I saw a 3rd-grade classroom full of students physically turning and looking at each student speaker as the class was collaboratively building towards finding the lesson of a short story. In our higher grades, the ability for face-to-face discussions has enriched student comprehension and engagement in our close reading blocks. Sical classroom, can move quickly from desk to desk during phonics practice to ensure that students are properly engaging with the letter or blend of the day. For example, our teachers, now back in a phy
The systems and routines we’ve built in our classrooms have benefited our students tremendously already. As a teacher who taught through Zoom, I know the struggle of providing precise feedback to students when I could barely see their face, let alone what work they had in front of them. The warm sunshine mixed with the sweet donuts and vibrant conversations reminded our staff that our relationships with families are definitely a bright spot.Īs we returned to campus, our teachers have benefited so much from the instant access to their students for giving feedback and supporting in-person. As a school leader, I eagerly prepared the coffee and donuts for our families as they came through to see their teachers for the first time.
Rocketship Brilliant Mind, in thinking about how to engage with families in the midst of a pandemic, offered a “Home Visits in the Park” day, where families could meet in a socially distanced, outdoor setting. These are the opportunities where families begin to build that relationship that will flourish throughout the school year.
Home visits have personally always been a favorite part of my experience as a teacher, as it is a chance to understand what makes a student who he/she really is outside of an academic setting. Here are a few examples of what has been making our school year great so far:Īmidst the myriad of changes our students have undergone, one thing has stayed constant – home visits. Over the past month of school, what have gotten us through are the bright spots in and around our campus. Was it because I hadn’t seen our school running at full capacity in 17 months? Was it making sure all of our layers of protection were in place as students filed in their classroom? Regardless, coming back to school in the midst of a pandemic has had its ups and downs. Regardless of the excitement, my nerves were hitting me on a whole new level, in a way I hadn’t experienced in my previous 4 years of teaching.
Cars were lined up along our driveway, and the excitement in the air was palpable. The first day of school, with a full in-person start. Waleed Shaban, Rocketship Brilliant Minds