Spring break was extended into two weeks instead of one. I kind of liked that. I had a lot of things to do around the house that I put off. Then came the news that we would be out of school until April 6th. We started our Flexible Education Program, which consisted of posting assignments online, and making paper copies for students who preferred that method. Don’t assign due dates, don’t grade anything. Guess what???? The students didn’t do anything.
Then came the news that we would be able to start school April 20th. Another round of work uploaded and paper copies made for students. Still no due dates, no grading any thing. Same story….students didn’t turn in work.
Now thing get interesting….the governor closed the schools for the remainder of the year. What does that mean? First go back and assign due dates on the last four weeks of work and grade anything that actually was turned in. Then contact parents to see if they have internet access, if they answer no ask if they would be willing to drive their student to the school parking lot to use school wi-fi.
Now that we are grading assignments my day is spent looking at a monitor to see if anyone has turned in any late work. Speaking of late work, do not penalize for work being submitted late. (As of today I have a number of students who have not submitted the first assignment).
As frustrating as it is for teachers, it is probably worse for parents. I have received a couple of Facetime calls from my granddaughter, Katalena, who is in the fourth grade. She was working on adding fractions and was arguing with her mother on how to work a problem. They called me to settle the dispute…..well they were both correct. Katalena put the answer as 2/4 and crowed with delight when I said correct. Then her face fell when I said now she needs to simplify the fraction to 1/2 (which her mom had said). Katalena is so over being taught online…she is ready to go back to the classroom.
For a funny video of Katalena and her mom, Kim, check this video out.
Her mom is ready for her to be back in the classroom. I am ready to be in the classroom. What will the beginning of next year look like?