In this chapter, the authors will discuss their daily classroom rituals and routines in a typical face-to-face setting (in both the primary and elementary classrooms). Additionally, the authors will be comparing and contrasting how they maintained and/or changed their rituals and routines as a result of online learning. Furthermore, the authors discuss their experiences and insights learned from being suddenly thrust into a COVID-19 teaching role, how this model affected their students' growth, communication platforms with all audiences, content and lessons, resources that were utilized during that stressful time, and modes of assessment.
TopIntroduction
As COVID-19 began to sweep across the nation and world, different schools, school districts, and states were shut down. This sent educators all over the country into a “pandemic panic” as they were no longer in control (Chizhik & Brandon, 2020). Due to circumstances such as COVID-19, educators became technology dependent in order to continue to communicate with and to teach their students (Chizhik & Brandon, 2020; Warschauer, 2007).
Educators all over the United States were sent into turmoil as they would watch the Governor and State Superintendent of Education give updates on whether students would attend school in a face to face setting. As teachers were receiving the news that schools were beginning to shut down, some teachers were overwhelmed with adjusting their daily in-person lessons to become an on-line platform (Chizhik & Brandon, 2020). As schools rolled out their extended learning/remote learning plans, schools and districts continued to adapt and reflect to make the learning better for their students for the remainder of the year (Squire, 2020).
This chapter highlights the experience two teachers had through the COVID-19 pandemic and what they learned through this experience. The chapter concludes with lessons learned and what teachers can do to make virtual learning effective and continue the learning experience virtually that students experience in an actual classroom setting. Lessons learned do not only affect teachers and students in a virtual setting during a Pandemic, but also will be helpful to teachers who have sick students who cannot attend school, students with terminal illnesses, students with immune deficiencies and students who have to be out of the classroom for extended periods of time for any reason. In addition, lessons learned will also be beneficial for students who chose virtual education as their modality of learning. Learning can continue. Learning can be effective when virtual. Students can be successful in a virtual format of learning.
Perspective of a Kindergarten Teacher
On Friday afternoon, March 13th 2020, the teacher and her class were having an exciting and engaging day in their kindergarten classroom. In the morning, students were smiling, enjoying their educational songs on the Promethean board, and just happy that it was Friday! In the afternoon, the teacher and her class celebrated that it was Friday during calendar by singing/dancing to the “Friday Dance.” Students were also excited as the class was housing chicks to have an in-class field trip with the help of the local 4-H group. Students were in awe every day as the time grew nearer and nearer for the chicks to hatch. At the end of the day during dismissal, students and teachers hugged, said their goodbyes, and the teacher told the students that she loved them and would see them on Monday as was done on any typical Friday. After the goodbyes were said, the faculty and staff went home to enjoy their weekend.
Beforehand, through the news media all of the faculty and staff were aware of the spreading virus; however, no one knew that it would exceed everyone’s expectations to become a Pandemic. In light of the spreading virus, in a meeting with other grade level chair leaders, the teacher was told to direct any questions from parents regarding the COVID-19 virus to the district office due to the virus being so new. Everyone was beginning to become concerned throughout the weekend as schools and states began to close, the implementation of limitations and restrictions began to happen, and stores began to have a shortage of different items. Everyone began to watch the news very closely and patiently waiting for an announcement regarding schools from the South Carolina Governor and the South Carolina State Superintendent of Education. On Sunday, March 15th, the South Carolina Governor and the State School Superintendent made the decision to close schools and have students continue their learning through virtual eLearning until the end of March, 2020. This sent teachers all across the state in a PANDEMIC PANIC!