Teaching during a Pandemic

Teaching during a Pandemic

We being told to be prepared to change our teaching from face to face, to a "distance education" model.

Notice it is not online education.  Why?  Because as a public school, we can not go 100% online.  In short, as usual, we are being set up to achieve an impossible task.  What do I mean?

This is what I mean.  I completed a survey of my students who have access to the internet and over 15% do not have any access to the internet or no access to any kind of computing device other than a cellphone. Let me put it another way, 85% of my students could complete the year using online education.  As a public education teacher, I fight for equality for my students.  So we see the digital divide becoming an issue. This is why we need to create "distance education" opportunities for all students. But "distance education" is not equitable either.

WHY CAN'T WE USE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME
We are being told to create online resources AND to create offline (paper resources) for those who can not gain access to the internet.  Again, here is the issue of equality.  Allow me to illustrate:  Say I give an assignment online, and create s short video for the students to view as it relates to a new assignment.  The video is only seven or eight minutes long.  Then for the offline kids, I write a one or two-page instruction guide, containing the same information as the video.  For some eighth graders, reading two pages (or even one page) of text, especially instructions, can overwhelm them. Some students will not read even attempt to read the instructions, some might try, and then give up.  In short, the students who have access to the video will have an easier time gaining the information, when compared to the students who need to read the assignment.

INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE
Not all homes only have one student.  Some homes have three or four siblings that will be working from home.  Are there enough computing devices for all students? Again, this is an issue for some of my students. Additionally, is there enough physical space for all students to work?  What about bandwidth?  Even if all the students have a computing device, and a place to work such as a desk, now all three or four of students are streaming videos or taking an online quiz., not to mention if their parents are working from home.  Now multiply that times how many other families are doing the same in the school district.  In short, online infrastructure needs to be taking into consideration.

I know teachers will try their best to help their students, we always do.  But I am concerned that we are given an impossible task, with limited resources( as usual).  And some members of the public will use this as an example of how public education is failing.  I hope not.

Teaching During the Pandemic - March 30

I am a teacher, and today would have been my first day from my spring break.  But instead, I am home.  Teaching in Oregon and the entire nation has changed because of the Pandemic.

School is closed, but we are given the mandate to continue teaching and contacting students.

Each state has different expectations and guidance for their teachers. In Oregon the expectations for teaching during the Pandemic area as follows.

• Teachers can not give assignments to students during this period.  Instead, teachers can only give supplemental material.  The supplemental material can NOT be new information, and there is no assessment of the supplemental material.  Why?  Because the issue is equity.  If teachers were to give assignments for a grade, how might we know that students have all the support they need to be successful?  Yes, this might be mean some students will not complete the work, and there will be no accountability for the student.  

• Teachers might be called into their building to assists with other duties such as child care for first responders or helping with food distribution.  Schools will continue with their school lunch programs during this time.  This is critical for some students, as school might be the only place where they receive a healthy meal.

• As of now, teachers must deliver the supplemental material in the form of hard copies.  Again, this is an issue of equity.  Some students may not have a computing device, or others may not have access to the internet.

Today, I had a Zoom meeting with my principal and our first step will be to contact our advisory students and their families.  Check on them, make sure they are okay, answer any questions they might have.

Later, we will formulate a plan about getting the material out to the kids.

Self quarantined March 26 - Okay, this is getting old

OKAY, THIS IS GETTING OLD

I think back to when I was in long-distance track in high school. I ran the one mile and two miles events (Yes, this was a premetric time). The strategy of these long-distance races is broken down into three parts; 1) A short sprint out of the pack and get your position. 2) Hold that position, get behind a person so they "break the wind" for you, and only pass that person if they slow your pace. 3) And the last is the all-out sprint to the en; this was usually the remaining 150 - 100 yards of the race.

But the most challenging part of the race was holding your position. You had to focus on your pace. Sometime I would keep a song running in my head that would help me keep a rhythm and distract me from any physical pain. Also, I could not get distracted with other races passing me. It too easy to start sprinting in the middle leg to keep up with the other runner...If I did that, then I had no energy for the sprint at the end. So, I stayed focused on myself and my pace.

Additionally, I needed a person to help me out. This person was the runner in front of me who broke the wind. You had to be close enough to get into their draft - believe it or not, this helped. In long-distance running pacing, finding a person to help you, and setting your pace so you can finish the race were essential strategies.

This is where I am at in the self quarantined. The novelty has worn off. Yes, the time off is nice, and I enjoy my family. But the number of deaths reported in the news is becoming disheartening (69,000 confirmed cases and 1,050 have died in the US), the economy is tanking - the latest report is nearly 3 million unemployed, and there is a reported Conorvirus case in our small town of Canby. 

Then, there are my students. Yes, believe it or not, I find my thoughts going to them more and more. For some of my students, I know school is a better place for them than their home. A public school is a place where they have structure, where they meet positive adults, and for some, the only place to receive a good meal.

But like my days running long-distance track, I am in the second stage. I need to focus on myself (and my family). Do not focus on the distractions of the pain, but take it to step by step. In this case, it is day by day. Also, having the person (or people) to help you break the wind. Or maybe I am the one who is breaking the wind for them. To help them get through the race and, in this case, the self-quarantine.

WE STOPPED AT McDONALD'S

The other day, my son, who used to work at a local McDonald's, needed to pick up his check. I agreed to go with him. Yes, I am an over-protective Dad. As we waited in the lobby, this is how it looked. - see photo. Note the yellow chain in the corner of the picture. Yes, the entire setting area is chained off. By the way, our sone wasn't fired or laid off. Parents orders. Since his job required him to work the drive-through and to take people's money, we figured his likely exposer with an infected person would increase since he was working the drive-through AND taking people's money. Additionally, since it's McDonald's, he would be exposed to people traveling through town. So we thought it wise to keep him home. Better safe than sorry. Understandably he thought we were overreacting.

Self quarantined March 23

This past week, my family and I have taken advantage of the glorious Oregon sunshine and completed our fence on the front side of our property.

But, as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end....and the Orgeon sunshine has turned to the Oregon rain.  And it looks like it will be with us for a few days.  This being the case, I have saved some indoor projects/activities up for this occasion.

• Rearrange our office.
• Clean up the garage
• Watch some Netflix - Yes, I have deliberately stayed away from the television because I wanted to work outside in the sunshine.
• Read - I have been reading, but only an hour or so...Now it is time to go full tilt!
• Visit some of the virtual tour sites of museums on line.

Also. it is expected that Governor Brown will issue a "Stay at home" order.  Not a big deal for us, as we've been doing this.  Only going out for food, and to go out with my son to get his check from McDonald's.

I have to tell you it was strange to walk into McDonald's and seeing the lobby roped off with signs stating it was off-limits.  There was only a skeleton crew working, but they were busy.  Not sure why people still would want to eat out?  All it takes is one sick work to spread the virus to hundreds.

Finally, the family seems to be holding up fine.  Myles, our son, has taken to baking cakes.  He has already made two cakes.  Not sure why, but I don't care.  He seems to enjoy it, and cooking is a positive outlet.  But then just sitting away and doing nothing.  Sherie is staying busy too.  She has her online class keeping her busy,  And she has worked outside with me side by side.  We are fortunate to own property.  If we get cabin fever, our nearly five acres is like our own private park. We have ducks, the wild birds, and our chickens to visit.  I feel for those people who live in a large city with only an apartment with nowhere to go...stuck inside.

In short, I feel very fortunate.  We have food, no issues with finances, a place to wander outside, and everybody is healthy (I just knock on my wooden table after I typed this).

I just know that in a few weeks, this will all be over, and we can return to our normal routines.

Self quarantined March 20

TP Hunting!
I woke up early to be one of the first in line as the local grocery store opened at seven in the morning.  When I arrive at 6:45 there was already about a half of dozen people waiting.  By the time the doors open there were about 25 people waiting to get into the store.  Everybody waited patiently, but you could feel everybody's anticipation, for the moment when the clerk unlocks the door and we step through.  One man said this morning was his fifth time arriving early, all for the quest of toilet paper.  He hoped this time he would strike gold!  I hope to be lucky too.

Once the doors open, everybody, including me, walked briskly to the toilet paper aisle in hopes of finding the heavily soft paper found only in rolls...and there it was.  The top and bottom shelves were stocked with the MEGA pack of 24 rolls of toilet paper.  Even though several signs were in plain sight about rationed paper products to one per customer, a few people ignored the signs and hoarded two or three packages and stacked them in their grocery cart.  I quickly grabbed my one allotted MEGA pack and then swiftly moved down to the pasta aisle.  And again, I scored 3 pounds of pasta and two boxes of Mac and Cheese...The Grocery Gods favor me this morning.

Then, just by chance, I walked by the toilet paper aisle again and saw it was already cleaned out in only a few minutes.  No more toilet paper.  The Grocery Gods smile only upon those who arrive early.

The remainder of the day, we worked in the yard, trimmed the trees, and repaired a fence.  The day was beautiful, blue skies with the temperature in the mid-60s.  The work on the property helps everybody in the family from thinking about the pandemic.

New News

We heard the governor of Illinois order all citizens to stay in their homes.  We think Governor Brown will issue a similar order within three days.  So, I return to the store and stocked up with some last-minute groceries.

Our Trip This Summer

We video chatted with our friends from Australia tonight.  We do this once a month because they are fun people, and we've been working on coordinating a Summer road trip covering the Southeastern part of the US.  But the pandemic has thrown our plans for a loop.  Currently, the Austrian government has banned traveling from Auzzieland.  We hope for the best, thinking by the end of May, the pandemic will have died out or is under control. Then we can travel as planned.  If not, plan B would require us to move all the planned stops to next summer.

Self Quarantined - March 19th

As a student of history, I understand the power of primary sources and how these resources help people better understand the past.

This being the case, I will make an effort to record my thoughts, feelings, and attitudes about the COVID 19 pandemic.

Since this is my first post - allow me to get you up to speed on what's been going on from my perspective.

On or near March 5th, we begin to stock up can goods.  I explained to Sherie that after I heard President Trump downplay the virus in China and Italy, that's when I began to worry.  This is a man who lies so much, so when he tells the American public this epidemic is a media/Democratic contribute emergency, that was my sign.  So we stocked up the pantry with can goods.

3/12 - we receive word that school will be canceled until the end of the month.  The cancellation was to begin on Friday 3/13.  I did not go to school because I had a doctor's appointment.  Afterward, I stopped off at Costco and it was CRAZY busy.  No TP, no bottled water.  The mac-cheese and canned corn were nearly sold out. Much the meat was sold out.

3/13 - Friday, we begin to self Quarantine.  We tell our son, Myles, not to report to work.  He has a history of asthma and we do not want him to get sick. He is upset with us and tells us we are overreacting.  But I explain to him that I hope I am wrong, and I overreacting.

3/16 - Monday.  Sherie comes with me to do another stock up run, but she stays in the car.  I stopped at Winco in Oregon City and it's crazy.  Shelves are bare.  No rice, no flour, no Mac& Cheese, many of the fresh veggies and fruits are sold out.  Most of the canned beans were sold out.  But I am able to get most of the items we needed such as milk, butter, eggs, lunch meat. I did pick up the last ketchup bottle.  The cashier tells me there were fights earlier in the day as people we waiting in line to check out.   I had to wait about 20 minutes to check out.

3/19 - Today we worked outside.  We've worked outside on our property since Sunday.  The exercise and fresh air is doing everybody some good. I've used this time to get some extra reading done.  I've made sure to call my mom every day or every other day to make sure she is doing okay.  Myles has seemed to be more accepting of the self-quarantine.  Currently, all casinos in Nevada are closed, all sporting events are canceled. We have not visited the gym for nearly 2 weeks.

When I go out, I make sure I am wearing gloves and do not touch my face.

More tomorrow....

My New Adventure!

My New Adventure! Week 6

It's funny how life can take you on a twisty journey.

As a young man in high school, I was kicked out in my junior year.  The parting words from my principal were "Moran, you will not amount to a hill of beans".  Fast forward over three decades, I am entering my first class to earn my administration credentials.

Yes, after over two decades of teaching every school day, I am taking baby steps to move out of the classroom.  Why would I leave the classroom?  I love working with kids.  I love seeing my students make the connections from an abstract social studies lesson to their lives.

But during the past few years, I have seen my discipline become the stepchild in public education.  As administrator after administrator continues to push social studies to the back burner of our schools.  Time and time again, I am denied an education assistant in my classroom when I have struggling readers or struggling writers, I am told my subject is not a tested subject and I ( and my students) do not receive the additional help.  Never mind, my social studies classes use the same skills as in Language Arts.
 
Additionally, I hear how kids in schools today do not show empathy.  But social studies the only discipline where empathy is a cornerstone of the standards.  Every lesson and activity students drive to understand who people did what they did.  What motivated intelligent Germans to commit genocide.  Why did the Americans fight, what seemed like a losing battle of independence against the superpower of Great Britain?  Social Studies get kids to be more empathetic.

This is the reason why I am moving from the classroom - to be a Social Studies advocate.  To the administrator to voice the importance of civics, history, geography, and economics.

I will share my thoughts and feelings along this journey.  Please join me.  Let's see where this goes.