Distance Learning: A Teacher's View

The Corona Virus has affected all of us. Teachers have been presented with a challenge with schools being closed. They have had to adjust to Distance Learning as well as staying at home with their own children. I interviewed a couple of teachers just to get an inside view of what they are having to do to adjust to the closed schools. I gave them a set of questions to answer. Most districts have given parents a choice of paper packets or online lessons.
Susan Crum is an Elementary teacher. She teaches 3rd grade in the Wichita Public Schools district. Susan in her words: I have a schedule set up where I will speak to each individual student on a weekly basis to make sure they understand the content in the packets or if they are able to log on to Lexia (Reading program) and/or Dreambox. I can track their progress better and get accurate data from those programs. I am reaching out to students and parents. I'm checking in with parents to make sure they have needed materials or have questions about the content assigned. I reach out to the students to make sure they know I am still here for them, that I miss them, and that they can reach out to me whenever they need to. I have sent out numerous emails, called each one of them, and sent them postcards. This is the last quarter of the school year and we are not being required to give grades. My concerns with Distance Learning are I have quite a few students working below grade level. It was a struggle when I was there physically every day meeting their needs. Now I am afraid since I don't get to work with them that they are going to fall further behind. Lexi Fenn is a middle school teacher with USD 305. She teaches 8th grade Science and 7th-grade Volleyball. Lexi in her own words: I have an assignment posted Monday through Friday in Google Classroom for them to complete. I teach a total of 5 classes. I meet with each class once a week, a different class each day in a Zoom meeting. This is my time to see each of them "face to face" to check-in. I am available for questions through emails or through scheduled individual meetings. If I decide to "teach" during a Zoom meeting, I record it and post it for those not able to attend. Teachers are assigned the help of para during the Zoom meetings. If necessary, the Zoom meetings can be broken into smaller groups. I keep in contact with the students through email and notify the parents when I have emailed the students. We, teachers are grading as we normally would. If my students are struggling, then I can arrange for the support to be given that might be needed. I thank both of these teachers for sharing their insights into the educational role they now play in their efforts to continue educating their students. Froggy About Teaching