Three weeks into Distance Learning

Well, we've been at this new thing called "distance learning" for almost three weeks now. When I say "new", I realize there has been on-line schooling and homeschooling for many years (and I completed a good portion of my masters degree on-line), but this whole thing is definitely new for our local brick-and-mortal school system.
Here's how it's going:
Every Monday, the parents pick up a packet for their students in preschool through third grade. (Grades four and above are completing school work on-line.) There are three times during the day when packets can be picked up: early morning, lunch time and late afternoon/early evening. Families are also picking up their meals for the week (if they choose to do that) which consist of two breakfasts and two lunches for each day.
Our third grade packets consist of a parent section in the front (for help in instructing with guiding questions and answer keys) and a child section in the back. Children complete their work throughout the week and return the back section on the following Monday at which time they also pick up a new packet. The packets that have been returned are left to sit in isolation until administration gives us the all-clear to handle them. We're still waiting to take a look at our first week's packet as I write this.
Each child gets a phone call every week from his/her teacher.  Our grade level team decided each teacher would call six kids a day, Monday through Thursday.  Calls to families who don't speak English are handled by our EL team. We can listen in on those and still be a part of those conversations.
The first week I called my students was magical. I had never talked to most of them on the telephone, and both students and teacher were excited to talk again. Some were shy, but most had lots to tells me - adorable!
The second week was a little different. The weather had taken an unseasonably nice turn, and I think my call was an interruption into a fun day for many of the kids. One girl was out flying kites with her family during our phone call. One boy was summoned from the backyard where he'd been jumping on their trampoline when I called.
I email the families every morning for attendance, and their responses range from "here" to positive, uplifting messages for me. I enjoy the extra interaction with the parents.
Another way I try to engage my families is through my read aloud recordings. I read a chapter of a book aloud each day and record myself. I then push the recording out to my families through email. Some of the parents and grandparents have told me that they watch the read aloud together each day and enjoy hearing the story as much as the kids.
I haven't done any zoom or google meetings for my class yet. As several of my grade level colleagues have done this already, I feel some peer pressure to try it.
If it's like most of the things I have been dragged into since this whole crisis began, I will find that it's something I can do (with a few instructions), and it will be a welcome addition to my new way of teaching.
Frequent google or zoom meetings with my grade level team and school administrators and building staff help keep us all on track. Our grade level team plans our lessons through google meets as a group, ensuring that children from each third grade classroom get the same instruction.
At the current time, Governor Walz has ordered that schools will be closed until May 5th. I'm pretty sure that date will be extended through the end of the school year, but, for now, the governor is leaving that door open.
And so my foray into distance learning continues...