School of Thought 

Rosemary Saxon - Assistant Principal - Quality Teaching and Learning 

10  opportunities for growth

 in lockdown.

Our children all grow from new experiences, whether it be a school camp, a new arrival like a baby or pet and also a statewide lockdown.  While our 7 day lockdown experience in South Australia has been small compared to our Victorian and New South Wales teaching colleagues, it has been very real for each of us and has provided opportunities for growth.  Our LNPS students have embraced the recent learning from home with mixed emotions but you can be assured that they have all grown from this very short experience of lockdown in South Australia.  

 

10 opportunities for growth in lockdown.

#1 Independent learning

A sudden onset of home learning due to lockdown has been a huge challenge for all of our students.  But in such a short time they have developed an amazing capacity for independent learning, navigating a website or Google classroom with minimal adult input.

 

Yes, they have needed families to oversee and encourage (some more than others!), but their new found resourcefulness will set them up for independent learning in the years ahead.

 

#2  IT skills 

Our student’s capacity for online learning has been outstanding, from our very youngest Reception students to our upcoming graduates of LNPS.  Watching Reception students navigate a Googe Meets video conference like a professional has been impressive! Many of our children will have seen parents using Zoom or Teams for work purposes but this was their turn and they handled microphones on and off and turn taking confidently and respectfully. 

 

Torrens and Fisher students went into lockdown with an impressive knowledge of everything Google, but the challenges of doing school work from home is likely to have developed their IT skills even further.  Inevitably, they will also have encountered glitches and outages, and put their IT knowledge to the test by trying to resolve problems, developing computer skills that will benefit them now and in the future.

 

#3  Self motivation

Every family had its own struggles throughout lockdown, whether we were juggling our children’s learning with working from home, trying to balance the needs of more than one child, or simply keeping our heads above the water.

 

As a result, many children learned to be more organised and self-motivated. This showed itself in their self-disciplined approach to home learning, and also in their resourcefulness in finding new ways to entertain themselves independently. 

 

#4  Reading for pleasure 

As an alternative to screens following a day of online learning, reading for pleasure offers opportunities to grow both skills and experiences. 

‘At a time when the world can seem a strange and unsettling place for children, books offer them a refuge,’ says Ian Eagleton, creator of the Reading Realm app. ‘Through the wonders of reading, they can escape to worlds of excitement, adventure and magic, safe in the knowledge that good will triumph over evil.’

 

# 5  Having fun without screens

Who found the opportunity during lockdown to play a word game or a board game, instead of another screen experience?  Taking turns, learning new rules and strategising all help your child to grow in confidence, resilience and safe risk taking.  

 

#  6 Environmental awareness

Did you find an opportunity to grow something physically or watch something grow outside your own window?  I heard about one Reception child who had rediscovered the seedling pots from a recent supermarket promotion and planted the seeds to watch them grow.  I enjoyed watching the magnolia tree in the background bud and bloom over the 7 days.  Looking for environmental growth supports nurturing, curiosity and environmental responsibility. 

 

# 7  Appreciation for teachers and friends.

It is very true that we often do not appreciate something fully until it is taken away from us. That is likely how our children felt when they could no longer be face to face with their teachers and friends for learning. Through this experience we have all grown in gratitude for those people who mean the most to us.  Let’s keep that gratitude growing, as we continue to encourage our children to be thankful for the teachers who assess, plan and teach them daily.  Find a moment to thank the teachers and leadership staff for navigating your child through a lock down experience.

 

# 8  Creativity 

In a time poor world, staying still for a period of time allows for growth in creativity.  Using both physical and digital resources children can grow their creativity in dance, drama, visual art, media art and music.  Developing their talents, discovering new ones, or just being creative helps to take their minds off what’s happening in the world.

 

# 9  Reslience 

A lockdown experience grants an unexpected opportunity to grow resilience, for both children and families.  When things don’t go as planned and we work through the emotions, the experiences and come to a resolution, we are growing resilience within us.  It helps to make us stronger and wiser and often more empathetic of others and their experiences.  Your children have shown what they are capable of and can achieve with the support of their family and school community.

 

# 10 Living in the moment

Less travel, less hurry and less in the schedule has helped children to grow their ability to live in the moment and be present.  Without the constant rush, to hurry up, get in the car, get going … children can grow calmer and experience less intensity.  Taking a moment to pause and experience peace is what we all need, both children and adults in this unpredictable pandemic experience.   

 

I trust you and your family have grown throughout the lockdown period and feel stronger, wiser and well supported.

If you have any questions or feedback about the recent lockdown experience, please contact myself 

rosemary.mcleansaxon475@schools.sa.edu.au

 or a member of leadership.