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I was so busy yesterday, I almost forgot to breathe. That’s how I would describe the energy needed to be rostered onto a Kindergarten class in a pandemic! The strangeness of teaching in such uncertain times. In conflicting times when we’re told it’s OK, and then it’s not OK, and then it’s OK… to be at school. Kids aren’t carriers. It’s safe.
Is it OK? Will it be OK?
Social distancing started as soon as we sat on the floor and ended about a minute later as they crept together, coveting closeness. We started the day with our hand washing routines.
This will become our normal routine, our everyday routine… even when this ends.
“Do you sing a song for 20 seconds?” I asked. One girl said she sang happy birthday to her friends, even if it wasn’t their birthday…. And washed her hands. One boy said he just made woop woop sounds…. And washed his hands.We all had a go at wooping. And another girl said she just counts to 20. I said counting to 20 is a great thing to practice. I said I sing if you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands. Twice. Why? One clever girl called out, “because it takes 20 seconds!” Then we all mimed washing our hands. Why did I do this with my fingernails I asked? They all called out, “to get the germs there”. Even in a pandemic we talked about not wasting water, about turning the tap off while we are soaping and singing. Saving water is important, too.
Then two by two the kids got up and washed their hands. And then we got on with our not so normal day.
Is it OK? Will it be OK?
Social distancing started as soon as we sat on the floor and ended about a minute later as they crept together, coveting closeness. We started the day with our hand washing routines.
This will become our normal routine, our everyday routine… even when this ends.
“Do you sing a song for 20 seconds?” I asked. One girl said she sang happy birthday to her friends, even if it wasn’t their birthday…. And washed her hands. One boy said he just made woop woop sounds…. And washed his hands.We all had a go at wooping. And another girl said she just counts to 20. I said counting to 20 is a great thing to practice. I said I sing if you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands. Twice. Why? One clever girl called out, “because it takes 20 seconds!” Then we all mimed washing our hands. Why did I do this with my fingernails I asked? They all called out, “to get the germs there”. Even in a pandemic we talked about not wasting water, about turning the tap off while we are soaping and singing. Saving water is important, too.
Then two by two the kids got up and washed their hands. And then we got on with our not so normal day.