Logistics for parents - any regular snow day in a prior year was already a logistical hurdle to make sure kids had supervision on short notice.Three computers to keep up with her hybrid classroom Stanhope OctoEven with these young students, Mrs. In-person or remote: we are ALL learning together! These students are amazing! /A7AkYAXF3H- Mrs. That means they may need to make the morning snowy commute to their setups. Even while students may continue to learn from home, many teachers have been expected to work from school – to support in-person and hybrid classes, to have better access to materials (like whiteboards), and a better more stable connection on multiple computers.Teachers will attest to the fact that it feels like they have a different job this year because of how complex the remote learning transition has been. Lesson planning - teachers have been heroes throughout the pandemic: standing up remote learning (requiring 2 or 3 computers in many cases), re-writing lesson plans, and keeping students engaged is already a challenge.A day off to run around in the snow (with face coverings that were obligatory even before the pandemic) seems not only practical but essential for physical health when we are otherwise tied to our computer screens. The pandemic has shuttered traditional activities like PE class and many team sports. wakes up to a magical fresh sheet of snow and runs outside to play – making snow forts, having snowball fights, building snowmen. Physical activity - Snow Days are known for being a day that every student, with no scheduled classes, activities, homework, etc.My 5-year old is rebelling against zoom school by mouthing words instead of speaking so as to make her teacher think there’s something wrong with the unmuting function- Spencer Ackerman OctoThis kindergartener did put her critical thinking to work This study being conducted by the National Institute of Health has shown early signs that “screen-time” for younger students has detrimental effects on (1) creativity and exploration, (2) social skill and language development, and (3) critical thinking and problem solving. Screen time overload - Remote learning was a practical tradeoff we had to make during the pandemic, but it doesn’t come without some serious costs.Instead of cramming in an ineffective remote learning day during a snowstorm just to meet a quota, perhaps we should consider a day of outdoor in-person classes (at social distance) in the spring instead! Forcing a remote learning day on students in the event of snow may feel pragmatic, but in reality it’s a step backward. Many districts have accelerated plans to safely provide hybrid or in-person options for students. In-person learning is better - Don’t take our word for this one, schools across the country are finding that not all students have responded well to remote learning and many more students are failing.Comments from parents, teachers and students about the importance of snow days ![]() ![]() The benefit of an unexpected day off is that there is really nothing planned and all there is left to do is relax, recharge, and collectively catch our breath and catch up on work. ![]() Studies have shown that taking even a small amount of time away from a stressful routine pays off in droves by increasing engagement, learning, creativity, and overall mental health. When stress mounts, it gets even harder to buckle down and get things done. Not one person (teachers or students) has been on top of EVERYTHING they needed to do every single day. Grading, projects, sports, activites, lesson planning, homework. Universal stress relief - school is stressful.It’s easy to get caught up in the emotional aspects of snow days (and there are many both nostalgic and sentimental) but there are several practical reasons why snow days are essential especially during this unprecedented pandemic. Practical Reasons that Snow Days are Essential ![]() We know its not snowing yet – but school boards are talking about these issues NOW.
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