With Governor Inslee’s current statewide restrictions, there may be questions about how those restrictions impact learning pods. Our earlier blog post with learning pod recommendations still applies! The previous health, equity and safety measures remain important and relevant.
In light of the colder weather and increasing COVID-19 cases, here are some additional considerations for in person learning pods:
- Improve indoor ventilation. We know COVID-19 transmission occurs more frequently indoors so good ventilation is critical. Use outdoor covered spaces if possible. Take the opportunity to clean out your garage if you have one and leave the door partially open. Or open windows and bundle up!
- Minimize contact with other individuals in the household as much as possible.
- Make sure kids wear cloth face coverings. Offer breaks from wearing face coverings outside every so often.
- Ensure spacing even while kids eat. Eat efficiently and then mask back up for lunch time conversations.
- Think of other friendly gestures to replace hugs, pats on the back, and other forms of contact (or using sign language or symbols).
- Create a hand washing or sanitizing routine. Encourage hand washing when kids arrive, before and after snacks, meals, whenever touching face or removing face coverings and putting back on, etc. Use paper towels to dry off hands.
- Clean and disinfect pod spaces, door knobs, and bathrooms after group disbands.
- Meet less frequently. Can you meet 3 days of the week instead of 5?
Whatever your circumstances, and everyone is different, apply these considerations in the way that makes the most sense for you and the kids in your learning pod. Each safety consideration makes a difference!