I don’t know about you, but this is a crazy year for trying to prepare for the beginning of the school year. Whether your school has chosen to return virtually, with a hybrid model and social distancing measures, or returning full time (5 days a week with social distancing measures), nothing about this year seems normal. I was just telling a teammate the other day that we all feel like first year teachers this year because….we’ve never taught during a pandemic before. It can all feel very overwhelming and daunting, so here is what I did.
If you remember from my post about creating pillars that you will use during the year as the framework for your procedures, while creating meaningful relationships with your students, and while delivering your content, Starr Commonwealth’s Four Universal Needs are: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. If you haven’t read it, you can find that blog post here: https://thepurposefulclassroom.com/2020/07/05/simplify-your-classroom/
I decided to take the four universal needs and list out my procedures and components that I utilize in my classroom. My goal is to now use my experience and knowledge as an Intervention Specialist and figure out how to make accommodations to these procedures so they will work with social distancing for my kindergarten students. I will also be trying to figure out how to make them work virtually, in the event that we end up going remote again at some point. For example, when looking at flexible seating, my idea is to tape an area on the floor for my students that is their “spot”. In their space, they can choose to use their classroom chair, stand up if they need to, or they can take out the classroom stool or scoop seats that I have in the classroom. My plan is to offer each student a flexible seating option that is theirs for the whole day. The option will be stored under their table so that they can easily swap it out and then it will be cleaned at night. As I unpack more of these procedures I will be sure to share how I plan on making them work in my classroom.
I hope wherever you are and however you are starting your year, that you are taking deep breaths, enjoying your last days of summer, and remembering that this is REALLY hard, but like Dr. Jody Carrington says, “We are wired to do hard things.” Please don’t forget to give yourself and others grace during this difficult start to the school year. Sending you good thoughts and rooting for you always, friends!
The Purposeful Classroom 