@CatherineNwosu Dr. Mike Robinson: How can schools practice social distancing when kids return?
Catherine Nwosu: Social distancing in schools will look different with every age group. Personally and professionally, I think schools have no business opening unless there is an assurance with a rock-solid plan for every school in each district that students and staff will not be infected. Without that plan, we should not be thinking about returning to school.
To directly answer your question, many things are going to be challenging at all school age levels. Classroom environments will need to look drastically different with potentially modified child per square footage recommendations. Lunch room, recess, bathrooms, and other common areas will need to have updated procedures with potentially smaller groups or additional monitors. Inside the classroom, teachers will need to think about how to have collaboration within the classroom at a distance. This includes rethinking what partner work looks like, carpet whole group meetings, and even desk arrangements.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Is Schooling with social distancing even possible?
Catherine Nwosu: These are unprecedented times. Again, It is my personal opinion that social distancing and in-person schooling are antonyms. I cannot see a world in which they co-exist in it's current in-person form. However, schooling at the core is growth academically, socially, and emotionally. While many challenges exist I do believe social distancing and schooling is possible with the right combination of teacher, parent, school leader, and children.
The tail end of SY19-20 taught us what is possible, what works, and what doesn't work. We have the power to ensure that every child and educator has 1:1 technology and internet. This is the foundation for social distance learning. As a 2nd grade teacher, I met via zoom daily with my students. Out of my 30 students I had about 25 attend daily. We used Google classroom and the daily instruction time to do mini-lessons, work, collaboration, and have social connections. We even had a virtual field trip to the zoo to capstone our Science habitat unit. My students enjoyed the digital connectivity but they deeply miss the classroom. I am deeply grateful to my parents who ensure students are awake and plugged in. As an educator, I am beginning to think about how to support students with limited typing in their writing as well as their reading. I think there are some creative solutions we can use such as text to speech and small group guided reading.
To contrast this, I have a 3rd-grade student in the same school district and his teachers did the polar opposite. They posted assignments in Google Classroom without any "live" lessons many of which were confusing and overwhelming. Imagine being 9 years old with 8-9 Google Classrooms in which you are responsible for looking at to see when things are due as well as if anything is posted. My normally straight-A student experienced a lot of stress.
For schooling with social distancing to work, we must meet the needs of all learners. That means teachers must do live lessons (and record them) with children to give clear instructions. There must be a variety of materials and "check for understanding". Teachers must also be given more ability to support lower learners, special education students, and English language learners in small group settings.
While challenging, I do think schooling with social distancing is possible with all stakeholders designing what is best for children. This collaboration shouldn't be done in a top-down way that isolates educators in the government buildings, or school board meetings, they should be done at all levels including schools and PTA levels. Each school is unique just like each child and we must get this right.
Dr. Mike Robinson: To what extent do you believe staggered start times; alternate weeks of attendance; and remote learning until further notice be an effective social distancing strategy?
Catherine Nwosu: To be completely honest, the options are overwhelming both as a parent and an educator. I understand the tension of opening schools and work forces at the same time. However, I have heard some parents say "My child is not a guinea pig." I believe we must protect our children at all costs. To directly answer your question, I think every option is and should be on the table because every child has the right to free and appropriate education and that might look different for each student. I think that there isn't going to be a perfect blanket solution. I do believe remote learning with teacher-led guidance works for a lot of students but it does not work for all students. The challenge we must solve is how to meet the needs of students that remote learning is not working for. Just like adults, children each learn differently and some simply need extra support.
Additionally, we must factor in community and family needs into the plan. Gone are the days of stay at home parents as a majority. The reality is many children have one parent households or two-parent dual income earners or grandparents. We must keep in mind that parents and families are juggling a lot right now and some are even in high health risk groups. I think that as our nation begins to open up parents will need consistency and options. Not every worker has the flexibility of remote work.
Dr. Mike Robinson: What are your thoughts about teachers wearing masks and other PPE in the classroom?
Catherine Nwosu: I am about the science behind the ask for teachers to wear a mask and other PPE in the classroom. As a teacher, I would 100% wear a mask and/or PPE because I know that it will protect the families and students I serve. Transparently, I am not thrilled at the thought of asking 7 and 8-year-olds to "keep your mask on" however, I will do what is required to keep everyone safe. I do believe these masks and PPE should be district/ school provided for both staff and students to remove the aspect of privilege and financial cost.
Dr. Mike Robinson: This question comes from a parent. "When schools are open, what signs would be visible that would suggest social distancing is working?
Catherine Nwosu: I think the most obvious one is the infection rates are not rising. It's terrifying to me that we are talking about opening schools while there is no vaccine or widespread treatment. It is even more terrifying this virus is killing people but also mutating in children in a deadly way. In other words, I've said it before we must protect our children above all else. Students need to have relaxed attendance policies.
When schools open, parents must have access to cleaning records of classrooms, school buildings, and buses upon request. Teachers must have adequate cleaning supplies. Schools must be able to provide masks and PPE equipment to staff and students upon request. Parents must have access (while keeping HIPPA laws in mind) to information of students that were sent home with a fever, etc. Further, we must have policies developed with input from CDC and health officials for what to do in the event a person within a school community, a child's household is exposed or tests positive. We must track to ensure those policies are followed.
Bio
Catherine Nwosu is an advocate, parent, and an educator. Catherine is a 2nd grade teacher in Prince George's County Public School System. Prior to her current teaching role, she previously served as an after-school director serving over 500 students across 3 elementary schools and 2 middle schools. Catherine believes parents are partners in education. As such, she works to ensure parents are informed, heard, and involved in decision making processes.As a parent herself to a 3 year old and rising 4th grade student in the public school system she understands just how many things are pulling at parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her role as parent and educator, Catherine is a graduate student at Bowie State University in pursuit of her Master's of Arts in Teaching.
Catherine Nwosu: Social distancing in schools will look different with every age group. Personally and professionally, I think schools have no business opening unless there is an assurance with a rock-solid plan for every school in each district that students and staff will not be infected. Without that plan, we should not be thinking about returning to school.
To directly answer your question, many things are going to be challenging at all school age levels. Classroom environments will need to look drastically different with potentially modified child per square footage recommendations. Lunch room, recess, bathrooms, and other common areas will need to have updated procedures with potentially smaller groups or additional monitors. Inside the classroom, teachers will need to think about how to have collaboration within the classroom at a distance. This includes rethinking what partner work looks like, carpet whole group meetings, and even desk arrangements.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Is Schooling with social distancing even possible?
Catherine Nwosu: These are unprecedented times. Again, It is my personal opinion that social distancing and in-person schooling are antonyms. I cannot see a world in which they co-exist in it's current in-person form. However, schooling at the core is growth academically, socially, and emotionally. While many challenges exist I do believe social distancing and schooling is possible with the right combination of teacher, parent, school leader, and children.
The tail end of SY19-20 taught us what is possible, what works, and what doesn't work. We have the power to ensure that every child and educator has 1:1 technology and internet. This is the foundation for social distance learning. As a 2nd grade teacher, I met via zoom daily with my students. Out of my 30 students I had about 25 attend daily. We used Google classroom and the daily instruction time to do mini-lessons, work, collaboration, and have social connections. We even had a virtual field trip to the zoo to capstone our Science habitat unit. My students enjoyed the digital connectivity but they deeply miss the classroom. I am deeply grateful to my parents who ensure students are awake and plugged in. As an educator, I am beginning to think about how to support students with limited typing in their writing as well as their reading. I think there are some creative solutions we can use such as text to speech and small group guided reading.
To contrast this, I have a 3rd-grade student in the same school district and his teachers did the polar opposite. They posted assignments in Google Classroom without any "live" lessons many of which were confusing and overwhelming. Imagine being 9 years old with 8-9 Google Classrooms in which you are responsible for looking at to see when things are due as well as if anything is posted. My normally straight-A student experienced a lot of stress.
For schooling with social distancing to work, we must meet the needs of all learners. That means teachers must do live lessons (and record them) with children to give clear instructions. There must be a variety of materials and "check for understanding". Teachers must also be given more ability to support lower learners, special education students, and English language learners in small group settings.
While challenging, I do think schooling with social distancing is possible with all stakeholders designing what is best for children. This collaboration shouldn't be done in a top-down way that isolates educators in the government buildings, or school board meetings, they should be done at all levels including schools and PTA levels. Each school is unique just like each child and we must get this right.
Dr. Mike Robinson: To what extent do you believe staggered start times; alternate weeks of attendance; and remote learning until further notice be an effective social distancing strategy?
Catherine Nwosu: To be completely honest, the options are overwhelming both as a parent and an educator. I understand the tension of opening schools and work forces at the same time. However, I have heard some parents say "My child is not a guinea pig." I believe we must protect our children at all costs. To directly answer your question, I think every option is and should be on the table because every child has the right to free and appropriate education and that might look different for each student. I think that there isn't going to be a perfect blanket solution. I do believe remote learning with teacher-led guidance works for a lot of students but it does not work for all students. The challenge we must solve is how to meet the needs of students that remote learning is not working for. Just like adults, children each learn differently and some simply need extra support.
Additionally, we must factor in community and family needs into the plan. Gone are the days of stay at home parents as a majority. The reality is many children have one parent households or two-parent dual income earners or grandparents. We must keep in mind that parents and families are juggling a lot right now and some are even in high health risk groups. I think that as our nation begins to open up parents will need consistency and options. Not every worker has the flexibility of remote work.
Dr. Mike Robinson: What are your thoughts about teachers wearing masks and other PPE in the classroom?
Catherine Nwosu: I am about the science behind the ask for teachers to wear a mask and other PPE in the classroom. As a teacher, I would 100% wear a mask and/or PPE because I know that it will protect the families and students I serve. Transparently, I am not thrilled at the thought of asking 7 and 8-year-olds to "keep your mask on" however, I will do what is required to keep everyone safe. I do believe these masks and PPE should be district/ school provided for both staff and students to remove the aspect of privilege and financial cost.
Dr. Mike Robinson: This question comes from a parent. "When schools are open, what signs would be visible that would suggest social distancing is working?
Catherine Nwosu: I think the most obvious one is the infection rates are not rising. It's terrifying to me that we are talking about opening schools while there is no vaccine or widespread treatment. It is even more terrifying this virus is killing people but also mutating in children in a deadly way. In other words, I've said it before we must protect our children above all else. Students need to have relaxed attendance policies.
When schools open, parents must have access to cleaning records of classrooms, school buildings, and buses upon request. Teachers must have adequate cleaning supplies. Schools must be able to provide masks and PPE equipment to staff and students upon request. Parents must have access (while keeping HIPPA laws in mind) to information of students that were sent home with a fever, etc. Further, we must have policies developed with input from CDC and health officials for what to do in the event a person within a school community, a child's household is exposed or tests positive. We must track to ensure those policies are followed.
Bio
Catherine Nwosu is an advocate, parent, and an educator. Catherine is a 2nd grade teacher in Prince George's County Public School System. Prior to her current teaching role, she previously served as an after-school director serving over 500 students across 3 elementary schools and 2 middle schools. Catherine believes parents are partners in education. As such, she works to ensure parents are informed, heard, and involved in decision making processes.As a parent herself to a 3 year old and rising 4th grade student in the public school system she understands just how many things are pulling at parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her role as parent and educator, Catherine is a graduate student at Bowie State University in pursuit of her Master's of Arts in Teaching.