A middle school English and special education teacher share how they meet the needs of all of their students—and the new practices they’ll bring back to the classroom.

Every student has needs, but they don’t all have the same needs. In the English 7 classes, we co-teach, for example, more than 60 per cent of the students have identified special needs, and many of our students are English learners. And although our Title 1 school is able to provide an iPad for each student, given the level of poverty in the neighbourhood we cannot assume that every student has internet connectivity. That’s a lot of different needs, especially when you take into account that our classes have up to 38 students.

These research-backed strategies can help students feel connected during a time of physical isolation.

The coronavirus pandemic has produced a variety of critical challenges for school leaders. On the fourth day of “mom-schooling,” I noticed a shift in my 9-year-old daughter’s typical tenacity. She seemed underwhelmed and uncertain about our new normal and what to do with her time. In response, I emailed some parents from her basketball team and set up a virtual lunch, where the team could connect with one another online as if they were at recess on the playground. 

When schools closed, teachers were forced to get creative—and they’ve learned things they can use when they’re back at school.

Before my eighth-grade history students moved into online learning this spring, I had no idea about one student’s affection for Cup Noodles or another’s a sweet way of talking about her 5-year-old brother. Perhaps I should have known, but I didn’t, and I wish I had.

Distance learning has enabled these intimate glimpses into students’ lives and thought processes, and I worry that these moments won’t happen as much once we eventually return to campus.

In-person high school commencement ceremonies are cancelled—but seniors can still mark the transition in a meaningful way.

Schools across America, grappling with how to celebrate graduation in the midst of social distancing, are opting for online or drive-by graduations—or delaying face-to-face ceremonies until later in the year. But with the loss of in-person graduation, high school students are missing out on a time-honoured tradition designed to help bridge the gap to young adulthood. There is a unique opportunity for educators, however, to help students close out the year in a meaningful way while providing a rich learning experience that may help them navigate future transitions.

Teaching virtually comes with its own set of challenges—,, especially during a pandemic. Use these strategies to focus on specific goals, embrace uncertainty, and keep communication open.

As school systems nationwide remain closed, educators feel a collective undercurrent of uncertainty from Covid-19, but also from the burden of providing quality online instruction. The responsibility of ensuring that kids do not fall irreparably behind during a months-long closure is daunting. Simple interventions and strategies may be the most effective in these challenging times.