Advice from Teachers
What Can Parents do to Help? by Laura Cross, photos provided by Hillsborough County Public Schools
As the mom of a second grader, a third grader and an eighth grader, I really cannot put into words how appreciative I am of my children’s teachers. Through all the craziness of this past year, our teachers’ perseverance, f lexibility and compassion have been a blessing to many of our families. Being more than one quarter of the way through the school year already (crazy, right?), I wondered what teachers have learned over the past couple of months and what parents can do to make their jobs easier. We reached out to a few teachers to find out: KELLY E. KING, EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION PRESCHOOL TEACHER “I’ve learned how incredibly resourceful and creative teachers at all levels have become to meet a wide range of student needs. Our students are the superheroes in this COVID story, putting forth amazing resilience and patience while the adults in their community work hard to keep them safe. Teachers might ask that families continue to offer an open line of communication to help us better understand their current needs and challenges.” RACHEL PATTERSON, FIRST GRADE TEACHER AT COLLINS ELEMENTARY “I’ve learned to be f lexible and focus more on building relationships and spending some time every day just talking to the students with no agenda. Parents can help teachers and schools by just being kind and patient, understanding we are all riding this crazy ride together and trying to make the best of it.” ALISHIA MARSH, KINDERGARTEN TEACHER AT CHILES ELEMENTARY “I have learned that teaching still comes from the heart and we need to make sure our children feel safe and welcome every day. Even though we still have high expectations for our little learners, they have all experienced things that no other group of children have experienced through the quarantine and this pandemic. The hardest part for me has been the social distancing aspect. I am used to my students all close together on a carpet, engaged in books and working closely in small groups. COVID-19 has changed many things, but my kids will always know how much I care about them as a person and a learner. Our parents have been very helpful in reinforcing the importance of wearing masks and washing their hands frequently. Parents, continue doing your best and know that your child’s teacher wants to partner with you to help your child be an awesome citizen in your community.”
HERE ARE A FEW ADDITIONAL REMINDERS THAT WILL HELP KEEP OUR SCHOOLS HEALTHY AND HAPPY: Remind your child the importance of washing their hands… a lot! Enforce mask wearing. Always. Even when they’re not in school. We’re finding most cases are being brought into the schools because of community gatherings. Make sure your child is not sharing school supplies with anyone. Say thank you to a teacher. They’re doing a ton behind the scenes to keep everyone safe!
NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2020 2020 TampaBayParenting.com TampaBayParenting.com
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