Is remote learning here to stay? How many parents out there are cringing at the thought of more school being taught through the computer? There are definitely problems with this medium, I admit. Who gets to stay home and monitor their child while they are online in class? Definitely not doable if both parents have to work. So what do you do? Young children cannot be left unattended to learn online. There might be technical issues with the platform being used, or the internet line. How is a child to handle this? How do you keep children engaged with the teacher in a zoom classroom? What do we do about the large number of children who do not even have a computer or access to the internet? Districts are cash poor as it is. How are they to provide every child this access to equipment and internet? The list of concerns grows long, I admit BUT I must share my belief that for education in the 21st century, remote learning is key. The hours of a day in the classroom are just too limited for the amount of learning necessary for our children to compete in the global environment!!
I like to share a chart in a day in the life of…I entitle “Who’s Got the Time?” to shine a light on the pressures of today’s classroom and the teacher and school districts. I feel strongly that another ‘hand’ needs to be added and embraced.
Let’s first take a look at the schedule of a typical elementary school day.
Now, I realize school schedules vary. Some start earlier and some start later and go later into the afternoon BUT the general breakdown for the areas of the curriculum are similar. This table does not include the variety of programs used during these curriculum areas. Programs such as STEM or Read 180 or the variety of language arts and math series of textbooks. That is a different topic of discussion.
Most concerning with this table is where does intervention (tutoring) services for reading and math fit in? When you have a struggling reader they need additional one-on-one time in order to make the most gains. Where would you plug this one-on-one time with the teacher into on the schedule above? Keep in mind that a struggling student requires at least 40 minutes of extra intervention, every day, to make and sustain gains.
You are right! There is not enough time. School days are too short to work such services in, AND there is only one teacher for 25 to 35 kids. As a Reading Specialist, I provided 40 minutes, additional, to the classroom for groups of five per session and it was a nightmare working this into a child’s typical school schedule as the law mandates that such sessions cannot be ‘in place of ‘the teacher’s lessons per day, and it was not one-on-one time which research has proven is best for a struggling reader! Not only that the sessions were NOT every day. That was impossible, so some students only got two sessions a week. You guessed it, not a good look. Now, I will add that most of my students made gains even against these odds, but that was due to the quality of the programs used during the sessions which is another discussion for another day.
What am I getting at? Adding more hands to help the classroom teacher by incorporating virtual instruction and tutoring services into the child’s educational journey. Virtual instruction using quality programs is the way forward. There are many retired educators that could be incorporated into the classroom virtually to help the teacher but more importantly to help the child. Parents, you too could benefit your child’s education journey through supplemental virtual classes.
Virtual: A safe and effective classroom supplement. In my next blog I will provide a more in-depth look at such an idea. See what you think! Join my Facebook Group and let’s discuss: NutsAboutReading.
Is remote learning here to stay? Was first published on NutsAboutReading.com.
KLAC ENTERPRISES, LLC/Buckaroo Buckeye™/Nuts About Reading™
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