Connecting with Students During School Closures

Hello dear newsletter and YouTube subscribers!

Like many of you, I’ve had to quickly learn how to connect with my students remotely during school closures as the virus keeps everyone home.

At first I honestly could not wrap my brain around providing online meetings with my 2 and 3 year olds.

I am so used to physically being with them in our classroom.

How on earth could I interact with them through a screen?

However, when we learned that school was going to be out for an extended period of time, I knew I had to find ways to connect with them.

When I shared this with all of you, you asked that I please share my resources.

That’s why I put this page together. My goal is to share the topics of my videos along with resources used.

I am also including my simple printables if you’d like to use them as well. Please note that these printables were made with my own students in mind. I hadn’t planned on sharing them and they aren’t “professional”. But my students have enjoyed them, and they’ve been a nice addition to my videos.

As I create more videos for my students I will update this page.

Thank you for all of your support during this time. I’m learning right along with you.

Each week I am sending home 2 story time videos that are uploaded into an unlisted YouTube channel.

In addition, I am meeting with my 2 and 3 year olds with Zoom meetings that are set with a password.

Connecting with Students During School Closures

I’ve been asked to share a sample of my schedule for both my Zoom meetings and my YouTube videos.

Zoom Meetings

Do not be afraid to use the mute button! I cannot stress this enough. The children can still hear and interact with you even when on mute. It’s much easier for the children to follow along without being distracted by the sounds of all the other children, not to mention feedback.

We use a password and the children wait in the “waiting room” so we can invite them in one at a time.

Once all of the children have arrived (or when you feel it’s time to start), we move into the meeting.

I do not rush these meetings. I take my time, pausing to look directly at them with a warm smile.

As soon as the children arrive, I welcome them all and let them know how good it is to see them!

Then, we begin.

Good morning song (the same one we sang in class)
A favorite song we loved while in class (such as “If You’re Happy and You Know It” or “The Wheels on the Bus”) – Everyone is muted except me due to noise level/feedback.
Sharing time – before our meeting I send home the invite and let the parents know what their children can bring to the meeting to share. Some things we’ve shared: Objects that are a certain color, a favorite stuffed animal, a farm toy (went with our farm theme), a transportation toy (went with our space theme), a favorite food. I have everyone muted for this EXCEPT the child who is sharing.
Book – I make sure to hold the book close to the computer so they can really see the photos. Everyone is muted except me.
Fingerplay – I find a finger play related to that meeting’s theme and will often use props. Everyone is muted except me.
Song – I find a song that is related to the theme.
Goodbye song – I sing the same goodbye song that we sang in class, calling each child by name.

These meetings are about 25-35 minutes long and I do not rush it. I cannot emphasize enough that you do not need to rush through your meeting.

YouTube Videos

I create 2 story times a week that are uploaded to a private YouTube channel. For privacy reasons I keep them unlisted and the only way our families can view them is with a link that we send via e-mail.

An example:

Welcome
Introduce the book
Read the book
Short activity – this might be a counting activity related to the book, or a song or finger play.
Printable – I often create a printable that is related to the book I read. I will send the link to this printable to the parents before the video is shared.

These videos are about 10 or so minutes long. I also add a slideshow at the end with photos from our time together in school, to remind them of the fun we had together before school was closed.

Below I will share the contents of each YouTube video that I am sharing with my preschool. I’m sharing my free printables as well, in case you’d like to use them.

Make sure to watch the videos as you can get a better idea of my set up.

Keep checking back, as I will be adding more!

The The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

Note: Please refer to this video for details.

Materials that I used:

Book
Felt Set
Flannel Board or Some Sort of Flannel Cloth
Printable