An Unprecedented Academic Year: 3 Educators Weigh In on This Back-to-School Season
Chances are you’ve seen and heard plenty of back-to-school advice this summer—but have you heard from the educators themselves?
We recently asked three educators about their thoughts on this unprecedented new school year. Here’s what they had to say:
What one thing can families do this fall to make the back-to-school season a success?
“We know this school year, especially the start, is going to be the most challenging ever for everyone... At least last year, which ended in a very challenging way, we knew the students and had developed relationships with them. We had a chance to rely on those relationships to help them through the mess. This year, I know about 10 of my 150 students.
Families can make their children more successful by establishing routines at home so everyone appreciates their role. Parents are going to have to parent, and this will mean enforcing efficient use of screen time. I'm linking to a letter I wrote my students last year when I realized what we were really asking them to do. The ask is bigger this year, and I used this letter to introduce myself to my 2020-21 students. I think whatever parents can do to reinforce the message of this letter, the better off we'll all be. Kill the excuses. Yup, it's hard. Yup, it's unusual. Yup, there's tech issues. Yup, you're tired of sitting in front of a computer. Got it. Now get to work!”
-Mark Pontoni, high school social studies teacher in Michigan
“I believe families can make this school year a success by first having confidence in their child’s teacher's ability to deliver quality and engaging instruction via live stream on the internet. Not to mention, this remote learning format will teach students new technology skills that will benefit them in their future education and career endeavors. I think parents need to understand that teachers would love nothing more than to educate students face-to-face, but the pandemic has caused a legitimate safety issue for all K-12 students and the adults present at… schools. I would like parents to trust that teachers will bring creativity to designing activities that will provide students with a ‘classroom-like’ environment and learning experience, which will offer students a chance to further develop and make progress.”
-Bernard Baze, high school history teacher in North Carolina
Principals, how are you helping your teachers navigate this strange new world of hybrid and online learning?
“We have added three extra duty stipends this year for three teachers who will serve as blended learning coaches in our middle school. Each one is in charge of a small team to make sure our online learning non-negotiables are upheld. They are also responsible for collaborating together to provide high return learning strategies.”
-Michael Dittrich, Ed.D, middle school principal in Missouri
What are you most optimistic about this school year?
“I don't write fairy tales for a living, so it will be hard to convey much optimism. I think my own enthusiasm for redesigning absolutely everything I do in a regular year might be the best place to start. I know teachers in large numbers in Michigan retired this summer because it's an enormous challenge to re-do everything you're used to doing. No one is going to pay us to do this, and for many it was just easy to retire or move on to something else. For me (for whatever reason), however, I've been genuinely excited about trying new software, writing and recording concise lessons, tearing apart the curriculum to find how to trim things, etc. If I can bring that enthusiasm to my work, at least some of the students will build off that. This entire year is going to be about getting students to buy into the challenge. Sitting here a week from the start of school, I'm pretty fired up to get started. That's a good start.”
-Mark Pontoni, high school social studies teacher in Michigan
“I am very optimistic about creating activities and designing lessons that will make students feel as if they were receiving in-person instruction. I am excited to build up my motivational statements and encouraging comments that enhance every student’s level of confidence within their academic endeavors.”
-Bernard Baze, high school history teacher in North Carolina
“We are reinventing education as we have known it. It’s stressful, challenging, and fun all at the same time.”
-Michael Dittrich, Ed.D, middle school principal in Missouri