Help for Virtual Kindergarten teachers!

This is a message from an Elementary School Principal,

Dear Kindergarten Teachers...

I love you and can’t thank you enough for being you.

My advice with virtual teaching .... start simple! Stay simple! Don’t stress about all the cuteness of building all these wonderful virtual classrooms. My 5 year old just wants to see you happy, know that you love her, hear your sing an Elsa song, and think her new outfit is cool! Don’t stress about learning all these digital tools. The more clicks for a 5 year old, the more chances of losing a child. Start small, stay consistent and be predictable. Just be you and make everyone feel loved! That’s what you do best!

Give kids jobs (dancer, jumping jax, mood checker, timer, joke teller, star student, pet and etc). My daughter would love to be the morning greeter and say everyone’s name as they enter the classroom. Don’t worry about content or getting kids into virtual breakout groups. If kids were in your classroom you might not start groups for a month. Create different segments for the time you are on the camera with the kids (kitchen, the lab, and etc). Don’t stress about the printed schedule that says you have to be online for x hours. If you end early because you read the virtual classroom and that needed to be done that is fine! Nobody knows kids better than you and nobody knows when to pivot better than you. You are truly a super hero and should be appreciated in that way!

Recommended Action steps...

1) Start a bucket system where kids and families pick up packets each weekend and turn in assignments. 5 year olds need those tangible assignments (letters, poems, word study, morning activities, playdough, and etc).

2) set up one on one conferences before the first day of school. Get to know the kids, review the supplies, and go over your expectations for day 1.

3) host one virtual parent meeting with everyone together before the first day of school (7pm).

4) take care of yourself. Smile and have fun! For real, my kindergarten teacher can’t help my child if she is not herself. Rest, reboot, and self-care.

One of the kindergarten teachers at our school recently asked me this question, “Who was one of the greatest teachers of all time?” She replied, “Mr. Rogers! AND he did it all virtually.” This kindergarten teacher and other educators will be sharing their inspiration and other quick wins on September 1 at The Virtual Essentials Conference. You can join by clicking here. https://bit.ly/VirtualEssentialsConference. We are in this together!

We can do this! I believe in you! I’m sending you a virtual hand sanitized high five! Thank you for being such an amazing virtual essential hero that will keep my kids engaged and excited about learning.

Ryan

Principal and dad of a kindergarten and 1st grader.