From Parents, To Teachers – an overnight transformation in response to the 2020 Coronovirus Pandemic
Sure, there has been an abundance of online resources made free and accessible to parents in light of supporting their students in the midst of school closures. However, for parents who work (even from home, by nature or due to the present national crisis) there is a sense of added pressure in becoming an educator over night in addition to working and parenting.To this, I’d like to strongly suggest the idea that we do what we can, within our realms and realities. Parent-to-parent, this will surely vary in execution.
Even if some parents cannot stay at home with their children in this time, where opportunity presents it’s still useful to have at fingertip access the many open education resources (free online educational tools) the media is presenting to us. Let’s consider, for example, the evenings after work in which our children would otherwise be doing homework had schools not shut down–that is time to be effectively utilized. Weekends or other off days for parents also present opportunities. That’s where these OERs (open education resources) we keep seeing online can come into play, especially for those whose parents were not given packets or anything at all from their now-closed school. Did you know that many of those sites are easy enough in navigation for your student to journey through independently?
Additionally, keep in mind that these OERs you’re seeing are not to present the false impression that learning happens only through these sites and apps–squeeze it in where you can, parents and guardians. Maybe you’re cooking dinner and having your student do conversions for the ingredient measurements. Maybe it’s a quick cause-reaction science experiment in the fridge or freezer. Do a book-trade in your neighborhood or community. These opportunities for educational enhancement serve good practice whether schools are closed, or not.
As not to assume this understanding to be self-evident, I will put it out there anyway:
The development of our children was never their teachers’ jobs alone.
We, unfortunately, are just in a circumstance in which we’re having to fill the gap where we can for the advantage of the child. Being both an acting single-mom of 4 while my husband’s away and also working at 4 institutions (yes, you read that correctly), I promise you I see the many aspects of this ordeal–I know, it’s startling. It may even feel disappointing, but it is not to be deemed or depicted as devastating.
I understand that many are concerned that there will be an education gap depending on the amount of academic reinforcement students were able to get at home while displaced from school. Being an administrator in education, I can almost assure your teachers will not expect to advance to some random starting point when the kids return. For starters, they will have to spend at least a good week socializing the students again. Think I’m dramatizing this a bit–you should see students after just a 4-day-weekend and I can bet I’d make a believer out of you. Academically, teachers will be picking up where they left off. Honestly, a well-prepared and experienced teacher is even prepared to have to regress a bit; to reteach some things. While it may or may not be graded, the work your teachers have given some of you is to serve as support for your student to keep their gears in motion.
Without a doubt, there is no substitute for teachers.
Likewise, there is no substitute for parents.
Be tenacious, parents–we’ll get through this piece of forming history!
Respectfully,
Elizabeth Johnson-Glover
Elucidating Educational Enhancements, CEO
Echoes of Excellence, Founder & President
Echoes of Excellence! 