It has been a while… a long while, since my last post. March 9th was the day the state of education and teaching changed for me… the first day of our classroom doors closing. At that time, what was thought to be for a short period of time turned into a long-term affair. Having to quickly take on distance learning and adapting to our new way of teaching was definitely an overwhelming experience. As a special education teacher for students with severe disabilities, a lot of what we do is hands on, so programs like Class Dojo, Google Classroom, Google Hangouts, Zoom, etc., are not in our wheelhouse!!! One can only imagine how steep our learning curve was, and how quickly we had to do it! So, unfortunately, blog posting fell seriously to the wayside… but I am back!
The state of education has always been an ever-constant changing and evolving organism. Over the years, some of these changes have been necessary while others are mis-directed and mis-guided. In either case, change cannot be avoided. But in order to effectively implement change, a solid game plan needs to be in place for success to occur. Change cannot be executed haphazardly and should never be a one size fits all, because that one size doesn’t fit all. When that occurs, problems ensue. Everybody is struggling with what the 2020 – 2021 school year is going to look like. In the midst of this pandemic, COVID-19 has all of us wondering and questioning… a lot!!! Most school districts have already decided to start the school year with distance learning, in the hopes that at some point, students can go back into the classroom part-time. In either case, both learning environments poses major challenges!
Classroom
Administration is working hard to come up with a game plan to send students, teachers, and all other staff back to a school environment that is safe, social distance friendly, and healthy for all. No matter how resilient children might be, how disinfected the environment might be, how much social distancing and teaching is done, and how consistently masks are worn, it only takes ONE incident of exposure to change it all. And for those of us who work with student’s with severe disabilities and compromised health issues, social distancing, teaching, and for some, wearing masks, are NOT an option.
Distance Learning
Teachers and paraeducators are tasked with creating a learning environment that is beneficial in the classroom as well as out of the classroom. Learning new technology, new programs, new ways to teach, new ways of delivery, new ways to reach students, new ways to engage, and new ways to keep learning fun! And then there is the problem with equity, making sure all students have access to technology, the internet, and wifi.
There is a lot to consider as we navigate this “new normal”. There is a huge learning curve that students, teachers, district administrators, and parents have to face, yet again, together. As we embark on this constantly changing world of education, I call on all of us to exercise patience, keep criticisms to nil, douse those flames of negativity and spark embers of positivity, offer grace and mercy, and be a help instead of a hindrance! None of this is easy for any of us!!! Trust me, I want to be in the classroom as much as parents want their students in the classroom!!! But, NOT at the expense of my student’s health, my paraeducators health, nor mine!!! So, let’s do this together, and make the upcoming 2020-2021 school year the best doggone distance learning/hybrid learning adventure this world has ever seen!!!