The Chalk Blog

Educators have had to quickly modify their instruction for an online distance learning environment. One framework of online lesson design is Catlin Tucker’s 5 E’s Instructional Model, detailed in the chart, below.  

As you can see, the chart clearly illustrates what each of the 5 E’s mean and each section includes answers to the questions:   

• What does it look like?  
• What tools can I use? 

“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.”

                                               -Diane Ackerman

Play is a powerful teacher! As we shift from what we have come to understand as traditional school to distance learning, we hope teachers, parents, and students can take comfort in knowing that play is the work of childhood. Play is how children learn.

The research proves there are many different types of play:

Media play is the focus of this list of 10 Online Tools for Playing, Teaching, and Learning. We hope you will find it helpful and informative!

When it comes to caring for children right now, there is some good news and some not so good news. A University of Michigan study found that parents are spending more time engaging with their children, but parents are also running low on patience as the COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread throughout the United States. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are under stress and we all manage stress differently.

Below are 10 simple, healthy ways to manage stress during these uncertain times.

Teachers, we see you.

You are some of the helpers Mister Rogers was talking about when he quoted his mother, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

"At the end of the day, we can all walk away from content and be ok,  

not as strong as we might be, but we will be ok. 

But, our humanitarian purpose is to establish strong connections  

with our students and our families in a distance learning model."

-Chris Bussmann, principal, Levi P. Dodge Middle School

Distance Learning was the topic of discussion when I turned on the radio and heard accomplished interviewer Angela Davis questioning two teachers and a principal about the ways distance learning would be accomplished in their schools. Davis’ guests included:  

• Chris Bussmann, a middle school principal 
• Jasmine Lane, a high school English teacher 
• Mark Westpfahl, a middle school American history teacher 

Each of the guests responded to questions about how to accomplish the shift to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions ranged from “How are teachers preparing for distance learning?” to “What if students don’t have an iPad?”  

The guest panel rose to the occasion, providing ideas for how we can adjust to this new way of doing school. 

Nationwide, we have been practicing social distancing. Located in Minnesota, Learners Edge is following the lead of our governor and soon will be sheltering in place. Businesses considered essential will remain operational. Because we serve teachers, we are one of them.  

Here is our plan: 

Work remotely, support each other, stay positive, serve teachers.  

We continue to be fully operational with the majority of staff working remotely and two staff rotating on-site to mail textbooks from our continuously sanitized book fulfillment area. 

Perspectives and Plans

Please. Send. Sunshine.

Here in Minnesota, we are stuck in a vortex of grayyyyy and cold. Whether you’re with us in Minnesota or not, below is a list of five no-sun-need-some-fun inside recess ideas to get you and your students through the last weeks of winter: