MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Murfreesboro special education teacher is putting a twist on distance learning. Alexandra Piper is posting videos of choreographed dances on Twitter and YouTube.
"For my emotional well being it helped out a lot to do these dance videos," Piper said.
Piper teaches K-2 at Buchanan Elementary. She's found that dance breaks during the school-day help her kids reset, and on Fridays, they usually do a 10-minute dance party.
"It's just a way to let it all go at the end of the week," she said.
But when school was called off for the rest of the year because of COVID-19, Piper had to figure out how to connect with her students.
"I'm like 'how can I help not just the students, but the parents, as well?' So I call the parents twice a week or at least once a week. A lot of times it's like 'if I need to be your therapist for the day, I totally will,'" she said.
It was during one of her phone calls with a parent that she suggested the family devote some time to dancing. Piper decided to take it a step further and make a video for the student of her dancing to a Disney song.
"Is it embarrassing sometimes? Oh absolutely," she said.
Piper has now posted a handful of videos to her social media.
"Dancing is almost a universal language, like some kids even though they have communication needs, they are going to dance in some way, shape or form," she said.
It is still difficult to provide special education from afar, but Piper believes this is bridging some of the gap and helping parents.
"I'm definitely the one when you provide me with a challenge, I'm going to accept that challenge and do it in the best way possible. Do we have some hard times and I know sometimes they get frustrated with me? Absolutely, but they are still my kids at the end of the day. They are my family and I would do anything for my family," she said.
