This year is hard. I am thankful for all of the teachers out there helping other teachers with free resources so will be posting resources I’m using in my distance learning classroom online! Checkout the Distance Learning Resources tab for all of the resources I have been dependent on and some of the resources I have created. Most of these resources are in hyperdoc form!

Enjoy!

If you like my resources, I was going to add a buy me a coffee link but instead, buy one of your teacher friends who needs some extra love some coffee. This year is HARD. Teachers need each other to get through 😭❤️❤️❤️🥰

For in person resources, more of my resources are on Teachers Pay Teachers for cheap, if not free. When I started my career, everything in my classroom was purchased by 23 year old me out of pocket. I strive to price my materials fairly keeping that in mind and post things for free whenever I can!

All of my resources are things I created and use in my own classroom.

To the parent making impossible decisions as the start of school approaches...

I feel you. This is impossible. As a parent, spring distance learning felt like the 7th ring of hell and I am here to tell you every educator in the country felt the same pain.

But we need to all acknowledge some truths.

That was not distance learning.
That was not caused by a lack of training.
That was not caused by a system that failed due to incompetencies.

What we all felt was a sudden, unexpected, unprecedented global trauma caused by a pandemic. The world was turned upside down overnight, without warning, without any way to prepare and that left us all (especially our kids) spinning in disbelief.

Even the best distance learning system would have failed under those conditions and here is why.

1 - Children cannot learn when they are in a state of trauma.
There is a strong, ever growing body of evidence indicating all of the reasons a child cannot access academic learning when they are in a heightened state of stress. When schools were abruptly shut down with no warning, our kids were processing their own grief over the loss of their normal and were processing their anxieties over global issues that are far to large for children to process all at once. We were all experiencing the same global trauma. As a teacher here is what I saw every single day during our daily zoom call.

• My kids looked sad. They spent a chunk of time expressing how much they missed each other, how much they missed me, how much they missed school. They desperately wanted their normal back and there was no way any adult in their life could deliver that.
• They were scared- they never got to say goodbye, I never got to explain to them that while yes, this virus causing school buildings to close is scary, it will be okay. I couldn't sit behind a screen and reassure them that we would get through this in the same effective way that I could in person. They were scared, they were mourning, and discussing literary elements was the last thing they cared to think about.​ 
• I am going to be blunt- as a teacher, I could not fix them over a screen. I spent 15 years building a trauma-informed skill set to ensure all of my students can access learning. This was the first time in my entire career that I faced a mountain I could not climb. Not virtually. Not through a screen. There was no way I could fix the fact that I never got to say good-bye to my class. There was no way I could assure them that this new and sudden shift in their lives was okay because it wasn't.
• Engaging kids in academic topics felt impossible when  they were all processing big emotions surrounding the shut down. Of course distance learning failed then.

2. - Children thrive on routine. The sudden shutdown in March ripped this away from them.
All kids thrive on routine. This was ripped away from them suddenly and unexpectedly. Again, we all woke up one morning to the news that school buildings were closed and our reality was now some new uncharted world that felt like chaos. My kids missed their routine. They spent August-March learning and perfecting a routine that worked for them and their style of learning inside of a classroom. They knew  exactly what to expect and when. They had made leaps and bounds of growth... and then BAM- covid threw a brick wall in front of them. They now had to learn a new routine somehow set by one adult who somehow had to coordinate 30 other family schedules during a global pandemic in which every. single. family was struggling to make things work at home, while working, with kids, who were expected to learn through a computer. I offered resources and suggestions to set schedules that resembled some sense of normal but there simply was not a way to meet every family's needs and to make a consistent and coherent plan that worked for every family.  Families were exhausted, they were scared, they were fighting through what we now call Corona-fatigue and the emotional chaos caused by the rug being ripped out from underneath us without warning. We were all thrown into an impossible situation. There was no was schooling was going to survive through it. So as educators, administrators across the country came up with the best on the fly solutions that they could to meet the various needs of families who were now collectively facing the crisis caused by the pandemic shut down.

• We were told that in order to accommodate every family, we should hold one meeting for 45 minutes to an hour.
• We were told NOT to introduce any new material. This was fine as state testing was around the corner and most students in most classes had already accomplished grade level expectations. We were shifting from new learning to application of learning to projects. This was a hard sudden shift to make in the absence of in person environment. And as such, it did come off as a lack of rigor to some parents.
• We were told to hold office hours or drop in hours to ensure we were available for students who needed more assistance.
• We were told to make things mostly asynchronous so that students could find a schedule that worked best for their families during these times.
• We spent hours beyond contract time trying to interact with students and families through systems that were not set up for this. We used Google Classroom because that is what our kids were used to, but Google Classroom did not yet have the capacity for online learning.
• ​ As a teacher, I knew that none of this was on par with the quality of instruction I was able to deliver in person. But I could not fix it. I could not fix the fact that not all of my families could spend an entire school day on school work. I could not fix the fact that technology often failed. I couldn't not fix the fact that I was unable to prep my class in person for what online learning would look like. I could not fix the fact that I never had time to send my kids home with materials so that we could get through this distance learning thing with some sense of normal, real books in hands, paper and pencil... anything that wasn't online.
• I had an hour one day to frantically gather all of my belongings and any learning materials I thought I might need for an undetermined amount of distance learning time. I had to go during a scheduled scattered block because it was not safe for me to be in the building at the same time as my colleagues.
• It was the end of the year and teachers were desperately trying to figure out how to still continue on with the fun, end of the year projects and celebrations. None of this played out well on zoom. These lessons demanded group work, interaction, and a sense of togetherness. These are lessons kids knew about and were excited about the entire year.
  

              How did anyone expect all of that to go WELL in spring.

Of course it failed. But parents, I assure you, this isn't spring learning any more.

I see parent's now fleeing their public school for online schools or homeschooling options with an expectation of coming back to in person learning when things get safe but here are some realities to consider before you do that. The assumption is that spring failed because of teachers. Not because of the collective trauma we all experienced. Before you do that I urge you to consider the following.

•  Online schools are scrambling to meet demand.
  •  In elementary, some online schools had one teacher for K-5 because that is all they needed before the pandemic. That met their need.
  • Online schools do not have the capacity to meet the demand they are seeing. They are scrambling to hire teachers- these teachers are NOT trained to teach online and will not have the proper training needed to be highly effective by the time school starts.
  • You will still need a heavy amount of support from your child in order to meet the demands of online schools. If that was what bothered you in spring, this option might not be best for you.
  • Most programs are asynchronous meaning not time interacting with teachers or peers. Your child will be expected to complete assignments independently online. A teacher will then check assignments.
  • There absolutely still will be problems caused by the social/emotional impacts of a pandemic.
• Homeschool is demanding for parents.
  • If this is an option you have been considering for a long time- now seems like a good time to try it. I applaud all homeschooling parents. As a parent/educator... I could not do this option lol... Its just not for me. But if its for you do it!
  • You will be in charge of lesson planning, materials, and curriculum. You will have to pay for all of the above with your own money and time.
  • If you are choosing this option because of what spring looked like, consider why spring was what it was. It was not the failure of our teachers. It was a side effect of trauma.
  • There absolutely still will be problems caused by the social/emotional impacts of a pandemic.
• Your neighborhood school has been preparing all summer for this.
  • Many districts are offering a variety of options. Online school, online from your neighborhood school, hybrid or in-person. If you choose any of their options, funding will stay with the school. If you want to one day go back to your public school, choose one of their options now.
  • Your school will provide materials, lesson plans, and curriculum to you for free.
  • Online learning through your school will NOT look like what it looked like in spring. We are all mentally and physically prepared for it this time. Kids now understand the routine. It will be more sychrounous (more time interacting with teacher and peers)
  • There absolutely still will be problems caused by the social/emotional impacts of a pandemic.
  • If come October you still hate everything about your districts plans, explore other options... just understand the reality of those options. And commit to whatever you choose for the rest of the year.

Understand the following if you want to someday go back to your neighborhood school. Staffing is being decided NOW based on enrollment. If you leave your public school now, know that teachers will be laid-off. While this is of course sad for teachers, I understand it is happening globally and is a reality every profession is facing. That is not my point. As a parent you need to understand that if you make a choice to leave public schools now, your school will lose funding and teachers so.... if you want to go back mid year, the funding does not reappear mid year nor will more teachers.  If you hate online school or homeschool after a month of trying and want to go back in September or October, just know that your school might no longer have the staffing to accommodate your child in the way they were able to before the pandemic. That is just not how school funding works.

Regardless of what you choose, know that you are making the best decision for your family. It is a hard, impossible decision to make. We are all doing our best and when this is all over... our kids will be okay.

Phew! We made it. This certainly was not ideal, I would be lying if I said it was. But I truly feel we made the best out of it all, and now it comes to an end!

Typically the last week of school involves fun and bonding so, I have been wracking my brain to make that happen for my kiddos online.

Digital Memory Book
We will be finishing up a digital memory book together, reflecting on all of the good times (even online!) that we had together. I do not have access to a printer, but the file can be printed for kids or parents who prefer. Currently, I edited this one from Teaching with a Mountain View.

Fun and Games
Every year, we end with some fun and games. I tried my hardest to convert some of that into an online experience and made this Google Slides Minute to Win It Activity using materials kids could find at home. Click the link to automatically make yourself a copy!

First I want to acknowledge that this is hard. We are living through collective trauma and all the emotions, good and bad, are valid. I want to make sure that my students have a safe place to discuss all of the hard bits of this while also having a space to experience and relate joy.

I've been working hard to take away the hardship from my kids and replace it with moments of joy. Whether it's something ridiculous like my insistence on coordinating my outfits to my Zoom background or my giddiness making a video with changing green screen backgrounds, I want this to be as fun as possible for my class.

So as we get comfortable idea with this distance learning being permanent for the rest of the year, I am creating activities to keep our beautiful classroom community as strong and connected as it was. I'll be updating throughout the day but here is one small simple and silly thing we are doing, daily themes! (Not new, I didn't invent it, but if you need a free, editable calendar, here you go!)
​

I am building this resource for my class and putting it out there for all of you to use, free of charge, because these times are crazy. Fair warning, I plan to put video instructions on it as well featuring yours truly. All of the directions reference Google Classroom and any materials needed are linked on the site.

http://project-genius.weebly.com/

​Hope it helps!

What to do when stuck inside?

1. Dance Party
2. Build Away! Build the tallest tower you can using whatever is around. Use legos, cards, or whatever else is handy,.
   
3. Boredom Buster: Design your own board games. Create the rules, the game board, and any cards you might need. Make it fun! Play as a family.
4. Get moving! Design a simple (or complex) obstacle course. Have a blast moving through it!
5. And... Action! Write a script for a play you can perform.
6. Reuse It Art! Make a sculpture using items that may otherwise have been thrown away.
7. Secret Code: Create your own secret code! Start by listing the letters of the alphabet. Under the letters, draw a symbol or picture. You can also find 27 different objects and use those as your code. In your new code, write letters to friends or family members! 
8. Postcards to Send: Create a post card for you teacher (he or she misses you a ton!) On the front, draw a picture and on the back, send a sweet message.
9. Build a Fort - Use it as a reading den, a secret hide out, or a place to relax!
10. Bowling Time! Use empty bottles as the pins and any type of ball to bowl with. Aim for that strike!
11. Rock Art: Find some great rocks outside and use them as a canvas! You can use these to decorate your back yard or leave them around the neighborhood for others to find and enjoy,
12. Put on a Puppet Show! Recreate your favorite story with puppets. Make the puppets out of socks or any other materials you have laying around.
13. Puzzle Time: Complete a puzzle or- for more fun- make your own puzzle! (If you have a Cricut or Silhouette at home, there are puzzle patterns you can cut after drawing your picture)
14. Paper Airplane Challenge - Design the best paper airplane you can! Compete with each other to see whose will go farthest!
15. Treasure Hunt - Hide some treasure and then make a treasure map to guide others to where you hid your treasure!
16. Adventure Time - Set up a tent indoors or in your back yard and have your own fun adventure!
17. The Gift of Giving - Create homemade gifts for the people you love!
18. Memory Lane - Find some of photographs or memorable items and create a scrapbook!
19. Family Book Club - Start a family book club!
20. Mini Golf - create a mini golf course of your own. If you are indoors, use a ping pong ball :)

For the first time in my fifteen year career I took a day off in January.
Not just a day off in January but a day off in January, on a Thursday after coming back from a two week winter break. I’m not sick, but I needed a day. And while new teacher me would have been horrified at the thought of taking a day off (in fact- new teacher me went to school with an actual kidney infection - true story) current me feels zero guilt over this one day off for seemingly no reason. Current me is proud that I honored myself and my needs with an entire day to my self. And I’m not sorry that I did it.

My life is hard- hard as in I am an ovarian cancer survivor who has an appointment with an oncologist on Wednesday because for the last six months I have been neglecting ovarian cancer symptoms because instead I have been grieving the the death of my son- hard. So, I took a legitimate mental health day because after the hell that is getting through the first Christmas after the death of a child I needed a day for self care and the holiday season doesn’t allow for such a thing.

So I took a day off.

If you’re reading this you’re probably thinking- well my God- of course you should take some time off. Why just a day?! Take the year.

But I don’t need to take a year. Because I know I work in a place that supports a teachers need to take a day, with no questions, with no judgement, whenever needed, because self care should come first.

So I took a day, instead of a year. Because amazing things happen when a teacher knows she is loved and supported.

My second year of teaching, I went to school with a slight fever and severe back pain. I didn’t want to call in sick because I knew I would get hell for it, so I sucked it up, took some DayQuil and went on to work.

By the end of the day I was shaking, laying at the back table in my room with a fever that had now peeked to 104.5. I called my boyfriend to pick me up and he immediately drove me to the Emergancy room. I was horrified, knowing I couldn’t write comprehensive sub plans, but pushed through the fever, chills, and shaking to email something that resembled plans to my office manager and then spent the night in the hospital.

The next day, I got a call from my principal.

“Your kids are misbehaving for your sub,” she scolded over the phone. Without pausing to hear why I was out she continued on, describing what the kids were doing, how not okay any of this was, but never once stopping to ask why I was out.

When I told her I was in the hospital with a kidney infection she simply replied, “Oh.” And then hung up the phone.

I spent the rest of that year looking for other jobs. Filling out applications to colleges for a second masters degree in anything but teaching. I spent hours researching and contemplating how I could get our. I dreaded going back and consistently questioned why I became a teacher. And then, a blessing in disguise of sorts, I was layed-off and rehires by a different district.

This new district respected teachers. They honored all of my years. Payed 10k more than the past district and, miraculously, supported me.

When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I was terrified to tell my new principal. For an entire week, I would attempt to walk to her office to tell her I would be out for a few weeks because of cancer surgery. And for weeks, I would get to the hallway leading to her door and then turn and run. I was absolutely terrified to tell her. Would she yell at me for needing time off? Would she fire me because I had cancer and the only thing worse than a person dying of cancer was apparently a class that had to have a sub?

Luckily, this principal knew better. She believed in self care. She believed in caring for her teachers. And she believed that a class with a substitute would survive. She supported every second of my journey, encouraged me to take as much time as I needed and assured me that it would be okay.

Teachers deserve support. This profession is wildly toxic in ways that I cannot comprehend. When life gets hard, teachers shouldn't have to even think about sub plans. And to all of the admin out there ensuring their staff knows they come first, thank you. The profession needs more of you.

This is my current passion. I am a firm believer in putting all things social emotional well being in the classroom first. Academic success can't come without it. In my classroom, part of this means incorporating Mindfulness into our day.

What do I do?

• I carve out a short 3-5 minute chunk out of my day. (For this class, it is always the first thing we do after lunch.)
• Sometimes I will guide the breathing, but more often I use GoNoodle, Breathe Think Kids or Smiling Minds to guide the practice.
• Thursdays our practice is a gratitude practice we call Thankful Thursdays. We do a short gratitude mindfulness breathing exercise and then reflect on one kind act someone at school did this week. We right it down on a leaf and add it to our Kindness Tree. (More on that here.)
• Last year, my kids loved our mindfulness exercises immediately. This year it took some time 😂 But I kept with it and it was so worth it.
• I do not make this mandatory. Kids have a choice to join in, or take a three minute quiet break in their desk. Inevitably, the entire class joins in but I always give the choice.

Why Mindfulness? Mindfulness is the practice of focusing on the here and now. It integrates breathing techniques to help calm the body and mind while increasing self awareness, self regulation and self calming skills. Mindfullness practices have been proven to increase a student's ability to thrive both academically and socially.

I have always incorporated some piece of mindfulness into my day. Early in my career that meant adding stretching and breathing techniques into my P.E. block. However, it wasn't until I experienced my own personal life trauma that I really began to look into mindfulness activities and then saw the immeasurable value of using mindfulness to strengthen my classroom community.  To be honest, part of the consistent implementation of mindfulness was giving myself the few minutes a day to stop, breathe and live in the present moment. But the impact it has had on my class is beyond words. As we continued with the practice as a class, I noticed some significant changes. I saw that this small practice was truly fostering student confidence and independence while also helping my class build empathy and the ability to work together as a team.

Going into 2020, I am excited to deepen this practice. Understanding that kids cannot attend to learning when they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I wanted to put more into this social emotional wellness journey. In addition to my current mindfullness activities, I wrote a DonorsChoose grant. The grant was fully funded in December (Hurray!) And I cannot wait to get back and get started with the materials.

The materials in this grant include mindfulness games as well as other social emotional support tools. I hope to create a peace corner in my room where students can go when they need a quiet place to destress and calm down. Many of the sensory items included in this project will give students the tools and the space to take short breaks when needed to refocus their attention and energy.

**If you are looking to incorporate more mindfullness in your classroom, check out the recourses on GoNoodle, Breathe Think Kids and Smiling Minds. Also, feel free to check out my DonorsChoose grant for inspiration!

​

I want to start the year off on a positive note, helping my kids reflect on the accomplishments they have made so far this year while also setting new intentions and goals for the rest of the year to come. I am so proud of everything my students have done so far, and am pumped to get back into the swing of things on Monday. This is what I will be doing with my class first thing Monday morning. Enjoy, Happy New Year, and enjoy those first crazy days back at school! Click the image below to download.