The global pandemic of COVID-19 has created many struggles in day to day life. One of these is how to teach a class of kids when it is not safe for them to be in classrooms. In this essay I take a look at how teachers in the Columbus City Schools district work through teaching online through Zoom. Although the commute is much easier, many teachers are finding it is difficult to keep the attention of kids for a whole day online and have to plan around that. Many teachers are facing longer planning days and more exhausting classes as well as the difficulty of not having shared supplies or sometimes any supplies. Many students do not have the same resources or supervision at home that they would at school which causes the teachers to be forced to adapt and work around these barriers. This can sometimes mean planning multiple lessons for one class or having families pick up supplies for science experiments.
Rachel Concitis Rachel Concitis, a third grade teacher at Winterset Elementary School in Columbus, Ohio, watches her students use Boom Cards, which are a way for them to work independently while still learning as a group.
Rachel Concitis’ attendance roster lays on her desk. Much like regular classes, there are always kids that do not show up. However, when online teaching it is easier for students who do not have parental supervision to not go to class. This causes them to fall behind and miss the opportunity of learning.
Marie Boozer takes a short break with her fourth grade class from Indianola Informal K-8 and gets them up and moving with a 5 minute dance or exercise break that one of her students sets up each day. Boozer believes it is important for her students to move around and get energy out because it is not healthy to sit at a computer all day everyday. This movement break also prevents students from getting up and moving around while Boozer is teaching.
Trina Marschall, a sixth grade teacher, discusses presentations with her class as she sits in her classroom at Indianola. Marschall decided to teach from her classroom instead of her home because she has all the materials she needs in her classroom and does not want to drag them home only to bring everything back when she returns for in-person classes.
Trina Marschall marks down students' grades in her grade book and makes notes on what needs to be changed as she looks through their individual slides that come together to create a thank you slideshow for a past class presenter.
Rachel Rowen, middle school art teacher at Indianola, prepares for her seventh grade art class. “If I had a nickel for everytime someone asked me how I would teach art online, I’d be rich” Rowen states, but has figured out how to use online tools and mixed in digital art.
Trina Marschall discusses her plans for the week with her sixth grade teaching partner through the pass-through that spans their classrooms. Marschall is careful not to get too close to her teaching partner so as to stay safe from COVID. Much of their collaboration is now through phone calls.
Rachel Concitis has set up a desk for herself and her 5 year old son, Bradley in their basement so that she can keep an eye on him as he goes through Kindergarten. Concitis “loves the 30 second commute” that comes with online teaching.
Trina Marschall discusses work with her class through upside down desks. Much like Marschall, many teachers have had to remove furniture in their classrooms so that desks can be six feet apart. Marschall previously used tables and couches, so desks will be a big adjustment for her and her students.
Marie Boozer plays guitar for her fourth grade class as a short break from their work. Her students are encouraged to request songs that they would like to hear, both educational and for fun.
A piece of paper helps Marie Boozer keep track of which of her students are researching different topics for their projects. With a class of around 25, it is hard for Boozer to know off the top of her head which topic each student has picked.
Rachel Rowen answers questions and explains how to complete different goals through a digital art platform. Rowen uses her share screen function to demonstrate how each task is performed so that her students can better understand how it’s done.
