Addressing learning gaps with a little grace

At Sonora Elementary School, weve been lucky to be able to offer in-person classes to the majority of our trainees this year. Our district offered all trainees a fully online alternative along with the option to return fully in-person or blended. At the start of the academic year, about 500 of our 600 students returned full-time, and by November we just had approximately 20 trainees who were still blended.

While having students on school practically feels like a high-end these days, it certainly doesnt imply that our staff and students have actually been untouched by the pandemic and the learning interruptions connected with it. Our district transferred to an alternative technique of direction (AMI) last spring. Based upon the district alternatives, at the beginning of this academic year our teachers were preparing for three classes at a time: their everyday trainees and 2 various blended mates. Fortunately, weve just had two student cases of COVID-19, however even now, there is always a group of as numerous as 10-15 students who are quarantined due to the fact that of an older sibling or parents direct exposure.

Staying flexible

When instructors are dealing with a multitude of disruptions, including attendance and everyday regimens for security, learning gaps will take place. At Sonora, weve worked to resolve those gaps by being flexible, utilizing any information accessible to understand where trainees are, and giving everybody a little additional grace.

Among the big modifications we made this year was to provide teachers the opportunity to “loop” with their trainees. Moving from one grade to another can be a big change for a teacher and we didnt desire to add any extra stressors in a currently overwhelming circumstance; we thought it was an excellent opportunity to use students and their families as much consistency as possible. We provided teachers the option, and some picked to loop with their trainees into the fall term, while others chose to decrease a grade in preparation for looping up with their classes next year. To provide a similar looping experience for all trainees, we kept class friends together when moving them to the next grade level. We comprehend that some students are going to be working to close learning spaces beyond this school year; were getting ready for that journey now.

About the Author:

At the beginning of the school year, about 500 of our 600 students came back full-time, and by November we only had approximately 20 students who were still blended.

Jennifer Worthy is a teacher at Sonora Elementary School. She formerly taught grade 4, however has looped up with her trainees from in 2015 to teach grade 5 in the 2020-2021 academic year. She can be reached at jworthy@sdale.org.

She previously taught grade 4, however has looped up with her trainees from last year to teach grade 5 in the 2020-2021 school year.

While having trainees on campus nearly feels like a high-end these days, it certainly does not mean that our staff and students have been untouched by the pandemic and the learning disturbances associated with it. Weve only had 2 trainee cases of COVID-19, but even now, there is constantly a group of as many as 10-15 trainees who are quarantined because of an older sibling or parents direct exposure.

Dr. Regina Stewman is the Principal of Sonora Elementary School. She can be reached at rstewman@sdale.org.

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