HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — During the pandemic, teachers Stephanie Lynch and Dede Pinson are reaching their first grade students over YouTube.
"We can't turn our brains off because that passion just drives us," said Stephanie Lynch.
The teachers work at Merrol Hyde Magnet School in Hendersonville. All Sumner County schools are closed through April 24 because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"We want to be in school with our kids," said Dede Pinson.
Pinson and Lynch created Tapping Out With Tiles, a phonics instructional program, years ago. In recent weeks, they started to post their lessons on YouTube to keep their students on track.
"We thought... what can we do to make sure we have a sense of normalcy for our children," Pinson said.
The teachers have posted more than a dozen lessons on YouTube since schools closed. Because their curriculum is used across Tennessee and in other states, their audience has grown.
"The circle is getting wider, bigger and larger and that is making it great, this really is working," Pinson said.
Lynch explained what a typical twenty minute lesson looks like.
"We will give them a word to say and then tap out or segment the sounds so they're involved by tapping. Then, in front of them they have a white board or pencil and paper so they're writing out the words... We try to give them a challenge at the end of each lesson too," Lynch said.
The teachers film the lessons in Lynch's kitchen.
"We're used to having everything in our classroom. With this we're trying to figure it out too. How can we make it that this is interactive? Where they feel part [of something]," Pinson said.
Tapping Out With Tiles is used by teachers in 19 counties in Tennessee as well as Kentucky, Connecticut and Texas.
Click here for to watch their videos on YouTube.
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COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES IN TENNESSEE
What is COVID-19 (a.k.a. the new coronavirus?)
According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Examples include the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. COVID-19 stands for "Coronavirus disease 2019," which is when this strain of the coronavirus was discovered.
What are the symptoms?
The CDC says patients confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Or at least two of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
At this time, the CDC believes symptoms could appear as soon as two days after exposure, or as long as 14 days.
Prevention
The CDC is recommending "common sense" measures such as:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
