Learning in an Impersonal Life

Learning in an Impersonal Life How educators are innovating in the Covid-19 challenging times to serve both in-class and virtually-based students

BY NEGEEN GHASEDI

August is usually one of Each classroom has a separate the happiest months of the year video call-designated laptop that the for teachers. The excitement of teachers move around to suit their summer has usually worn off needs. All students remain in one by then and the store shelves, once classroom all day while the teachers filled with inner tubes and grilling cycle through the classrooms, making accessories, are now stocked with contact tracing easier if we should backpacks, notebooks and shiny new ever encounter a case of Covid-19. school supplies. We also drafted and published an

The start of the school year is filled E-Learning Protocol document that with new possibilities and exciting outlines the expectations for students adventures in learning. This year, and parents. The faculty consistently however, Covid-19 robbed us of that enforces everything listed on it, and feeling. The exhilaration and antic- the virtual students adhere to it. ipation were readily replaced with anxiety, uncertainty, and fear. How could such a familiar time become so unfamiliar in a matter of months? A few weeks before school started, WE ARE SHOWING UP EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH BIG SMILES ON OUR FACES (ALBEIT BEHIND MASKS) AND INSTRUCTING OUR VIRTUAL As the first day of school with students approached, it was becoming increasingly apparent that our little school was on its own. As we are a private school, we receive very our school’s — The Huda Academy in AND IN-PERSON STUDENTS WITH THE limited public resources. The school Little Rock, Ark. — Covid-19 Task PASSION AND RIGOR THAT WE’VE received some technology funds Force, comprising the principal, ALWAYS HAD WHILE MODELING through Title I (federal funds that parents, teachers and community ADAPTABILITY, FLEXIBILITY AND support financially disadvantaged members, held a Zoom town hall PATIENCE, AS WELL AS HELPING OUR students); however, this grant has meeting that outlined the new pro- STUDENTS DISCOVER A RESILIENCE been put on hold indefinitely for cedures and gave us all a glimpse into how this year was going to start out. Even with all the plans in place IN THEMSELVES THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE RECOGNIZED BEFORE. reasons unknown to us. But despite this big blow, we continue to succeed against all odds by depending on our I was still skeptical, for there were own resourcefulness and creativity, so many obstacles in our way, and of which there is no shortage here at I had no clue as to how we would even surface cleaners, gloves, face shields and the Huda Academy. begin to overcome them. Would we be able so on — for our teachers and students. We Our staff has worked tirelessly to make to successfully implement the guidelines also received and placed signs for masks and this academic year have some semblance of prepared by our health officials? Would social distancing reminders throughout the years past. There is no doubt that things are the students need to wear masks? Would school. These resources made our jobs so very different — we are a little more distant we really be able to social distance all day much easier! from each other, a little more tired at the long? And how on Earth would we be able The biggest challenge was still ahead of end of each day — but the nature of our to accommodate our virtual students and us, though: integrating our virtual students work remains the same. We are showing up make them feel like they were still part of into our regular classroom in the most effi- each and every day with big smiles on our our classroom? cient, practical and effective way possible. faces (albeit behind masks) and instruct-

As preplanning began, I quickly realized After days of brainstorming and trial runs — ing our virtual and in-person students with that there was no time to doubt. Our new including a complete simulation of a virtual the passion and rigor that we’ve always had normal, coupled with my being promoted class with teachers logging into our second while modeling adaptability, flexibility and to lead teacher, threw me into execution grade teacher’s Google Classroom for a prac- patience, as well as helping our students dismode. It was easy to plan for screening, tice math lesson — we devised a sustainable cover a resilience in themselves that they wearing masks and maintaining social and streamlined way to teach our virtuals may not have recognized before. ih distancing measures. A government relief program would provide PPE and sanitation and in-class students simultaneously. Using Google Classroom and Google Meets proved Negeen Ghasedi is the elementary lead and fourth and fifth grade ELA and social studies teacher at the CISNAproducts — hand sanitizers, antibacterial to be the most effective medium. accredited The Huda Academy, Little Rock, Ark.