The return to classrooms after months of remote learning is bound to bring up a range of emotions for young children, writes first-grade teacher Alissa Alteri Shea. ⁣ ⁣ To ease the transition, “reach out to each child and meet them where they are emotionally—whether that’s excited and ready to jump in, hesitant, or even fearful,” Shea writes. ⁣ ⁣ Here are some of her tips for creating routines and a sense of safety and community in the early grades—albeit mid-year.⁣ ⁣ 📌 Make Safety Fun: Encourage students to follow safety protocols like handwashing and mask wearing with kid-friendly language. Upon arrival, for example, ask children to check that their “superhero masks” are on securely. When walking in hallways, you no longer have students, but a class full of birds who “spread their wings [and] fly” to maintain a safe distance from others. ⁣ ⁣ 📌 Offer Flexible Seating: Introduce a variety of seating options to incentivize students to sit for longer stretches of time in assigned, saf...