14 / BACK TO SCHOOL 2020
Q&A
Local Teacher’s Discuss How We Can Prepare for New Learning Environments Written By Ryan Hoover
Adrian Advincula – Meadowlark Elementary Principal
With blended learning a likely option for many schools across the country this fall, many students school year routines will change significantly. How can students put themselves in positions to best navigate this change?
I think the first thing that comes to mind is the ability to give yourself permission to know that it’s not going to be perfect. We have kids starting Kindergarten that want everything to be the way it’s supposed to be. As we all know, we are in a world of unknowns right now; things keep on changing, new data on Covid-19 keeps coming out. As many other superintendents have put before, we are building the ship as we are flying it. So, I think the first thing our students can do is to give themselves permission to make mistakes and learn from it, because that’s okay. What might work one week may not work the next week. I just want them to know that the teachers, the administrators, and all the adults in the building are here to help them work through that. We’re there for them and we’re going to continue to be there for them regardless of what model will be rolled out. We’re always going to be taking care of them and continue to support them and their families. In terms of practical things that everyone can do, what we’ve been trying to do with our daughter is practice. Practice on things you’re not typically doing at school, like wearing a mask. Give yourself time to get used to that. Start with a minute at a time and slowly increase the time you wear it in order get comfortable. I think practicing the social distancing piece is huge, too. When kids see their friends and teachers for the first time in a long time, they are going to want to approach and hug them. We just have to practice that social distancing component early. We have to show our affection and care for each other in a different way.
Matthew Lukens – Mt. Ellis Academy English Teacher One of the benefits to living in a place like this is that you can go outside. It’s not like New York City where you go outside and its almost safer to be inside. You can’t really do it. That is something that our school emphasizes, and I believe taking the time to get outside is even more important in this new environment were in. I think it’s a reality that some students will fall behind. Academic success is a process: responsibility, showing up on time, being disciplined, and being focused. There are also the skills that you learn. It’s much harder to teach the process of success remotely. I think that people tend to associate the youth with being native to technology; that it comes intuitively. But in the past, I think phones and computers have not been traditionally how students learn. They’ve been used for social media and entertainment. So, when you use those devices as the primary means of delivering education, you already have a different set of associations in place. As teachers we should try and give students the benefit of the doubt. If something doesn’t work, we should recalibrate and try to find what will be successful. I think it’s important for students to have a routine. If you’re in a different environment but you can enter a sort of “learning mode,” and establish different expectations for the remote classroom, this may be helpful. As a teacher, I want to try and do this for my students as much as I can. Routines will help you manage your time! Splitting your attention between your schoolwork and your device (games) is going to drain more energy from you. Be mindful about limiting the distractions that are at hand. Have a specific spot and a specific time for your remote learning so you can start developing your routines. I think that will be helpful.
Lena Romeo – Meadowlark Elementary First Grade Teacher Our district has elected a hybrid model, so no matter whether families have elected to attend school fully-remotely or a mixture of remote and in-person, everyone’s school experience will be MUCH different than any other year. I think one of the most important things for families to remember is everyone is in this situation together. We will all need to be flexible and give ourselves and one another grace. We are all doing the best we can.
