will be the same.

The Social Story also talks about the emotions that might come and how it is possible to hold simultaneous conflicting emotions.

If the embedded PDF isn't working for you, click here to view the Social Story in Google Drive: drive.google.com/file/d/1NX9hui-UaEO-EZPEKK4C3BoixX_6u2LM/view?usp=sharing

Preparing for Reopening: Before and After School

Tue, 05 May 2020 07:00:00 GMT

An offering for the children of Room 6 from Mentor Teacher Faith

To support the transition back to school and the changes that transition will bring, the teams of teachers in different classrooms have been using their virtual space to walk through the new routines. Mentor Teacher Faith added photos of herself engaging in the new routines.

Deconstruction and Decomposition

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 07:00:00 GMT

An offering for the children of Room 7 by Mentor Teacher Liz

Supporting Synchronous Video Chats with Toddlers

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 07:00:00 GMT

An offering for the children and families of Room 6

We recognize that connection is of utmost importance during this time. This can be tricky to navigate with toddlers who are just learning how to use the various video technologies. The children's adaptability is shining through as they demonstrate their growing understanding of what it means to share time together through a screen.

Below are some strategies for supporting the children in engaging with the humans on the other end of the screen.

Objects in Motion

One idea is to keep moving. As your chatting partner (whether that is a grandparent, a family friend, or a teacher) to move around their house as they talk to your child. This can lead to games such as 'I Spy', finding objects to tell your child about, or giving a tour of their home.

Make it a Musical

When in doubt, sing it out! Music keeps children engaged in a video call. Many songs are accompanied by hand gestures or support jumping, dancing, and moving for an added interactive component. If your chatting partner can play an instrument, that is a bonus!

Here are some more resources about keeping video chatting interesting with your child!
http://babyation.com/5-video-chatting-tips-babies-toddlers/
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/tips-video-chatting-young-children

What strategies have worked for you?

Messing About with Glue

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 07:00:00 GMT

An offering for the children and families of Room 3

While working with glue with infants and young toddlers can be a bit messy, it can provide a new and interesting sensory experience for your child with something easily accessible at home.

Glueing is a fun way to work together to create an original work of art that can can support fine motor coordination and provide a new and engaging creative experience.

In the past, teachers have offered glue alongside a paintbrush or something that can be used as a paintbrush (flowers, leaves, sticks, pipe cleaners, etc.) and materials that children can use to stick to a paper. Both solid and liquid glue offer different, fun, sensory experiences.

The Room 3 teachers suggest putting down big pieces of paper or newspaper over the surface you plan on using to work, and then having a warm, wet cloth around to wipe off excess glue and your child's hands.

Possible materials:

Pom pom balls
Natural materials from outside
Cut outs from magazines
Cut up cardboard
Construction paper
Food, such as dry beans or rice
Yarn
Pieces of fabric

A one-teacher band

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 07:00:00 GMT

An offering for the families and infant children of Room 2 from Resident Teacher Emily

While still in school, the children and teachers of Room 2 had been investigating sound. While at home, this investigation continued through the variety of offerings from the infant teachers. Resident Teacher Emily decided to use some random materials in her house to create "The One Emily Band."

She remembered that as a child, she would pull out the pots and pans and bang on them to make music. She thought it would be fun to do this again as an adult and create a little tune to go along with the sound exploration. She reflected that this can create big sounds, so doing it outside might offer a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

Here are some of the materials she found:

She used

plastic tupperware
a mixing bowl
bubble wrap
a homemade guitar (rubber bands and a tissue box
an old wrapping paper tube
an Easter egg filled with M&Ms (you could use a plastic bottle with rice or beans!)
an old oatmeal container.

She took videos of herself using these materials and created a song in iMovie.

Expression Characters

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:51:55 GMT

An offering for the children of Room 11 from Mentor Teacher Laura

There may be a lot of big feelings happening right now and play is a great way to make sense of what may be happening. Laura had a lot of fun making these. She offers the experience to her children to see what different versions and characters they will develop.

Sun and Ice

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:28:03 GMT

An offering for the children of Room 15

After seeing so many yellow dandelions, this teacher decided to collect some!

She remembered an invitation she had set up in the past and how easy it would be to recreate at home!

Step 1: Choose natural materials

You can use anything! Pine needles, flowers, grass, sticks! Whatever you want. What is unique to your neighborhood/ yard?

Step 2: Find containers and fill with water

Step 3: Arrange natural items in a way of your choosing Could you arrange them by color? Type of material? How will it look beautiful to you?

Step 4: Put it in the freezer

Step 5: Investigate

Explore it outside!
Watch as the sunny weather melts the ice before you.
Can you break through the ice to reach the items inside?
How do the materials stay the same? How do they change?
What tools can you use?
What happens to the ice when an item is taken out? Does it leave an imprint?
How does it feel on your fingers? On your toes?
Can you use a flashlight to shine it through the ice?