By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
Zoom. The name of the online meeting service has become commonplace in our vocabularies over the past few months as many of us work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It seems that nearly everyone is using Zoom or a similar service to maintain contact with work colleagues and family members. Add a group of local preschoolers to that list!
In mid-March, pandemic concerns forced Lucy Allin, owner/director/teacher at Little Hands Preschool to close the actual physical school.
"COVID-19 has affected my enrollment and future enrollment. Parents are scared due to job loss or the possibility of job loss," Allin told Salina Post.
Allin, however, continued to supply parents of her students with supplies and lessons, and found a way to continue teaching her students, thanks online technology.
"The preschool has been running via Zoom. I've been buying materials and have gotten some donations and we put together activity packs to help the students learn at home and with me via Zoom and Facebook Live," Allin told Salina Post. "Although less than 20 students, it has been a joy to still interact with them."
Allin said she has been doing two 30-minute Zoom lessons: one for her three- and four-year-olds and one for her four- and five-year-olds.
"This allows me to have smaller classes and change the level of development," she noted.
Allin said she tries to keep Zoom programming close to the original class schedule and uses a lot of visuals.
"We open with our pledge of kindness, our song, then question of the day and a morning message. Next we do journals, a book (or language lesson, math or science and then goodbyes," she explained.
"I try to incorporate music, math, movement, science, art, reading, etc., in all of it without them even noticing. We have challenges each day that children have the option of doing at home with their families," Allin continued. "For example I challenge them to make a pattern with something in their kitchen or find three things that rhyme. Their parents post a picture to show off their work."
For some of the younger children, it may seem to be a struggle, yet Allin offers encouraging words to parents.
"For my younger threes it can be a struggle. I remind parents that though they may get wiggly, they are still absorbing the information," she said. "Most students have adjusted very well. I record our sessions via live so that those who can't make it or if their child gets too wiggly, they can take a break and come back to it. Do 10 mins, go outside, do 10 mins, take a break, etc."
Allin said she has been able to use the supplies she gives to the students to show them activities they can do at home, such as word or letter practice.
The students' parents have been supportive of Allin's efforts.
"The parents have been in full support. I've heard lots of praise and there has been a lot of parent involvement. Parent involvement is so important for children's education and development," she said.
Allin plans to have an open house on May 21 and to reopen Little Hands Preschool for the summer program on June 9, she said.