These past four weeks have challenged us all to rethink the way we communicate, teach and learn.
Our Primary Learning Packs were put together swiftly and students received them only days after school had closed. The fact that we already work with multiple online learning platforms was a great help in staying connected from the beginning. Teachers were able to set tasks in SeeSaw and MyiMaths and students could keep up to date with their reading on RAZ Kids in addition to the work that was set in their learning packs.
SeeSaw is a particular favourite with students. They are able to share work they are doing at home with their teachers and receive feedback on their activities. Students can upload and annotate pictures, record videos or do drawings. Teachers in turn can set tasks and create story telling videos or suggest activities related to work they have covered.
Distance or video conference learning is difficult with our youngest students. In order to maintain some classroom feeling though teachers have organised daily meet-ups where students can see their teachers and classmates and share things in a virtual show and tell or partake in games or activities. One Grade 2 class, for example, played online Boggle together one day and a home treasure hunt the next. Here, their teacher gave them riddles or clues for common household items and students ran to find them as fast as possible. In yet another meet up, those who wanted to were given the opportunity to play their instruments for each other, introduce family pets or talk about what they have been working on at home.
We have all found creative ways to stay busy and productive and keep up with our academic work and it’s been so lovely to receive pictures of the things Primary is working on. Keep your photos coming!
