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While screens were a big part of how teachers have stayed connected, another teacher took things to the next level by using screens to create something her students could interact with.
Lauren Bedford, a first grade teacher at Walnut Grove Elementary School, created “Flat Mrs. Bedford” for her students to take on adventures.
“When I came across the idea of sending a flat teacher, it was something that really grabbed my attention because to this day, I remember sending a Flat Stanley around the country to relatives when I was in first grade,” Lauren says. “I thought it would be memorable for my first graders and a fun way for them to show me some of their quarantine adventures and activities.”
After buying the template online, Lauren customized the idea by shaping her cartoon off of her Bitmoji and included a note and a handout about Flat Mrs. Bedford.
“Once all of the pieces were put together and Flat Mrs. Bedford was ready for delivery, I mapped out a route of my students’ homes, and went out on the town to drop them off on their front porches,” Lauren says.
Students could also interact with the Flat Mrs. Bedford by scanning the corresponding QR code with a cell phone, allowing them to watch a video Lauren recorded of herself reading the book “Flat Stanley.”
Lauren says she’s already received emails from students with pictures of all the adventures Flat Mrs. Bedford has gone on — from fishing and smelling the flowers on a walk to going to a farm and eating a stack of pancakes.
Using the internet and a little creativity, Lauren was able to connect with her students virtually as they took Flat Mrs. Bedford on adventures and listened to her read to them.
“I think we are all enjoying it! It can bring a sense of peace, knowing that in some way, we are all in this together,” Lauren says. “You don’t have to be taking Flat Mrs. Bedford on a wild adventure. Something simple such as taking a walk ‘together’ is now a memory we have made with one another. We are finding joy in the little things.”