With elementary schools beginning a hybrid schedule on Oct. 5, students and teachers are getting back into the swing of in-person school. Read below for some elementary school teacher’s thoughts on students returning to class.
Mrs. Huntley: Kindergarten teacher at Corinth Elementary
“I think every teacher is thrilled to see their kids again. We’ve gotten to know our new class online, but everyone can agree that it’s not the same. The school is so quiet without kids in it. Our entire situation has made teachers realize how much they love what they do and how much they love working with kids. I’ve realized that I’m no YouTube star; I’m a much better teacher live and in-person than online.”
“I am obviously afraid that someone in my family, as well as others that I know and love, will get really sick from COVID. I’m afraid of the unknown — how long will this last, will everyone stay safe and will I be prepared if I need to go into quarantine immediately. We need to have about two weeks’ worth of lesson plans laid out at the end of each day in case something happens and we’re not able to be in the classroom for a while.”
“So much has gone into planning for in-person learning. Our principal and staff have really tried to think of every situation and rearrange the schedule so that students are always socially distanced. Students have a designated door to enter each morning, no classes are passing in the halls at the same time, the lunch room has been rearranged so that students are eating in long rows all facing the same direction, recess has been zoned off so each class plays in one outdoor area as a single group, hourly handwashing has been worked into the schedule and students will stay in their classrooms and wait to leave until their ride has arrived. No one will take their masks off, even at recess and P.E., except at lunch and snack time where they will be spaced six feet apart. I feel really safe about the plan that is in place. They’ve tried to think of every single scenario ahead of time.”
“This experience has totally changed the way I teach. In kindergarten we are on the rug a lot, we do a lot of cooperative play, lots of hands-on learning and sharing, lots of physical interaction. Now desks are in rows and spread out across the entire classroom so everyone is six feet apart at all times. There’s no rug for calendar, show and tell, snack and story, so the challenge will be to make the personal connections that are so important for little ones, even when we’re physically so far apart. I think we’ll figure it out and get a groove once the kids arrive. We’re just excited to have them at school and can’t wait to get started.”
Mrs. Newbold: Third grade teacher at Briarwood Elementary
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the kids in person. I look at them on a video screen every day, but I’m looking forward to having a little more personal connection with them.”
“Not really, I think that all of the kids and teachers will wear masks. We’ve gone to great lengths to place kids six feet apart. There’s social distancing rules on the playground, and at lunch and in the classroom. Maybe I’m naive, but I’m honestly not afraid. I just hope that no one gets sick, but I think that we’ll be okay. I might be looking at it through rose-colored glasses as they say, but I think I’ll be safe.”
“I have rearranged my room, it’s totally different than what I’ve always had in the past. I have a lot more tables because I have to put one child at each table. We also have to make sure they understand, at recess for instance, that classes can not mingle and I have to keep my students playing with my students. It’s very unfortunate, but that’s the rules. I was looking at the lunch tables, and we used to put 12 kids around one table. Now they’re putting two. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than spending all the time at home.”
It might for a while, because we don’t know when it’s getting better. It may go into 2021, so I’m not sure where it’s going. At least I’ve had the experience so if I have to I know how to do it. I like things on paper rather than doing things on screen. We can’t go on any field trips. I keep talking to them about the Jazz museum and the Negro Leagues museum and we can’t go, it’s sort of sad. I think there are going to be great advantages to coming back.
Mrs. Hooker: Sixth grade teacher at Highlands Elementary
“I’m excited to see all of my students in person. I miss seeing them daily, and I look forward to being able to interact with them outside of a Webex call. I know they miss each other, too, and are looking forward to being with friends again.”
“I am a bit anxious about my ability to keep kids in their cohorts and maintain minimal contact with others. I don’t want any of my students to get sick, and I’d rather not get sick myself. My ultimate fear would be to get sick and be unable to teach my students. Planning for a sub during these difficult times feels impossible to me, as it is so hard to explain how I use Canvas and Webex for students at home.”
“We have been working hard to ensure that students are able to stay within their cohorts and only near students on their teams within cohorts. We want to minimize potential exposures and maximize learning. We play to do as much live teaching to all students as possible, even while hybrid. We want kids to be excited to learn each day.
This experience has taught me more than I could ever have imagined. As a 20-year veteran teacher, there are days where I feel like it is my first year teaching again. There are so many variables and things to learn about how to best keep students engaged in their learning while remote/hybrid. I will keep learning along with my students and continue to try and be the best I can be for them each day.