In the words of local teachers and counselors.
Four months ago, the day-to-day roles of teachers and parents took an unexpected turn after a recommendation was made by governor Andy Beshear concerning the spread of COVID-19 through face to face classroom instruction. Teachers and school staff members found themselves with less than 72 hours to prepare their students to continue learning outside of the school building.
Teachers scrambled to put together curriculum packets and lesson plans while quickly trying to assess computer access and internet availability as parents struggled with the uncertainty of childcare. Parents seemingly became their child’s teacher, while teachers played the role of parent and teacher with only a computer screen or cell phone as their link to their students. Regardless of resources or routines, very few local schools and families were prepared for what would be a very rapid transition from traditional in-person classroom instruction to Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) at home.
While no one could have predicted or planned for what the end of the 2019-2020 school year would look like, teachers still did what teachers do — they adapted, they overcame, and they taught.
Local educators and counselors from multiple grade levels were asked to reflect upon what they learned during the three-month period that required them to adapt their instruction in light of COVID-19. Here are their answers in their words.
Relying on Relationships
“The struggles of COVID confirmed what I have always felt was the most important thing for teachers to thrive in and that is relationships. We need to know our students’ academic needs along with their personal successes and struggles. Knowing your students is the cornerstone of getting them where they need to be academically.”
~ Preschool Teacher
“I always knew relationships were the core of teaching, but during COVID-19, it truly came to light.” ~ Middle School Teacher
“One of the things that made NTI successful was with relationships we had built with our students and families. A student will give you their best when they feel you have their best interests at heart. As we move into a new school year that will be full of changes I feel relationships with students and their families will be a top priority.”
~ Preschool Teacher
“One thing I learned was how much my girls’ teachers mean to them. Their teachers were required to send a daily video. My daughter literally just thought her teacher was talking to her. It was precious the way her eyes lit up. With my older daughter, it was a sense of comfort seeing her teacher daily on the computer. They couldn’t wait to see and hear what their teacher had to say. They felt the love through that screen. What a testament to the impact teachers have on students!”
~ Elementary Guidance Counselor
“I have learned that I have very little control over things and that it is more important to maintain a positive relationship between myself and my students and their parents than it is getting them ready for the K PREP standardized test. It was my job to keep my students moving forward with the content, but more importantly keep them moving forward and encouraging them to keep trying to complete the work.”
~ Middle School Teacher
“Prior to this unprecedented season of distance learning, I recognized the importance of cultivating relationships with the students in my classroom, but the NTI experience made me realize just how vital fostering relationships with my students’ parents is, as well. When we return to the classroom, I hope to seek more opportunities to engage with parents and better serve my students.” ~ High School Teacher
Communication is Key
“I realized how important the communication between school and home is and I think many parents did as well.” ~ Middle School Teacher
“I learned communication is vital…As a school counselor, this virus has made me think about the different ways people live and think. I have had to consider many different options of communicating but also the different needs of families. There definitely isn’t a one size fits all answer to many of the issues with this virus.”
~ High School Counselor
“While I saw my students only virtually, I felt the communication between them and their families significantly increased.”
~ Middle School Teacher
“Even though I had to contact parents whose students had not completed the required work, I also contacted the parents regularly of students who were doing the expected work to praise their hard work and to keep the line of communication open with the parents. This worked really well and it helped give parents a pat on the back that many needed during this time.”
~ Middle School Teacher
Exceeding Expectations
“Teachers worked relentlessly on learning about the best way to present material and communicate with kids. They really tried to make the work meaningful but not too difficult for those who didn’t have adult assistance.” ~ Elementary Guidance Counselor
“I worked with students on their schedule instead of my own, doing Google Meets at different times of the day. Even though I had regular Google Meet times each week, there were several times where I set up special sessions to modify work and help students get caught up on their work.”
~ Middle School Teacher
“I’ve seen the struggle of our teachers wholeheartedly missing their students, missing seeing their faces daily and getting to see that their students are OK. Teachers missing TEACHING…their passion.”
~ Elementary Guidance Counselor
“Many of my students did not even wake up until after lunch, so I met with many students online after regular school hours. For some it was preference, but for some it was necessary because many of my students had to share a computer with other siblings or with a parent who had to work online because of their job. So the expectation that students wake up and get work done during the normal school hours had to change because of different circumstances.”
~ Middle School Teacher
Teaching the Teacher
“I learned I can teach other people’s children better than I can my own.”
~ Elementary Teacher
“During a regular school day, we are constantly on the go trying to cram everything possible into our day. I could not always take the time to really sit and listen to them. Even though it was through video, I could really sit and talk with them.”
~ Elementary Teacher
“I realized at the end of it, I actually got to know students who I may have missed out on if I had taught in a traditional way. With so many students in and out of my classroom on a daily basis, I usually do not have the time to make connections like I want to. This allowed me to give more one-on-one instruction and help students and also have better and more intentional conversations about their day and how they were dealing with the changes around them.” ~ Middle School Teacher
“I learned that I did not become a teacher to teach content, but to support students and parents. I learned that my students need more real life skills in order to manage time outside of the classroom…I learned that I belong to a group of people who are caring and, even though there were so many unknowns, we kept going and kept our students in a somewhat normal routine.”
~ Middle School Teacher
Seeing Students Shine
“My takeaway is just how resilient kids are. No doubt COVID-19 put a huge damper on nearly every aspect of their life, but they found new ways to learn. They embraced having to teach themselves and learn on their own and they did it without complaining or arguing.”
~ Middle School Teacher
“Some kids flourish learning at home online. There were students who tried very hard to withdraw in inseat instruction, but when that changed to online learning, they improved dramatically. There is a world of opportunity to explore virtual academies run by public schools.”
~ Middle School Teacher
“I’m really proud of the majority of my students and how well they handled the spring NTI session. We were forced to do school in a way that was completely foreign to them and us, and they handled it like champs.” ~ High School Teacher
“The quality that most impressed me amongst my students is their unwavering resilience to the challenges they face. During this time, several of my kids took on the role of the primary caregiver in their homes which required them to not only babysit but also assist their siblings with their school assignments while their parents were at work. Also, many increased their work hours to assist their families when one of their parents was laid off due to the shut downs. These hard working kids still found time to do their own school work — often in the late hours of the night after completing their other responsibilities.”
~ High School Teacher
Beyond the Building
“I learned in order for a student to be fully successful, it is critical they are in the actual building of the school. Many of our students don’t have access to the resources needed to be successful during NTI. Many students have working parents which makes it very difficult for both the student and parent to effectively balance NTI workload. Many parents struggle with serving as their child’s educator. Many students and families were in survival mode.” ~ Youth Service Center
“I did some home visits, dropping off materials and food. It made you aware of their home life (bigger kids having to take care of the little ones, living conditions, etc.) and that they would be in a position of doing this for months…It makes you worry way more than you did when the kiddos were in your building.”
~ Elementary Guidance Counselor
“I learned just how important all support levels in the school are to the student from our Dean of Students, Guidance Counselors, Youth Service Center Coordinator, Cafeteria Staff and maybe their go to which may be our custodians or someone else in the building that isn’t their teacher. We are a safe place for our students.”
~ Youth Service Center
“For a lot of kids, this is their safe place, where they experience love, get fed, and just feel wanted and encouraged.”
~ Elementary Guidance Counselor
“I’m really worried about the COVID disease, but I’m more concerned about the students not being able to come into the office to share what is happening in their lives. I’m really worried about the students that really need us.” ~ Youth Service Center
Family First
“On a personal level I have enjoyed the time with my own family. We are always on the move with work, school, and sports. It was nice to get back to spending more quality time together without distractions.”
~ Preschool Teacher
“I have tried to cherish this extra time with my own family. We did not have the many activities after school that we normally would this time of year. This has truly been quality family time for us. It has been the blessing from all of this.”
~ Elementary Teacher
“As a parent, I truly valued the ‘great pause.’ To see my personal kiddos every morning without the hustle and bustle of being ready and out the door on time was somewhat refreshing. To be involved in what THEY were learning was eye-opening. It was stressful; don’t get me wrong, but I was able to reconnect with them in a new way.”
~ Middle School Teacher
“As a husband and father, it has been the little moments. Getting up on Sundays and making breakfast for the whole family so we could watch church together. Watching countless hours of Dude Perfect videos with the kids and then trying to recreate trick shots of our own has been a lot of fun.”
~ High School Counselor
“I was reminded how I actually appreciate the slower pace. I enjoyed the additional time with my family and not having to be in a rat race all of the time.”
~ High school counselor
Lessons Learned
“I quickly learned how difficult it was for our parents to be the teacher for our students. I called families frequently to provide encouragement, tips and resources but it was still a struggle.” ~ Youth Service Center
“It was refreshing to remember my WHY, why I became a teacher in the first place — to be there for my kids, help them through hard times, and remind them of their own strength.” ~ Middle School Teacher
“I was reminded of how much of a need I have to connect with people. The days I stayed in contact with people were the days I’ve enjoyed the most.”
~ High School Counselor
“I have loved how people have creatively found ways to stay connected whether it is a birthday parade, leaving goodies on the front porch, or driving to someone’s house and talking to them from across the driveway.”
~ Elementary School Teacher
“It sounds weird for an adult to say that he missed the interactions with his students, but that’s a large part of why I teach. I love my kids. Not seeing them face-to-face, not getting to interact with them, not seeing their responses to our readings, not being able to hold class discussions with them, not getting to experience their senses of humor — these all served as a reminder of just how wonderful the teaching profession is.”
~ High School Teacher
“I learned that I love my job and that I am so glad that I am blessed to be in a career that is so important to our society. Even when things are not normal and even when things are uncertain — you can always count on a teacher.” ~ Middle School Teacher