With the start of the 2020-2021 school year coming up, many families, teachers, and students are on edge. The ongoing battle of the coronavirus pandemic looms all around us, and school districts across the country are struggling to find ways to open. With numbers skyrocketing in some states, many officials are concerned that opening schools will only add fuel to the fire , ending in more positive test results and further spreading.
Many school districts closed their doors in March to stop the spread of the virus.
With many states issuing quarantine restrictions on residents, schools closed in-person learning and switched to remote instruction. While it worked for some students, others fell behind due to the lack of socialization and real-time learning.
Because of these consequences, many school districts are striving to reopen their doors for the upcoming school year.
School officials are looking for ways to host students in-person, at least some of the time. Many are looking to “hybrid” learning models where students are in-person some days, and remote learning other days.
However, when students are in school for in-person instruction, there will be rules and restrictions in place to protect everyone.
Many school districts are requiring that all students and faculty wear masks at all times. Additionally, students must maintain the six-feet social distancing guidelines as mandated by local and federal authorities.
Many teachers are coming up with new plans and new ways to abide by the rules, but make it comfortable for students, too.
For young students, it can be a scary and difficult time to return to school as the rules and mandates in place can cause worry and anxiety. So, teachers are thinking of ways to make things both safe and fun at the same time.
Jennifer Birch Pierson, a teacher from Texas, came up with an ingenious way for her kindergartners to socially distance.
Going back to set up her classroom must have been difficult, as Texas has seen a spike in positive coronavirus numbers recently. Due to the spike, however, coming up with a safe space for her students was all that much more important.
The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, announced that schools have a variety of options.
Governor Abbott issued a statement in a recent press briefing that schools can offer a variety of options to their students. Not all students are mandated to do in-person learning , and schools are allowed to opt for a remote option.
Many elementary schools are opting for in-person, or some version of it.
Many districts realize that remote learning is hardest on younger students who may need the socialization and scheduling of school days. Older students, in middle- and high-school, do better with remote learning at home.
Pierson decided to create “socially distanced” desks that are both fun and colorful for her younger students.
With some cardboard and paint, Pierson was able to create different cars and trucks for each of the desks. A photo of the classroom shared to the Facebook page Maybe I’ll Shower Today said:
“No playing. Masks all day. Six feet apart at all times.
“School seems like a frightening place, when you read about all the safety measures kids will have to adhere to this year.
“Thankfully, there are educators, like Jennifer Birch Pierson, a Kindergarten teacher from Texas, who are making lemonade from some very sour lemons and making their classrooms as welcoming and comforting as possible for our littlest learners.”
It goes to show you that social distancing can still be fun for kids.
While the foreseeable future is scary for educators and students, all it takes is a little imagination and some efforts to bring everyone back together again in a classroom.
