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2021-01-25
A Semester of Outfits
I haven’t grown in height since junior high school, and, as a result, I have A LOT of clothes. As sort of a fun game for myself and my students, I do not repeat an outfit through the 180 days of the school year. When school shut down in March, I switched to permanently in joggers, since I no longer left the house. When we began synchronous Distance Learning in August, I knew it was really important for my mental health and to try and portray a sense of normalcy for my students to still dress just like I was going to teach in person in a normal year. Since I don’t get to see all my students five days a week due to our block scheduling format for Distance Learning, I decided to post my outfit to my class Instagram each day, as an “ootd,” just for fun. It’s become sort of an interesting keepsake of my pandemic experience. If you look beyond the outfits and into my eyes you can tell the days I was anxious, worried, tired about the rising case counts, the unknowns, the state of our country, and locally, the true fear of whether they would force us to return to teaching in person. But the pictures also capture that in between the ever rising death toll, wildfires, political discord, racial tension, Capitol riots, life had to keep moving forward. And even during a semester of turmoil, you can see a lot of pictures show joy behind my eyes... and not only when the Dodgers won the World Series, allowing me to retire my 1988 World Series shirt! A new semester starts today, we’ll see what the expression in my eyes says about the state of the pandemic and the world in the weeks to come. -
2020-03-13
Their School is Open, But the Kids Are Staying Home
This story talks about the proclivity for families to stay home even as schools begin gearing up to have classes transition back into the classroom, out of fear for COVID. -
2020-04-29
Distance Learning with her BFF
My daughter cannot sit still for long therefore did not do well with distance learning. Every morning she had a Zoom meeting with her teacher and classmates to check in. I snapped this photograph as she Zoomed with her class and laid against her dog. She finds comfort with our golden retriever who loves her dearly. -
2020-03-16
First Day Distance Learning
This is a photograph of my son on his first day of distance learning. He set up his learning space himself and was quite excited. At this time we believed that distance learning would only last two weeks so it was more of an adventure at this point. By Day 7, he was frustrated, depressed, and lonely. This picture shows him hopeful and happy. -
2020-03-28
Future History Teachers
I am hoping to become a high school history teacher and this meme rang true for me. I cannot wait to teach 2020 to future students, it will probably be a class in itself! -
2020-04-01
Hello Neighbors
After our governor ordered a lockdown, my children could not see their friends or classmates. In order to try to stay connected to our neighbors, we left daily messages in chalk so they could see them as they walked by. We also left our chalk so our neighbors could write messages in return. -
2020-06-03
Final Day of Distance Learning
My 6 year old finished her kindergarten year at home due to COVID 19. Her teacher put together a "yearbook" for her as well as a "class ring" and a gift. My daughter's first year of school was not what she nor I expected but her teacher was fantastic and made the best of it. -
2020-09-19
The TIK TOK Kindergarten Teacher
Could you imagine teaching a group of kindergarteners online? Well that is exactly what this teacher has done, and with style. In order to keep her young students engaged, she has put her all into the lessons. Her high energy and theatrics are keeping learning fun and organized. It is teachers like her that show people that teachers are putting in their all, even when they can’t physically be with the students. Teachers like this should be praised and celebrated for their hard work and dedication throughout this difficult time. -
2020-11-04
Providing Low Income Students With Free Internet In Pittsburg
It is no surprise that low income students are struggling during the period of online or distance learning. In order to aid low income students and families, Pittsburg is offering an estimate of 700-800 families with internet that would have otherwise gone without. The schools in the district it affects feel that it will make a great impact for those who either have no internet or unstable internet services. Families that qualify for this service will pay no fees, and will help the some 20% of families with lack of or poor internet service. -
2020-04-29
"Reasons I Can't Do My Homework"
This digital comic demonstrates the anxiety and fears that arose during the pandemic around April of 2020. The artists shows how they are being overwhelmed by the fears for their own life and the lives of their loved ones because you can clearly see “mom” and “grandma” in the fears scrolling through their brain. Because of these fears there is no room for “school work” and “classes”. -
2020-06-23
Online Learning Leaves Students in Poverty Behind
This article puts in perspective the effects of distance learning on families at or below the poverty line. Many students in poverty with food insecurity, family instability, and even homelessness are also lacking a quality education due to the pandemic and virtual learning. Along with these already existing problems, these students also lack some of the necessary requirements to learn at all including internet access and availability of technology. This is leading them to fall farther behind than they already were. -
2020-08-26
Teaching During a Pandemic
This Times article follows a few different teachers to get their take on what teaching during the pandemic has looked like for them. With every state having different rules and regulations, each teacher has their own experience of what the new school year is bringing and what teachers are doing to cope. -
2020-10-30
Pandemic School: Halloween 2020
This year with school being socially distanced and the pandemic causing all sorts of disruption, for the first time all students are allowed to wear their Halloween costumes to school. With everything being so different schools are making the best of it and allowing students to show off their costumes on campus all over our district. Seeing all of the students with their costumes and the excitement to show off has really boosted student and staff morale. I even decided to join in on the fun and wear my Halloween attire. -
07/24/2020
Claire Cunliffe Oral History, 2020/07/24
Claire Cunliffe, a high school mathematics teacher from Baltimore, Maryland, compares the early implementation of distance learning procedures among public and private school districts. While Claire reflects on the positive response to distance learning among students at private schools, including the increased ability for students to self-pace, she expresses concern over the lack of funding and limited resources available for students attending public schools. Claire makes the argument that technological unavailability among minority populations is exacerbating the opportunity gap among urban students. Reflecting on the conflicting responses of city and state leaders, including Governor Larry Hogan, Claire offers suggestions for reopening schools that ultimately place the decision in the hands of parents and healthcare professionals, instead of politicians. Claire conveys optimism that distance learning practices during the COVID-19 pandemic will permanently reshape the educational sector by encouraging interactive approaches to teaching, promoting community building among students, and displaying the benefits of incorporating digital elements into the classroom curriculum. -
2020-07-01
Teacher: ‘Parents need to go to work’ does not stop covid-19 at the school entrance
Many have been questioning how schools will reopen in the fall following closures for most of the nation's schools in March. While there was hope that COVID would settle down, it seems to be doing the opposite, and while we inch closer and closer to August, the month when most schools start their fall term, the question remains; How will K-12 schools reopen safely? While many parents, guardians, and even doctors (The American Academy of Pediatrics) are pushing for students to return fully to campus this fall, citing just how necessary in-person teaching is. Teachers get it; we know we need to see our students to give them the best education possible. But, that doesn't stop COVID at the doors of the school. -
2020-06-29
Summer School is a Go
As of June 22, 2020, the Boise, Idaho metro was rolled back to stage 3 of reopening. After new cases of COVID-19 soared, the governor decided to close bars, night clubs, and various restaurants. While some school districts have already decided to go online for the summer, my school district decided to return to in-person classes for summer school in June. While we have been rolled back to stage 3, our summer school session is still a go. Today, June 29, 2020, teachers received an email from our principal outlining the procedures for returning to school. As of now, students will not be served meals while at school and will instead take lunch and breakfast for the next morning home with them at the end of each school day. Additionally, teachers are required to wear facemasks while interacting with students. I think this session of summer school is acting as a trial run for the district to understand better what the upcoming school year may bring.