Virtual Brainstorm with Elementary Teachers
Today’s brainstorm is being held for Elementary Teachers.
Resources:
https://totebagfactory.com/products/organic-cotton-canvas-drawstring-bags?variant=19035504607301
Naturalist Kit for each individual child so you don’t have to deal with sanitizing after each use.
Student Materials for Outdoor Learning:
(The cost of these 4 items is about $100 for 20 students)
1. Small Backpack
2. Foam Pad
3. Clipboard
4. Pencil Case
(More really helpful materials that we use)
5. Plastic Folder (with 6 - 10 pockets)
6. Small Individual White Board & Marker
7. Student Journals (We have one for writing, reading & science) - you can attach a pen or pencil with duct tape and a string
8. Sketchbook for math
9. Book (or two) that the student is reading for class
10. Bug headnet
Building a wheelchair accessible shelter:
Julie Bisson provided the following three videos she made for her 4th grade students:
Materials for Outdoor Learning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2joMq45pus&t=24s
Overview of Outdoor Learning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81C3gxHHa5c&t=3s
Strategies for Teaching Math Outdoors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvS6U0L-Kc8&t=5s
Break-Out Group Notes:
→ teachers are more interested in being supported in person vs. resources on the internet
→ what do teachers need from us to help them get outside?
→ approaching admin for various ways this can happen
→ menus of options (site evaluations, once you’re outside how do you help kids with physical spacing ideas, curriculum ideas - math/language arts/nature journaling), offering teachers ways to help support students outdoors
→ lean-to Adirondack style, sit coupons, wipe boards, aprons for materials/tools
—> On-line resources we use as teachers: Google classroom, Zoom, and power points
If we continue the remote learning process how will we do that? Build a shelter. Provide place-based education. Create projects that can happen at home.
Funding for extra needs now?
Transportation - how will schools deal with busing?
(I teach 4th grade). Our routine is to go out everyday with these materials (Sept - Thanksgiving and about March - June) unless there is a downpour. In weather that is too cold or wet to write (Dec - Early March), I teach the mini lessons indoors, go out for 10 - 30 minute partner sharing or pre-writing hikes or trail runs, tracking, etc., and then work primarily indoors. Students do not have any materials in desks, instead they just bring their bag with them and hang it on the back of their chair. This strategy could be useful with Covid.
