INNOVATIVE LEARNING
A WHOLE
NEW WORLD
Era of Educating Virtually
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f someone had told educators one year ago that teaching virtually was going to be their new normal, most would have told you that teaching virtually wasn’t their calling and wasn’t a teaching platform that they would choose for themselves. Then COVID-19 happened, and all educators had to learn this new reality. With little to no preparation and transitioning over spring break, educators returned to school in a whole new world. Few will argue with the statement that schools were unprepared for this new reality that was thrust upon them in March of 2020. Unlike many districts around the state that delayed school restarting by a week or more, Prosper ISD students returned to school only two days later than originally planned but in a virtual setting after leaders rallied over the break to forge a plan for 100% virtual learning in the district. As the 2020-2021 school year began, the virtual world was still present as many families made virtual learning options based upon what was best for their family in this new era that COVID-19 had ushered in. Three Prosper Virtual Teachers from Cockrell Elementary share about their experiences in this new world.
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What does your virtual day look like? Hope Naber (Kinder): I teach lessons in the core subject areas (ELAR/Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science) every day. My schedule mirrors the in-person Kindergarten schedule at my school, but I teach about half of my students the reading and writing lesson for the day, for instance, then I teach the other half the same lesson. When I am not teaching those core subject lessons, I am involved in small group (3-5 students) lessons that are more focused instruction based on each learner’s needs. Jean Mitzner (5th Grade): My morning meet begins at 7:45 a.m. and they are with me until 10 a.m. At 10 a.m. they go to their math and science teacher and I get a new group. We meet from 10-11:20 a.m. for ELAR. They are then sent off for lunch and recess time. We meet again at 12:20 p.m. for social studies and get off at 1 p.m. for specials. I tutor one child daily in ELAR from 1:30-2 p.m. I am available for questions and help from 2-2:30 p.m. It is a lot of screen time, but it is working. I always have three computers going, one for the meet so I can see them, one on Go Guardian, and one that I present from. I have started bringing my computer from home so that I can look at email, etc. more easily.
