School Reentry Considerations

Considerations for School Reentry
Table of Contents

At-Home Student Survey

Health and physical educators need to consider how to create activities, lessons and units that keep equity, inclusion and accessibility, SEL, and a trauma-sensitive learning environment at the forefront.

Many of the considerations are interrelated and adapting or creating new routines or classroom management procedures that incorporate the above concepts are great beginning steps to help your students prepare for learning.

One strategy that can be used to gather the important information you need to know about how your students will learn best, especially during this time of COVID-19, is conducting an at-home student survey. The survey will help you design appropriate learning experiences and serve as the first step in building a meaningful relationship with students.

Sample information to collect in an at-home student survey:

  • Available technology for the student to use for learning;
  • If the student has access to technology, what kind of device will they be mostly using (e.g., cell phone, laptop/computer, tablet, a shared device/computer)?
  • Other siblings residing in the home and their ages;
  • Household items students have available to use for physical education (provide a list of at-home equipment and allow students to circle what they have);
  • Available school supplies;
  • What they are most excited about in preparing to return to school? What they are most concerned about in preparing to return to school?
  • What are their goals for the new school year?
  • What content areas do they want to learn the most about? (Provide a list of health and PE content areas and have students rank them.)
  • Which skills do they feel they need most right now? (List the key health and physical education skills and have students rank them.)
  • What is one word that best describes them?
  • What is their favorite ________ (e.g., color, animal, food, type of music)?
  • Hobbies or interests (e.g., television shows, sports, hidden talents);
  • Name one thing they liked and one thing they did not like about distance learning;
  • Ask families to share anything else they feel would be helpful for you to know.

Suggested citation: SHAPE America. (2020). School reentry considerations: K-12 physical education, health education, and physical activity. Reston, VA: Author.

The recommendations and strategies provided herein are obtained based on guidance for schools provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and national recommendations for physical education, health education, recess, and classroom-based physical activity. The COVID-19 outbreak is an ongoing, rapidly developing situation. Educators are encouraged to monitor publicly available information and to always follow federal, state and local health organization guidance and government mandates. This information may vary and will be updated as necessary.