Teaching and Learning
Remote and Flexible Learning
I’ve been so proud of the students and staff across both Watsonia and Bundoora throughout this term. The students have demonstrated such resilience and adaptability transitioning in and out of remote and flexible learning! Everyone should be commended for their efforts to continue to show up and progress towards their learning goals, albeit virtually! I know that the staff have been working hard to ensure that learning during this time is engaging and supportive, and I thank them all for their dedication to the students and families at Concord.
Managing screen time
It’s important you keep a balanced approach to home learning. Time spent using digital devices for learning should be broken up with physical exercise and offline learning tasks. Below are some suggested activities that you could do with your child/ren that don’t require a screen.
Primary Ideas
Fabric Play:
- Fabric play involves playing with pieces of fabric.
- Fabric play helps build imaginative, creative and motor skills.
- For fabric play, you need a range of fabrics of different lengths, colours and textures.
Shared Drawing:
- In a shared drawing activity, you make a picture together by taking turns to add to it.
- Shared drawing helps children to cooperate, share and solve problems.
- For shared drawing, you need paper and drawing materials.
Chalk racetrack:
- For chalk racetrack activities, you draw a racetrack with chalk and get children to run, skip or wheel around it.
- Chalk racetrack activities help children build motor skills, agility and fitness, and learn numeracy concepts.
- For a chalk racetrack you need chalk and a large paved area.
Ball run:
- In this activity, you use cardboard or other materials to make ramps and routes for balls.
- Ball runs can help children to build motor, turn-taking, problem-solving and cooperation skills.
- For a ball run, you need recycled cardboard, other household items and some balls. https://raisingchildren.net.au/disability/school-play-work
Secondary Ideas
- Cooking, I know Food Tech has been running live sessions to keep the cooking skills progressing.
- Curate a Spotify playlist, perhaps you could email your list to Jason to play over the speaker when school returns onsite.
- Start a book club (Concord has audio book platforms, just ask your teacher for the login)
- Try Yoga or Pilates, I know Hayley and Rachael would love to see some photos!
- Begin a gratitude diary, check out the Resilience Project at home https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/everyone/
- Gardening, spring is here and hopefully something grows!!!
- Have a picnic in your yard, we saw some great pictures from Eat Your Lunch Outside Day!
- Try fixing or painting a piece of furniture, I’ve seen some of the students work in the Applied Arts program…such creatives!!
- Propose a meal plan for the next week of lockdown.
- Redesign your bedroom
- Play cards, board games or yard sports
This is my last newsletter for a little while as I take some family leave next term and into 2022. Karlie Gooding will be acting in my role during this time, she will continue to lead and support the school in maintaining and progressing Teaching and Learning. It is a rewarding role and I’m sure Karlie will add value whilst enjoying it as much as I do!
Take care,
Flora Nixon
Assistant Principal
Teaching and Learning