GLASSLIPER
Global Language Acquisition Supports for
Spanish Language Immersion Programs through Early Relationships
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Social distancing is an oxymoron for early education. Social and emotional development is our primary consideration for young children in group care! So how can we provide extreme hygiene without extreme distress?
I have seen many toddlers parallel play and even choose individual activities from the shelf to take to their table and work independently. Preschoolers prefer to socialize but have more impulse control and most can follow instructions. It is possible to prepare the environment for parallel activity and free choice.
EXPECTATION: We can be together safely by keeping to our private spaces so we don't share our germs.
The idea of mandatory separation is unacceptable for some programs and many schools only have group tables. Building acrylic dividers or transparent study carrels is an option that would allow children to see each other while being protected.
Some DIY ideas could be to use PVC or wood to construct the frame and then attach transparent plastic sheets or acrylic panels. Ideas for making DIY separators are shown below. I'm sure it won't be long before some company has these available in their catalog.
There are commercially available cardboard carrels. An open frame could be cut out at the center of the front panel then covered with clear plastic sheeting. This would allow children to see and hear each other while remaining protected.
IF YOU CREATE AN ACRYLIC CARREL FOR YOUR PROGRAM, PLEASE SEND A PHOTO TO <director@glassliper.com> FOR US TO SHARE ON THIS PAGE.
In Montessori schools, the individual lessons and activities are already set up in the "Prepared Environment". The only change required is for the materials to be returned to a sanitation station instead of being set back directly on the shelf. The individual exercises and activities can be kept on the shelf for the child to bring to their personal table or rug. After each use, the child takes the materials to the sanitation station for the teacher to spray them (or wash) and then return them to the shelf. Replenishing the reusable cloth materials is addressed in Sanitizing Materials.
If each child has their own specific table, they only have to clean it if it gets messy. If the tables are shared, they need to be sanitized after each child leaves.
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES: Art
Instead of setting the Art materials out on the table for a group of children, a selection of individual containers and trays are prepared each day and displayed on the shelf for children to select. The trays can be pre-set (see examples below), or the containers can be set out for children to choose and put on their tray. When a child is done, the activity can be set on the sanitation table for cleaning.
An individual option, especially for playdough and sensorial materials, is to create a personal supply for each child. DIY playdough, foam, moon sand, and goop can be placed in zip-lock baggies for each child with their name. Each child will need a materials cubby or storage box for their personal supplies.
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES: FINE MOTOR and MATH
Fine motor exercises include many hands-on activities for other subject areas. Vocabulary and classification cards, natural objects, science exercises, and letters of the alphabet can all be prepared as an individual option and displayed on the shelf for children to select. If your program promotes turn-taking and free choice, then you only need one example of each activity. If you traditionally work in small groups, then one for each child will need to be created. Children can work at their own table with the teacher visiting each one individually. If you have constructed an acrylic protector shield for a group table, then the teacher can sit at the end and the children can see one another through the plexiglass.
