In this unprecedented time with the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans' way of life as we know it has been drastically different the past two months. One of the biggest changes is that school buildings are closed in the nationwide effort to stop spread of the contagious virus. Students are learning from home as they connect with their teachers online. This causes new challenges for parents.
Will and Jenna Mostert have two young children: Adriaan, age 4, and Piper, age 1. Jenna is a member of the South Barber Board of Education. When asked about distance learning and her helping teach Adriaan at home, Mostert said, “It's a bit of a challenge because it's not in a structured environment like the school classroom. Adriaan doesn't follow my instructions for school like he does his teacher Mrs. (Becky) Buckle!”
The pre-K students have an approximately 30-minute online daily chat with Mrs. Buckle whom Mostert said “is doing a great job.” She said Adriaan really enjoys the packets of learning activities his teacher makes up for her students. The little ones also use their Chromebooks (laptop computers) for online learning with their teacher.
“I'm so glad the school is doing this online learning. It's really working to keep our kids engaged,” Mostert said. She is concerned that “we don't even know for sure what fall will look like – if we'll still be doing social distancing.”
Mostert said the distance learning has gone well overall, “but now it's not as exciting as it was in the beginning. We're all ready for summer!”
Mother of Four Talks Challenge and Praises Teachers
Kiowa couple Tyler and Gayle McNett have four children, two of whom are in elementary school at South Barber. Their oldest child is Evi, a fourth grader. McNett said, “Evi's teacher Mrs. (Kaynette) Scheck has been wonderful – so organized. She's done everything in her power to make the transition smooth – she's very helpful.” Scheck and her students use Google Meet daily for their “classroom” experience (as students learn from home.) McNett said the teacher records those sessions so Evi can go back and listen to them and do the work at her own pace.
“It's been a really positive experience,” McNett said. “It's been a learning curve for kids and parents – more for parents! (…) Mrs. Scheck even put together a talent show for the kids they'll see Friday.” Using their Chromebooks, each student made a video of their talent and the teacher is putting it all together. “She is making it special for the kids.”
The McNetts' son Ian is a kindergarten student in Connie Rooks' classroom. She complimented Mrs. Rooks for the learning packet she put together and sent home for students. It includes math facts, flash cards and much more. “Mrs. Rooks even put in craft stuff so the kids can have fun making projects,” she said. During their “classroom” time together, Rooks reads to her students and each student gets to read a sentence. She said students are still able to reach their reading goals.
“They are still doing everything like at school,”McNett said.
Of the distance learning situation, McNett said, “Ian understands, but he doesn't want to do school at home. He wants to play! He misses his friends and Mrs. Rooks the most!” Referring to both Evi and Ian, McNett said, “The kids miss their friends and field trips and all the fun things at the end of the year.”
She said vocal teacher Cathy Cox records songs on video so students can work on rhythms and words in a fun way. Physical education teacher Deb Hitchcock has PE assignments – “fun stuff” like going out in the yard and exercising (jumping jacks and much more) while enjoying nature.
“Some people were afraid the kids wouldn't be learning. Teachers are still teaching new content and the kids are still learning. I appreciate the flexibility teachers are giving. They understand each family has a different situation. I'm helping teach my older children and taking take care of our baby (Oen, 10 months) and (three-year-old) Ada.”
McNett thanked South Barber's IT man Luke MacKinney for “walking me step by step to get to the right spot (in the online learning computer stuff). Everyone is going above and beyond! I wasn't sure how it all would work out – it hasn't been too bad.”
Next Wednesday is the last day of school. “Everyone is ready to get out for the summer!” McNett said.
One Mom Describes It as a Rollercoaster
Kiowa couple Charley and Nikki Brattin have three children. Nikki teaches science and social studies part-time to fourth graders and is also accompanist for the school. She has just one assignment for her fourth graders each week so she doesn't overwhelm them. In social studies she is having her students write a journal about this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. McNett mentioned Brattin's journal assignment as she teaches her daughter Evi and said, “The journal will be very neat to have when they are older and telling their kids and grandkids about this pandemic.”
Brattin has an allotted time to spend with students each day online. “It's been a challenge finding a routine for my kids – so my children know when they are in school.”
The Brattin's daughter Makenna is in second grade taught by Cassidy Ricke. “Mrs. Ricke has done an awesome job teaching and with her two school age children. I'm in awe of how she handles her teaching and her kids.”
Referring to the online learning, Brattin said, “Makenna was in tears the first day as she is shy and they were video chatting.” Mom admitted she was in tears too that first day. “It has definitely been a challenge.”
“But kids are so resilient,” she said thankfully. Ricke's class uses Google Meet to see her and their classmates. “Makeena got braver and braver each day. Now it's old hat – a piece of cake!”
“The new technology impressed me,” Brattin said. Students and teachers spend nearly an hour chatting online and then another hour and a half on their assignments.
“It's forcing us to learn it all,” Brattin said of the online computer programs. “That's a good thing!”
The Brattin's son Hesston is in pre-K with Becky Buckle as his teacher. He and his classmates spend 30 minutes online with their teacher. Buckle reads to them, helps them with letters and numbers and they sing a song together. The students get to have Show and Tell daily. His mom said that Hesston enjoys his packet Mrs. Buckle prepared for them with letters, numbers and more.
“Hesston has done well. He wasn't shy – no big deal to him! As time goes on he's ready for the end of school and to go play.”
The Brattin's son Cooper is age three. “He loves it,” mom said of his watching his siblings have school. “He likes all the colors and shapes. He and I have school.” She mentioned how much her children enjoy the PE assignments from Mrs. Hitchcock and the sing-along songs provided by Mrs. Cox.
Speaking of this totally foreign and unexpected pandemic this spring, Brattin said, “It's been a challenge, a roller coaster of ups and downs. It's been nice spending time with my kids on these pretty spring days. However, all the teachers agree we'd rather be in the classroom with our students and all the fun end-of-year activities we've missed – the track meets, field trips, music programs ….” The accompanist said, “I miss playing the piano. I haven't sat down to play in five weeks.”
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