With schools closed across the state, the country and the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many districts are responding with plans to offer online curriculum. That’s got teachers scrambling to come up with lesson plans, computer access for all students and figuring how to conduct Zoom meetings with kids. Kim Helwig is a third grade teacher in the Flagstaff Unified School District. She spoke with KNAU’s Gillian Ferris about teaching during these uncertain times.
KJ: I have 25 students in my class. I’ve heard from almost every single one. I’m a little concerned about the ones that don’t have the access to technology as readily available as some of the other kiddos. I’ve been sending them different ‘hellos!’ and videos, but then also trying to get the curriculum started with them as well.
GF: When you say not all the kids have the technology…would FUSD possibly have to step in and provide lap tops for the children who don’t have access to computers and are trying to maintain that physical distance during this time? Would they be able to get computers?
KJ: All of the middle school and high school students right now have been given their one-to-one devices as of, I think, January. So, it’s not the middle school and high school kids. They have personal devices, but even though they have the personal devices, their home might not have Wi-Fi, or they can’t access the programs that they need to. So, it’s two-fold: it’s not only a lack of personal devices for the elementary school kids, but then what about the families that don’t have the internet. That’s something that we need to figure out, and I don’t know if it will come down to making packets for kids and dropping them off on a doorstep. I’m just not sure. I think that’s that creative thinking of how to go about doing that.
GF: Third grade is such a tender time, generally, between students and their teacher. Your teacher is such an important person in your life when you’re that little, so many hugs, and the daily check-ins and everything. Can you talk a little bit about your students and missing them now.
KJ: It was really hard yesterday. I went to my classroom and went in. We were allowed to go in for just a few hours to get any materials we wanted, and that was really emotional for me, walking in and just knowing that it could be months before we’re all in that classroom again together. It’s tough as a teacher not to be there for them. We have Google Docs, and so I’ve created a little Google Doc that I’ve sent to each student individually and we’re just having kind of a running conversation on Google Docs. We just write to one another back and forth. I videotaped myself just saying ‘hi’ and ‘how are you doing?’ and introduced my dog to them and sent that out. I mean, I’m definitely addressing all of the academics, but to me as a third grade teacher, just reaching them emotionally right now, I feel like that’s my priority. Just to help them still feel part of our classroom.
