When the pandemic hit, I never imagined how much I would love teaching virtually. What started as a challenge turned into an exciting opportunity to rethink early childhood education. Thanks to donations and grants, I was able to send interactive learning kits home to every student in my pre-kindergarten class. These kits became the heart of our virtual classroom, allowing my students to learn, explore, and grow—just as they would in person.
Creating a Hands-On Virtual Learning Experience
One of my biggest concerns with virtual learning was making sure my students still had hands-on experiences to build early skills in reading, math, and fine motor development. Screens alone weren’t enough! I wanted to make sure my students could touch, move, and interact with real learning tools, just like in a physical classroom.
What Was in the Learning Kits?
Each child received a special learning kit packed with materials to keep learning exciting and interactive:
📚 A Set of Books – To encourage parent-child reading time and help kids develop a love for books.
🧲 Alphabet & Number Magnets – To help kids recognize letters and numbers in a fun way.
🖊 Dry Erase Board, Markers, & Eraser – So students could practice writing and drawing during class.
📖 Primary Writing/Drawing Journal – To build early writing and storytelling skills.
🎴 Flash Cards (Alphabet, Numbers, Sight Words) – Helping kids recognize letters, numbers, and basic words.
🎲 Numbered & Dotted Foam Dice – Making counting and simple math games fun.
✏️ Pencils, Crayons, & Markers – Giving kids colorful ways to express their creativity.
🐻 Counting Bears – Great for sorting, counting, and simple math activities.
🧩 Puzzles (Letters, Numbers, Beginning Sounds, and Quantities) – Strengthening problem-solving and fine motor skills.
These weren’t just for play—they were part of daily lessons to keep kids actively involved in learning, whether in a live class session or on their own with family support.
Did the Kits Help? Absolutely!
The results were amazing! My students:
✅ Reached Tier 1 academically, meaning they mastered important pre-K skills.
✅ Learned early phonics, math, and writing skills while staying engaged.
✅ Started kindergarten ready to succeed, and some even received extra support through IEPs based on the progress we tracked.
To ensure every child got the support they needed, I kept detailed records using:
📂 Running records to track reading progress.
📝 Anecdotal notes to document student learning behaviors.
📊 S-Team documentation to make sure students who needed extra help could get it.
Because our virtual classes were recorded, I could go back and review sessions to make sure I captured how each student was progressing. This helped me advocate for kids who needed extra support before they even started kindergarten.
How I Secured Donations and Grants to Make It Happen
Providing these learning kits was possible thanks to generous donations and grants.
💰 A group of big businesses donated $1,000 in grant money to buy supplies.
📦 Walmart and Amazon shipped the materials directly to each child’s home.
🎓 I applied for DonorsChoose and Adopt-A-Classroom, which help teachers get donations for student learning.
🖨️ A Black-Owned Printer Service printed and donated a set of books for each child to encourage reading at home.
This teamwork made sure every student had access to quality materials, no matter their situation!
Lessons I Learned & Tips for Parents and Teachers
Through this experience, I learned that young children CAN thrive in virtual learning when given the right tools and support.
💡 Start with Hands-On Learning – Screens should help learning, not replace it!
💡 Use Different Learning Methods – Live lessons, independent activities, and family involvement make a difference.
💡 Track Progress Early – Writing notes and reviewing student work helps ensure kids get the support they need.
💡 Get Families Involved – When parents help at home, kids learn even more!
Final Thoughts: Virtual Learning Can Be Meaningful
This experience showed me that virtual learning doesn’t have to be boring or passive. With a little creativity and preparation, we can give young children a fun, hands-on, and effective early learning experience—even from home!
💬 Are you a parent or teacher navigating virtual learning? I’d love to hear your experiences! Drop a comment below or connect with me for more tips on engaging early childhood education.
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