As many students around the state begin returning to in-person learning this fall, schools are required to implement a host of social-distancing protocols, using social distancing masks – everything from walking only on one side of the hallway to keeping your distance in the classroom.
At Light of the World Academy, a K-8 Montessori charter school in Pinckney, they decided to turn the stern mandate into a fun lesson.
“We knew there might be a lot of anxiety among our students, and we didn’t want to have a lot of scary-looking signs telling the children what they could and couldn’t do, and where they had to walk or stand,” said Kathy Moorehouse, Montessori director at Light of the World Academy, which is authorized by Grand Valley State University.
“So we decided to make the inside of our school into streets and parking lots. That way, the kids could learn about road signs and driving rules while they’re staying safe.”
The idea is to keep the children socially distanced while letting them pretend they’re “driving” through town.
Moorehouse and the staff began by putting down yellow stripes in the hallways, so that the children know they’re always supposed to “drive” on the right. They put “Stop” signs at the main “intersection” in the school and “Reserved Parking” signs above the chairs where students sit while they’re waiting to use the bathroom.
Moorehouse said that after a couple days of school, she can already tell the kids are loving it.
“It’s certainly doing the job of keeping them socially distanced, and you can see how much fun they’re having walking through the halls,” she said. “At a Montessori school, everything is hands-on, and you never want to miss the chance to turn something into a lesson. That’s exactly what we were able to do here.”
As with all schools in Livingston County, Light of the World Academy gave parents the option of choosing in-person or remote learning this fall. Moorehouse said that about 70 percent of their families opted for in-person learning.
“We’re set up this very well to begin with, because all of our classes are self-contained,” she said. “The students don’t have to change classrooms for anything, and they eat lunch in the classroom, too. Really the only time they have to walk through the hallway is when they’re going to the restroom.”
