WEST PLAINS – Everyone has heard at least something of how challenged our teachers are during these times of virtual and in-person classroom teaching. However, those teachers who no longer are actively teaching can’t even imagine what it must be like to be teaching now.
On Saturday Feb. 13, the Cheney/Medical Lake chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an altruistic education sorority, gathered in their respective homes for their monthly meeting now occurring on Zoom. That in itself is enough to challenge the retired!
Nineteen retired teachers continued their goal of being lifelong learners by meeting in small groups to hear members currently teaching in the Cheney School District talk about life in the classroom during a pandemic. Meeting virtually in breakout rooms, they described their days, their challenges and the small things that could bring a smile.
The consensus seemed to be that teaching during a pandemic can be very lonely from a professional standpoint. Teachers are isolated from other teachers. The work in the classroom is discouraging and exhausting.
Under the circumstances, teaching to each student’s individual needs is challenging due to necessary restriction of time and space. Keeping things sanitized (including children’s hands) is time-consuming, and in order to provide appropriate spacing, desks fill the entire classroom and allow no room for small group instruction. Teachers have to go back to whole group instruction as their only way to teach, instead of using a combination of the methods they have mastered and have proven to be so effective. It’s difficult for children to get all they need, though the teachers are giving all they can.
The bright spot, according to the district teachers on the Zoom call, is the children are all happy to be back to school in-person. They love seeing their friends. One student who wasn’t too sure he wanted to go back was heard to say,“ I just couldn’t believe how happy I was to be back !”
One teacher was trying to give the children some time to socialize while still “keeping in their bubble.” As they were attempting to communicate with their friends across the room, she had to remind them that it was getting quite loud. Problem solving this by writing messages on their whiteboards, they showed their creativity and resilience. The teacher was amazed at their ingenuity and pleased that they were getting meaningful reading and writing practice. Plus, it was much quieter.
Each week seems to constantly hold challenges as schedules and circumstances change. Through it all both teachers and students are constantly adapting
The bottom line for the ADK members is that teachers truly are our heroes, along with so many others who daily have to extend themselves way beyond what we can imagine. They even are possibly putting themselves and their family at risk.
Teachers’ hearts and minds want to help each child develop fully academically, socially and emotionally. This is difficult in these restricted circumstances. Yes, it’s discouraging and exhausting and they need all the support and respect they can get. No education class could ever have prepared them for this current teaching environment.
It’s been said, ”Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” It’s comforting to know our teachers are doing their best to make that way better for so many children under very difficult circumstances.
The retirees of Alpha Delta Kappa, in awe of the active teachers and seeing a great need, are now working on ways to support them in the Cheney and Medical Lake School districts. The days of volunteering in the classroom are over for now, so we too will have to become creative and adaptable in finding ways to help.
Hopefully, those reading this will go out of their way to thank and show our persevering teachers that they are appreciated.
Stephanie Lambert is a retired kindergarten teacher and member of Alpha Delta Kappa.
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