Teachers and the Pandemic: Scoundrels or Heroes?
Published: February 08, 2021
Author: Carla Morris
Are teachers scoundrels or heroes in this COVID age? It’s hard to say based on media reports. Headlines tell conflicting stories.
One camp decries the outrageous politicization of our schools:
Not so, say voices from another camp.
Then there are kids like Jorma, a first grader who knows nothing about teachers’ unions. Comic books help him know a little more about heroes-at least enough to say with certainty that his teacher Ms. Leckliter doesn’t fit the bill.
Jorma is five months into this novel schoolyear of crisis-driven learning that wired.com calls the high-stakes experiment no one wanted.
Five Month Check-Up... How Are We Doing?
Families in Jorma’s school district choose between all-online classes or a hybrid mix of online and face-to-face classes. They may opt out of one format and into another between trimesters. Jorma participates in all-online learning using a school-supplied laptop.
Five months into the schoolyear, what does the six-year-old know?
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He knows that in spite of initial jitters, he has braved full immersion into this strange new world of distance learning, and he’s managed pretty well.
- He understands the dynamic of Zoom meetings and navigating his way through various computer programs. Kindergarten didn’t prepare him for this, but he’s skilled now.
- He understands scheduled lessons, breaks from study, and regrouping for what comes next.
- He regards his wristwatch (at right) as a friend; its multiple alarms remind him when to wind down with one task and when to gear up for another.
Jorma knows something else, too: He knows that he can trust Ms. Leckliter to guide him through the remainder of the schoolyear. She boasts no superhero powers, but she instills confidence and looks out for him. He likes that she is a calming and reassuring presence.
Why This Works... Sort Of
The bottom line? Jorma’s reading, writing, and math skills have grown significantly in spite of COVID-driven uncertainties. He loves learning, in part, because his teacher goes the extra mile in countless ways. Here’s a sampling:
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Keeps students engaged and together. Ms. Leckliter’s students know the American Sign Language sign for “me too” and use it to express agreement during Zoom meetings. They all engage and feel heard with minimal disruption.
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Communicates care. She addresses distress with care. For example, when a tearful child frets over accidently missing most of a lesson, she reassures him that he isn’t in trouble. She tells him he is a good and strong student. Even her own children have failed to notice the clock; it happens to everyone.
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Injects fun into the day. Children may opt to attend “lunch bunch” (lunch with teacher), where they play games like a scavenger hunt (“Find something in your house that begins with “T” and hurry back to share.”) or a hangout (“Bring your favorite book that’s not a picture book and tell us about it.”)
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Communicates value. In the rare event that only one child appears for optional fun, Ms. Leckliter keeps her word and provides the fun. One-on-one time goes far to build relationships. It gives the child a chance to be the teacher: “Ms. Leckliter, you go find something that’s blue.”
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Works out the kinks and adjusts as needed. At the beginning of the year, Jorma would hold up a piece of paper with his math work on it for his teacher to view via Zoom. More often now, he uses a little whiteboard. It’s easier on both of them.
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Cultivates a positive classroom culture, even online. Children know from their teacher’s reminders that those who raise their hands will have a turn. She keeps her word. “I want to hear what you’re saying,” she explains, “but Sara has her hand up, so I’m going to let Sara share right now.”
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Remembers what age six feels like. Ms. Leckliter sometimes calls for a movement break where everyone jumps and stretches together. Sometimes she gives them five minutes to run around and work the wiggles out however they like and then reconvene; it’s exactly what six-year-olds need.
The jury may still be out on the scoundrel/hero debate, but it’s a non-issue for Jorma. He has a good idea that “what’s next” means something productive, helpful, and even exciting.
Note: Jeni Leckliter teaches in Iowa City. Her all-online first grade class accommodates students from two elementary schools. During this novel schoolyear, she has also mentored three student teachers.
Like many children in this prolonged pandemic, Jorma also takes piano lessons online. His out-of-state teacher guides his progress via a phone strategically propped on the piano. Thanks to all of Jorma's teachers, this has not been a lost year.
