Blog Archives

S.M.A.R.T. Newsletter - October '20 In-Person Learning

9/23/2020

Now that we have introduced all of our S.M.A.R.T. Core Floor Activities (Alligator Crawl, Balance Beam, Creep/Slap Track and Pencil Roll) we’re ready to lay out a course! As we design courses this year, wait spots are going to be crucial in helping maintain social distancing. In the past, we placed wait spots where there was a traffic jam, but this year, we recommend putting a wait spot between each activity. Wait spots can be marked with poly spots, Velcro spots or even a paper plate with Velcro on the back.

0 Comments

S.M.A.R.T. Newsletter - October '20 Distance Learning

9/23/2020

2 Comments

As we move into another month of Distance Learning, adding in purposeful movement to daily activities is becoming even more important. Movement is necessary in the growth and development of children because it helps build a stronger brain and supports emotional stability. However, not just ANY movement is beneficial. In the S.M.A.R.T. program, children are exposed to purposeful, specific movement designed to stimulate and mature areas of the brain necessary for academic success. As parents are at home helping their children with Distance Learning, it’s important to share the reasons behind the movements. We invite you to watch this video, S.M.A.R.T. in Action, to see an overview of the program.

2 Comments

S.M.A.R.T. Safety Measures

9/16/2020

0 Comments

A few weeks ago, we asked for input from educators who are using S.M.A.R.T. and what their concerns are for the beginning of this school year. The majority of responses were about how to continue to do S.M.A.R.T. with a variety of learning environments and how to be COVID-19 safe. So we went to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website and to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) website for guidance.

As of 9/22/2020, the CDC recommends, “Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g., playground equipment, door handles, sink handles, drinking fountains) within the school and on school buses at least daily or between use as much as possible.” MDH suggests cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at least once a day, or more depending on use. Given this information, we recommend focusing on the CORE Floor Activities (Alligator Crawl, Balance Beam, Creep/Slap Track, Pencil Roll) at the beginning of the year.

Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial has set up their S.M.A.R.T. course in the hallway, they go out in smaller groups, they are wearing masks and washing their hands before and after S.M.A.R.T.

If you don’t have access to the mats for Alligator Crawl that you usually use or balance beams, use the lines on the floor or painter’s tape. If you are the S.M.A.R.T. Teacher and are visiting a number of classrooms throughout the day, we suggest having a Creep/Slap Track for each room.

Pre-K:

In-Person Learning:
- # of minutes per day: 20 minutes per day
- Activities: Introduce 2 CORE Floor Activities per week until all are introduced
- Sanitizing: Wash hands before and after S.M.A.R.T. or sanitize hands before and after Alligator Crawl and Slap Track
Hybrid Learning:
- # of minutes per day: Attempt 20 minutes per day, use transitions as much as possible
- Activities: Introduce 2 CORE Floor Activities per week until all are introduced
- Sanitizing: Wash hands before and after S.M.A.R.T. or sanitize hands before and after Alligator Crawl and Slap Track
Distance Learning:
- # of minutes per day: Encourage at least 1 purposeful, intentional movement per day
- Activities: Check out our S.M.A.R.T. Tips for Parents on Pinterest from last spring (https://www.pinterest.com/achancetogrow/smart-tips-for-parents/)

Elementary:

In-Person Learning:
- # of minutes per day: 30 minutes per day
- Activities: Introduce 2 CORE Floor Activities per week until all are introduced
- Sanitizing: Wash hands before and after S.M.A.R.T. or sanitize hands before and after Alligator Crawl and Creep Track
Hybrid Learning:
- # of minutes per day: Attempt 30 minutes per day, use transitions as much as possible
- Activities: Introduce 2 CORE Floor Activities per week until all are introduced
- Sanitizing: Wash hands before and after S.M.A.R.T. or sanitize hands before and after Alligator Crawl and Creep Track
Distance Learning:
- # of minutes per day: Encourage at least 1 purposeful, intentional movement per day
- Activities: Check out our S.M.A.R.T. Tips for Parents on Pinterest from last spring (https://www.pinterest.com/achancetogrow/smart-tips-for-parents/)

We are here to help, so continue to share your concerns throughout the year by completing our S.M.A.R.T. Teacher Survey. We look forward to supporting you on your S.M.A.R.T. journey this year.

0 Comments

S.M.A.R.T. Newsletter - October '20 In-Person Learning

S.M.A.R.T. Newsletter - October '20 Distance Learning

S.M.A.R.T. Safety Measures

AuthorS

Subscribe

Archives