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 

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.

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

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!

What strategies have worked for you?

An offering for the children and families of Room 3

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

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. 

An offering for the children of Room 15 

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?

An offering for the families of Room 4

The teachers of Room 4, reflecting on that fact that we are truly living through a historical moment in time, realized that when our children are older they will likely want to know details. As time passes we will inevitably forget the details of our everyday lives during this quarantine, so they extended an invitation to the families to add to their children's Journey Books (Portfolios). 

They included a series of questions to help guide the families who chose to join them in this experience.  

• What do you and your child look forward to most during these days together?
• What is one funny or lighthearted thing that has happened.
• What has been challenging?
• What is your child’s favorite book/activity/phrase/movie/song/snack etc. right now?
• What is something new your child has started doing since quarantine that they weren’t doing before? / What is something new they’ve learned?
• Family members, what is life like in your eyes right now? What do you want to tell your child now for them to read years later about this time? 
• If possible, please include a picture to add to this memento.

An offering from Resident Teacher Brittney

"Hello families! I've been spending lots of time at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge during this crisis, and I wanted to share my experience looking for animals with all of you! I attempted to create a British nature documentary....and hilarity ensued.  I hope you and the children enjoy and get some laughs out of it! 

I am also wondering what animals you're seeing on walks! I'd love to start compiling some photos of animals you're seeing, and maybe your children could get involved in taking the photos, I know they've been loving taking photos at school. Let us know what you're finding!"

An offering for the children of Room 5

Exploring tape and lines with cars, trucks, and vehicles. 

Or perhaps tape is combined with light or presented on a table or with other objects. Maybe it is presented in a  way that just allows the children to freely explore the material...tape! ​

In Room 5,  the children are often observed peeling the tape off the table, or wrapping the tape around certain objects. You could present the tape in small pieces or larger, long pieces and just see what your child does with the tape. 

​What are some other ideas that you have for exploring tape? ​