"From desktops to desks, how do teachers feel about kids being back in the classroom and what does it take to adjust from online learning?" -- Isabella Schanker, 8th grade
It's easy to see that being in person is far more interactive than being online. Teachers have more opportunities to reach the student rather than the former alternative of talking to a class full of blank screens. Students have a chance to work together and it's much easier for teachers to see who is comprehending the classwork and who may be struggling.
The jump back into in-person for many teachers has been about focusing on stamina and keeping pace with the daily, now more busy schedule. “It's been exhausting, during summer I let myself relax and it was hard to come back up to the pace that you need to teach five classes everyday with 120 students everyday,” said Laurice Guerin middle school History and English teacher.
Guerin made it clear that she prefered in person because of the fact it's easier to gage what materials are being understood. “My biggest concern is our crowdedness, and what will happen if our school gets a covid outbreak,” said Guerin. Other than that she worries about the mental health of students and teachers coming back in person full speed.
In-person teaching is preferable to many of the OSA teachers, as the ability to better help the students is crucial in creating an environment where students can further understand the subjects. Regardless its benefits, many new students and teachers are still adjusting. Going back to the old schedule is difficult not only for returning students but for returning teachers as well.
“I’m looking forward to doing all the things I couldn’t do last year, because I had to cut so many things because we only had two classes a week in online learning,” middle school history teacher, Teddi Pontecorvo stated.
Like Guerin, Pontecorvo also sees the health concern but trusts that OSA has really good policies regarding safety and that it feels like we have a community of people who are trying and thinking of others. “When we started, we were doing maps in class and kids were working together. And, just seeing kids working together really, I was tearing up on the way home of how beautiful that is because that's real learning, and that's something I haven’t seen in a while,” said Pontecorvo.
The biggest problem most teachers noticed in remote learning was not knowing if students were actively engaging in classes through Zoom. “For science in particular, in-person is so much more preferred because doing things with your own hands is a really important way of learning. Learning through inquiry,” said Crystal Yan, eighth grade science teacher. Yan explains that last year she sent home lab kits for her eighth graders to try and achieve some hands-on activities.
“It was hard for me to know if everyone who said they were in the class were in the class and who's getting it and who's not,” said Yan. She worked around this with check-in work to see where students were with the materials. “I like to interact with the students but I did learn some things from online learning that are super helpful,” Yan explained.
Going back to in-person learning is a big change and we all need to adjust back into the non-virtual world of school. Most teachers were in agreement about problems with online learning and preferences with in-person. Teachers are having to adjust to being back in the classroom and are making an effort to make the change from screens to seats as smooth as it can be.
The jump back into in-person for many teachers has been about focusing on stamina and keeping pace with the daily, now more busy schedule. “It's been exhausting, during summer I let myself relax and it was hard to come back up to the pace that you need to teach five classes everyday with 120 students everyday,” said Laurice Guerin middle school History and English teacher.
Guerin made it clear that she prefered in person because of the fact it's easier to gage what materials are being understood. “My biggest concern is our crowdedness, and what will happen if our school gets a covid outbreak,” said Guerin. Other than that she worries about the mental health of students and teachers coming back in person full speed.
In-person teaching is preferable to many of the OSA teachers, as the ability to better help the students is crucial in creating an environment where students can further understand the subjects. Regardless its benefits, many new students and teachers are still adjusting. Going back to the old schedule is difficult not only for returning students but for returning teachers as well.
“I’m looking forward to doing all the things I couldn’t do last year, because I had to cut so many things because we only had two classes a week in online learning,” middle school history teacher, Teddi Pontecorvo stated.
Like Guerin, Pontecorvo also sees the health concern but trusts that OSA has really good policies regarding safety and that it feels like we have a community of people who are trying and thinking of others. “When we started, we were doing maps in class and kids were working together. And, just seeing kids working together really, I was tearing up on the way home of how beautiful that is because that's real learning, and that's something I haven’t seen in a while,” said Pontecorvo.
The biggest problem most teachers noticed in remote learning was not knowing if students were actively engaging in classes through Zoom. “For science in particular, in-person is so much more preferred because doing things with your own hands is a really important way of learning. Learning through inquiry,” said Crystal Yan, eighth grade science teacher. Yan explains that last year she sent home lab kits for her eighth graders to try and achieve some hands-on activities.
“It was hard for me to know if everyone who said they were in the class were in the class and who's getting it and who's not,” said Yan. She worked around this with check-in work to see where students were with the materials. “I like to interact with the students but I did learn some things from online learning that are super helpful,” Yan explained.
Going back to in-person learning is a big change and we all need to adjust back into the non-virtual world of school. Most teachers were in agreement about problems with online learning and preferences with in-person. Teachers are having to adjust to being back in the classroom and are making an effort to make the change from screens to seats as smooth as it can be.
