"It's a Beautiful Life"- Genevieve Galvan Frenes

Day 43 –

It has been two weeks since my school district officially started distance learning. Although our lessons are assigned, and we’ve given instruction on Google Classroom, it’s obvious that the struggle is real.

As someone who used Google Classroom a great deal before the shelter in place, I knew how to assign and attach links, etc. I felt quite comfortable on Classroom. I had to learn about Google Meets and how to create this meeting. This wasn’t too difficult.

However, with the assignments, I’m realizing even in distance learning that my presence is important.

The kids read the directions and try to grasp the directions. Some get it, others, out of practice, might need to reread the directions, and others just aren’t there.

I sort of expected this, but what I didn’t realize is that without the human contact, it is a bit harder, even for the teacher.

We can’t read facial expressions through the email or a Google voice message. That’s the hard part. Even if a student asks for help, a teacher is searching for the site, then the directions he or she gave, then back to the students. We click into tab after tab, and find what we need. Again, it’s something we’re capable of doing, but a bit frustrating, even at the high school level. I can’t imagine what elementary teachers do for all of the different subjects. I only have Junior English to think about and plan with my PLC teachers.

In using Google meetings, we can see a face (if they want to be seen), but I’ve only seen a few faces, even though I know students are working on assignments. In distance learning, that word is so true — it’s a very unique realm to teach being far from your students, but thank goodness, we at least started the year actually seeing our kids.

As we begin this journey, I feel confident that what my group assigned to our Juniors is sufficient for this type of learning; it’s not too much or too little. The kids are doing the work and learning the new material. It’s not going to be the same as sitting in a class with these students and seeing their faces look into yours, but I know they are there. And they know that I’m here if they need me, not just for academics, but to be connected to another individual.

Stay blessed everyone…we have lasted this long into the shelter in place. Educators, students, and parent-teachers are continuing to make the best of this situation…wish us luck 🙂