We spend a great deal of time on my fourth-grade team talking about our students. Sometimes it is great stuff that they have done or said or maybe they finally mastered a concept. Sometimes it is not so great stuff that they have done or said or something they just can't get. It is like this every year - we have our Wednesday PLC meetings or maybe a quick meet-up in the hall and spend time discussing, analyzing, or commiserating. Except this year is different.
This year we are seeing the beginnings of the full effect of Covid. Our kids don't know how to school. It's a verb now... they don't know how to follow directions, work through a problem, or get along with their peers... to school. In the past, you may have had to say the directions many times, maybe go to specific kids to repeat them, and then meet with the small group that you know needs you. Now, you say the directions, repeat them, say them again, repeat them again, go to 27 individual kids to make sure they get it, and then.... just give up and complete the assignment whole group. It's exhausting! This process seems to repeat itself every time there is a new assignment. Now, I am exaggerating a bit but it sure feels like this every time I give directions!
It is not their fault - they have been dealt a bad hand. These babies were in first grade the last time there was a normal year. They made it through a little more than half of second grade before the world stopped. They were left to end the year virtually with teachers who have never done that (we did a great job by the way), and parents that were working alongside them. Then third grade was 4 days a week and in some cases - three days with Target (the gifted program) pull out, masks, quarantine, immediate switches to virtual when needed. How could they learn all that they need to learn with that kind of exposure? It is hard enough to teach all the standards in a normal year - it was really hard to fit it all in last year.
Now, here we are in a "normal" year. Sure we have had some interruptions, some quarantines but for the most part, we are having a normal year. But boy can you tell that they have experienced some tough times and are academically, socially, and behaviorally behind. Is this the new normal? Will it take us a few years to recoup the losses? Or is our trajectory forever changed? When will the kids know how to "school" again and we can get back to the business of filling gaps and providing an education?
Oh there are so many fallouts we're seeing too, and some non-academic ones too! It's unnerving, yes. And following directions? WHatever IS that even? :D
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness- this resonates so much! Just sent your post to my third grade team. We've been feeling exactly this way- they don't know how to school!
ReplyDeleteAs an LBS I definitely can relate to your post. I'm afraid for a while to come it may be the new normal. No fault of ours or our kiddos, Covid has taken a toll and now the repercussions are being felt.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so challenging -- for them and for you! I'm no longer in the classroom, and really can't imagine how I would have handled the last two years as a teacher. My hat is off to all the teachers. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat is "normal" has certainly changed over the past two years. The years have also included so much of "this has never happened before" situations that have forced us to learn and adapt. I wish you resilience and many moments of "Yes!" when things go as planned.
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