Distance Learning During COVID-19
A Community Brainstorm
Present: Laura White - 5th grade, Chesterfield School; Janet Altobello-Harris Center for Conservation Education; Wendy Rousseau - Growing Places; Julie Bernson; Victoria Hackett - Outdoor Classrooms; Amy Butler, Caitlyn and Carrie Riker -North Branch Nature Center; Mindy Beltramo and Christina Oliva - Dewey School; Rachel Kenney - Hartsbrook School; Anne Stires-Juniper Hill School; Caylin Gans - ForestSchooled; Ellen Doris - Antioch University New England; Deanna Fahey and Seal Rossignol - Boxberry School and ; Bridget Butler - Bird Diva; Allison Flynn; Jen - ; Colleen Kelly - Hitchcock Center; Angela Narjem; Natalee - ; Becky - Newton School; Emily Woodmansee - Live & Learn Early; Jenifer MacDonald - Loudon Public Schools; Natalee - private high school in Maine; Kieran S.; Liza Lowe - Antioch University New England
Meeting Notes:
How to keep children outdoors at this time?
How to work with local educators… when teachers are so strapped?
How do you provide materials and resources to families?
Requiring students to be outside for 2 hrs., but looking for ideas of things to do outdoors that don’t require materials?
What are the resources for directors to help support their staff?
How to feel grounded in our support for staff?
Simple Solutions:
Photographing the sites on the school property to share with families.
Record morning songs, bird songs, photos in nature.
Anne Stires - teaching kits (K-5)
How can we maintain a sense of community for children/classrooms?
Some possibilities: Flipgrid, encouraging students/families to do Sit Spots, put up artwork in windows, nature journaling, painting rocks to distribute in nature, creating nature mobiles…
what opportunities are there for place-based education at each students’ house?
measure your house or the perimeter of your bedroom…
Social distancing is not good for our wellbeing. This is an opportunity for us to connect in different ways, thinking of the natural world.
Allyson Flynn - Facebook group/page, overnight in the woods
