A chat with Saba Nanjiani, Founder and President of RARE Learning on RARE’s newly implemented virtual Pre-K program that is making sure learning continues while we shelter-in-place due to the Covid crisis. Moms and children yearn for an opportunity to connect and learn during these times from their favorite teachers. RARE Learning has made a pivot to delivering Pre-K classes via e-learning using Zoom. Classes which were generally delivered at the Frisco Athletic Center in Frisco, Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center in Plano, Mustang Park Recreation Center in Las Colinas, or Cimarron Park Recreation Center in Valley Ranch had to be transformed to Zoom learning sessions.
How has the transition been from in-person classes to digital? How are your instructors stepping up to the challenge?
All our teachers are involved in the new virtual program and are all very energized, constantly coming up with new ideas to keep the kids engaged. There’s been a lot of excitement these first few weeks and we’ve kept that momentum going as we get further into spring.
We’re primarily using Zoom to host our classes at the moment, with the teachers structuring the one hour-long session in small groups of students. The teachers cover set topics during the session, making sure they are constantly interacting with and sharing lots of content on the screens with the kids.
Now that we are more than a month into the program, the kids are now a lot more used to this structure and they actively participate in class. Since everything is now digital, we’ve been focusing on activities that engage the kids, let them interact with the teacher and their peers.
We also want to make sure they’re having fun while they’re glued to their screens for that one hour…but for a good reason this time!
How are the children responding to this new class structure?
They seem to be enjoying it so far! For them, it’s also a way to see their friends who they’ve missed while being in lockdown. Of course, there are challenges with having to hold young children’s attention digitally for a full hour but our teachers have been finding ways to make sure each student stays engaged throughout the session, by calling out each student, making sure that they are still given the individual attention they need.
What else do students get out of the program outside of the online video sessions?
Other than the online classes, we’re also making sure that each child and parent has a special academic package individually tailored and sent to them which gets regularly updated depending on what they’re studying in class that week. They get these packages virtually, twice a week so far, with projects to complete at home with their parents.
For example, one of our most recent mega projects was for the kids to create thank you cards for frontline healthcare workers. Each class was assigned a specific hospital to send thank you cards made by the kids, to show them that we appreciate their efforts through this pandemic.
We’re also making sure we keep in touch with all our students, not just those enrolled in our virtual program. Through the parent-teacher Whatsapp groups, we regularly share resources, extra projects and make sure our entire community is staying connected and energized.
What’s next?
Since the first session of our virtual program has seen such success, we’re going to explore different options and ways that we can expand and grow these offerings. I’ve been in talks with other locations, approaching rec centres across the area to see if they would be interested in partnering and have received some positive responses. Stay tuned- and of course, stay safe!
