What about "Buddy Classes?"

I have an idea about how to help bridge the physical distance between the EC and UE divisions for next year. If we all had web cams and I set you up with Skype, we could have buddy classes with the Hillcrest campus. 4th grade could be teamed up with 2nd grade, and 3rd grade with 1st grade. There will be one 3rd grade and one 4th grade class left over (since the last we heard there will be only 4 sections of 1st and 2nd grade). We can match the left over 3rd and 4th grade classes with a kindergarten class each. That leaves two kindergarten classes who need a buddy class, so perhaps Religion would like to buddy up with one class and Art could buddy up with another class.

What would we do with our buddy classes? Well maybe, just during homeroom time (except religion and art, who would just pick one of their classes to do this with), two or three students could have a "Show and Tell" (video conference)about something great they are doing in their class (class project, field trip, interesting learning). Limit the show and tell to 10 sentences or less, perhaps, and then have your buddy class do something similar. You could just touch base with your buddy class once or twice a week, or as you and your buddy teacher see fit to do.

The teachers would determine what they would do with their “Buddy Class” over Skype. There are endless possibilities. Here are a few: book discussions, presentation about 2nd grade learning about Greece to 4th grade Buddy Class, 4th grade share with 2nd grade about Austin trip, teach each other a song related to curriculum, 3rd graders demonstrate to 1st graders how their rockets will work (this matches some of the 1st grade science curriculum too), 1st grade share some of their learning about Egypt with 3rd grade, and the list goes on. The 4th graders can reminisce about and share with the 2nd graders what they remember about their experiences, and the 4th graders can provide previews and build excitement for what the EC students will be experiencing as they move on up. The same holds true if we partner 3rd with 1st. With web cams in place for each teacher, they can instantly connect without waiting for me to install the camera, set up their accounts, etc.

An extension of the idea? You could have one of your 3rd graders have an assigned buddy in your buddy class. That would help to foster that personal connection. You could arrange your "Show and Tell" times based on buddy students, topics of study, student interests etc.

What do you think? It's just an idea to toss around.