by Efi Karatopouzi

Teaching via BBB® In Elementary School During COVID-19

by Efi Karatopouzi , Elementary School PE Faculty

Virtual learning was a very far perspective picture in my mind, regarding teaching Physical Education in JK-5TH Grade students.

I had this in my mind as a rapid solution, or as an extra PE engagement in students ‘everyday lives in MS/HS, but certainly not for elementary students.

In physical education, we teach knowledge and skills by working and relating to each other. We try to develop teamwork skills and encourage students to transfer knowledge to other learning areas.

We also develop critical thinking, and we have the opportunity to create new ideas and methods during our lesson, where students can build up awareness regarding their bodies and emotions.

Unfortunately, on March 9th, we had to Stay Home and teach students via online learning, I started teaching with personal active videos and guidance, and as we continued, we evolved through online BBB (Big Blue Button) sessions.

Meeting our students, after five weeks, was such a significant emotional uplift for all of us.

Seeing my students after so many weeks, talking to them live, was a tremendous feeling.

During the BBB session, I had the opportunity to teach and watch my students, give them advice, and guide them through all the sessions; I was there for them even through a screen.

Even though a device, keeping us in contact was beneficial for all, but as an educator, I had to consider all the diverse needs, emotional, physical, and mental, of all students.

Delivering lessons to all grades in elementary and having 290 students online is not an easy thing to do. I needed to be creative and innovative so that my teaching could be successful and meaningful. Most importantantly, however, I had to continue teaching as naturally as my students knew me in class, letting them feel safe and comfortable in this new virtual learning.

To implement active online learning for all students, I had to consider many things. Fist of all I had to think very carefully about structuring my lesson regarding theory and practice elements. Secondly, I had to ensure learning success while keeping my students’ emotionally happy and calm. Last but not least, I had to keep them enthusiastic about learning and improving their skills.

My transition from live teaching to online teaching was rapid, and I didn’t have the luxury to think about what it looks like. I only did what a teacher who loves her work, and students would do.

I just continued teaching as I did in class with love and caring for each of my students.

Up until the day COVID -19 invaded our lives, I had only produced just a few videos regarding fitness for adults. Having to make PE videos to teach my students virtually was something very different and far more difficult .

In a very short period of time I had to find ways that would encourage my students to work out with my videos.

My videos were designed with each student’s grade and fitness level in mind. This helped me create a variety of workouts and drills that would engage every student. My students seemed to have fun and enjoy the workout videos.

I can’t say that I enjoy online teaching very much because I can’t see how my students feel, I can’t properly assess if they are working out, nor can I see if they are doing something wrong that could potentially cause them harm.

Our BBB sessions started with great excitement and willingness from both the students and myself regarding meeting and seeing each other.

Working out together with my students was a great relief because I could see them, correct them, encourage them, and they could have the motivation that they needed during their workout.

I could teach them many more things than with the workout videos. I could answer their questions and push them to achieve their goals but most importantly, I was there for them all the way through the lesson to correct and help.

I am trying to keep a balance between the students, their families, and myself.

My teaching is designed, therefore, to keep them happy physically and emotionally while at the same time to teach them different ways of working out when it comes to learning new skills.

It has been a tremendous eight-week period of personal growth as a teacher but also as a human.

Every day I have one thought: Try and live the day, make the most of it, don’t think about tomorrow as tomorrow is what you do today.

Meaningful Musings: 6th Grade Language Arts

by Eleftheria Maratou , Middle School Faculty

Iwould like to share what we did at the end of the 2019-2020 school year during virtual learning in 6th grade Language Arts. As an educator, I have had many moments where I felt proud of my students’ learning. This year I was challenged as many educators and children were to carry on purposeful learning online. In this time of COVID -19, we had to change our routines and adapt quickly to new norms and routines. As educators, we wanted to continue to support and guide our students in their growth as learners through this challenging year. This, at times, proved daunting. There were days when we were not always able to see all our students. I would think, ‘Are they still with me, or are they tuning me out?’ and ‘I wonder if they are reading?’ These thoughts and more would cross my mind. The time I had with my students online felt more precious than ever.

My 6th graders were looking forward to reading a novel as a class again and having discussions as we did during F2F sessions in the classroom before the COVID -19 quarantine. Our essential questions for our last unit in LA are: What causes people to be unfair to others? How do you know what is right or wrong? What enables people to persevere through difficult situations? What might a sense of power do to a person? Thinking about a book that would engage and raise awareness and focus on these questions, I included the book I Am Malala (young reader’s edition) as required reading for 6th grade. I felt that Malala Yousafzai’s story would be one of inspiration and revelation to what is happening in the world. This was a time when learning should still be effective and engaging despite the challenges of online learning. I wanted our 6th graders to see that Education is a powerful tool, and lifelong learning is paramount to fighting injustice and inequality in the world. Through reading her memoir, they realized that not every child receives an education and that sometimes we take essential things for granted. They learned how important Education is as the key to enlightening minds and making people aware of causes, events, and cultural differences. This book, of course, tied in with UN Sustainable Development Goal #4, ‘Quality Education’ and led to deep motivating and meaningful discussions. Along with reading, noticing, and noting important parts in the book, my students got to experience a WebQuest by watching interviews of Malala. They saw that she was just a young person with humor, kindness, determination, and they were surprised by her courage to confront world leaders. Watching her 2014 Nobel Peace Prize speech, they were awed by her passion and eloquence.

One of my goals was to finish the last quarter in a way that would be memorable and meaningful to the students. So I assigned the class to write a letter to Malala Yousafzai and express their thoughts and feelings after reading and learning about her story. This time of quarantine has been significant in illuminating what is truly important in our lives, what is worth our dedication, and what is worth fighting for. I felt very proud of the 6th graders’ reflection and reference to Malala’s story. They made important connections and expressed their thoughts and feelings authentically.

Dear Malala, My name is Peter Prattas. I am from Canada and now live in Athens, Greece. I am eleven years old, and in my school, ACS Athens, we read your book. It was extremely inspiring. Through your struggle, you taught us the importance of gender equality and women’s rights around the world. I am writing to you because, through your dedication and sacrifice, you demonstrated how important it is to stand up and fight for what you believe in.

As a young student, I am eager to build my knowledge and understanding of the world I live in. I never realized how complicated and challenging it is for some children in other cultures and circumstances. Some have no voice, and we need to speak on their behalf. In Chapter 11 “A Chance to Speak” you said: “And I knew in that instant that it wasn’t me, Malala, speaking; my voice was the voice of so many others who wanted to speak but couldn’t… I felt as if the wind would carry my words, the same way it scatters flower pollen in the spring, planting seeds all over the earth.” Reading your book and learning about your struggles to get your message out, and effecting change, I am more motivated to fight and stand up strongly for my beliefs. We live in a complicated world. We tend to think that we are fair and just but current events prove us wrong. I thought of you while watching what is going on with George Floyd and the racial inequality in the world. It is important to remember that it is possible for things to change if we really believe in them and are not scared to speak up.

Another important lesson I learned from your life was your message about education and gender equality. I thought of my mother or sister, that I care about so much, being in your shoes, and realized how unfair the world is. In the interview on the Jon Stewart show, you said: “Education is power for women…. That is why the terrorists are afraid of education…. Education is the best way…. It teaches us equality, justice, respect… it teaches us how to live a life …. How to live together.” You made me realize that cultures that do not respect gender equality do exist, and girls like you have to suffer for fundamental rights that we all take for granted.

Malala, I will end my letter to you by expressing my immense gratitude for how you have inspired me and a huge thank you to my teacher for the opportunity I was given to get to know your story. You exemplify the struggle for freedom and equality in our society and are a role model on how to make our world better. Sincerely, Peter Prattas

Dear Malala, What a compelling life you have had! I have read your fascinating book and was kept at the edge of my seat the whole time. Your experiences, insights, and personality are so distinct and special compared to everyone else I know. My name is Phaedra Macdonald. In terms of nationality, I am half-Canadian, half-Greek, and I am 11 years old. I live in Athens, Greece, and attend the sixth grade at the American Community School of Athens. Our school is mixed for both girls and boys and offers classes from kindergarten to grade 12. You would love to be a student here. The main goal of our school is to challenge all of us to realize our unique potential to enable us to thrive as responsible global citizens. It struck me as a truly amazing coincidence how my school’s mission aligns with what you had always dreamt of and fought for your country’s education to entail as well. I wish I could meet you in person, introduce you to my friends, and have you talk to some of my country’s leaders to exchange ideas. Unfortunately, this does not seem possible under the current circumstances. Therefore, I chose to write you this letter instead. I was passionately driven to reach out to you to express the extent to which I admire your spirit and the way you have succeeded in changing the world. Your life, as presented in your book, reminded me to never give up and to never stop believing. It also motivated me to follow my dreams and inspired me to join your cause.

To begin with, I would like to comment on how much I love the fact that you are so open and generous in sharing so many details about yourself. From learning these details, I have absorbed a wealth of life lessons, enabling me to learn in a very direct manner from your actions and your reflections on other people’s actions. Firstly, you showcased the power of faith and what goals or challenges faith can assist one to achieve or overcome. I understand how much God means to you and that you trust him with everything. You also have true faith to know that whatever he does, he does it for a reason and for your own good. I enjoyed your example at the beginning of your book when you had one of your ‘talks’ with God and prayed for him to change your height. In the end, though, you realized that he did not change your height for a reason and that he had a more important mission for you, which was to give you the courage to fight and help you to survive. You also made me understand how important it is to have someone to believe in you, be proud of you, support you, and allow you to follow your dreams. Specifically, I will never forget your father’s words in chapter 2, where he states: “Do not worry, I will protect your freedom, Malala. Carry on with your dreams.” I, too, have a great support network and am determined to follow your lead. Moreover, I felt energized when I read what you wrote in chapter 12 - that speaking up is the only way things will get better, and in chapter 20 - that when we believe in something greater than our lives, the voices will multiply. These ideas reminded me and mobilized me to start taking action for things that I believe need to change. I am now more sure than ever that we all need to be part of the change that we want to see. You also gave me a new insight on how other people in the world live, in terms of how many kids don’t have basic rights, and how lucky and privileged I am in comparison (after reading your words, I felt a bit like when you described how you saw the kids in the dumpsters and it made you very sad). I know now that I need to help the underprivileged children of this world, and so I would really like to help with your educational fund.

After reading your book, you also became my model as there are so many things I admire about you, and that deeply inspire me. You are so strong and determined but never use violence. Even with the people that shot you, you are not upset with them. You just think they need education to know that one should always be a good person and that education can change the world. In chapter 20, your thoughts said it best as you wrote: “If you hit a Talib with your shoe, there is no difference between him and you. You must not treat others with cruelty. You must fight them with peace and dialogue.” If only the world’s leaders would follow your advice. You are brave and confident because in all your interviews, you just simply said what you think other people should do to make things better, without being shy, and you expressed your feelings and thoughts to anyone without re-thinking it or hesitating. My mom always tells me that a brave person is not the one that has no fear, but the one that keeps on going although she/he is afraid. I wanted to ask you though, how did you manage to overcome your fear? What made you so strong inside? It is amazing how confident and truthful you are! I will try and follow your example. I also admire that even after you heard that you won the Nobel Peace Prize, you remained humble and ‘down to earth’. For example, you still wanted to finish your Physics class first, on the day of school, because you believed that you are protesting for education, and therefore you wanted to have education always as the first priority, not only in words but in actions as well. In addition, instead of focusing on obtaining awards and getting noticed, you decided that you wanted to continue with your mission and maintain your life as normal as possible. This is shown, as your brothers still make fun of you, and the love of all your friends remained strong. Your friendship with Moniba, is still as powerful as ever (using texting and face timing) even though you guys are physically separate. Going forward, I will cherish the fact that true friendship knows no borders and to never let fame go to my head. On another note, I totally agree with your comments from the interview and support your opinion that the power and control of the terrorists is based on women’s illiteracy and lack of empowerment. Everybody therefore needs to join your case: “ ‘Struggle to erase illiteracy, poverty, and terrorism.’ and follow your example by staying focused on the cause and viewing the positive side of things.

In conclusion, you are so thoughtful and caring as you want everybody to have the right to learn, no matter what their race, gender, or culture is. I admire immensely how you want to be known as the girl that brought education for everybody, instead of the girl that got shot. Never stop believing and never change the way you are, because you have taught me, and the the rest of the world, valuable lessons in life, that we will never forget. Last but not least, you have taught us that we should never give up and that we should try to make a change as soon as possible before it is too late. After all the things you have been through, you have encouraged all of us to try to be known for a positive impact in the world, in our own and special way! I decided to make my positive mark by reaching out to my principal and making a presentation to our whole school to educate my classmates, in order to raise awareness and collect money for your fund. I will write you another letter to share how it went. Be well and strong!

Sincerely, Phaedra Macdonald