Something nagging at me for quite some time has been this sensation around the school experience not feeling and looking much different now than it did during February of 2020. While I know that there are differences - such as increased technology use & options and the proliferation of online/virtual academy offerings - most of it still feels like it always has...and I'm not necessarily sure that's a good thing.
Looking back, it makes perfect sense that much of the last couple of years has been about surviving and keeping things afloat. At this point 24 months ago I'd had training with and some time to develop virtual "snow day" plans and lessons. Conversations with colleagues at the time around what appeared to be the slow elimination of snow/cold days, and lamenting the loss of that youthful 'right of passage' in MN, all seem antiquated and innocent now. Within weeks everything was paused and emergency training was happening to help 'blow out' our single-day plans into weekly, monthly, and beyond(?) planning. Everything went quiet for a few weeks, we immediately lost daily contact and interaction with our students, and then basically scrambled to finish out the rest of that school year.
Last year was quite exhausting at times, teaching in-person and virtually at the same time, and for some of the year only seeing half of my kids in person at a time. For many students who experienced being suddenly cut off in the spring of 2020, their detachment grew into a second, entire school year. Establishing and maintaining relationships with kids felt just as important as covering content, and mental health surged to the forefront of almost everyone's high priority list.
While this year has felt thankfully much more 'normal,' there are a couple of thoughts that have kept coming back to me: 1. so much was lost that is still being made up for...MOST of which is social, emotional, and mental. 2. things certainly weren't perfect in school pre-pandemic, so why don't we do more in terms of using this as an opportunity to make things how we want them to be - to try and make some reasonable lemonade from perhaps the largest, sourest lemon ever given?
I don't have all (or any?) of the answers, and this certainly isn't a space for a full dissertation on the topic, but here are some things I'd love to have present in an 'ideal' school going forward. Keep in mind this comes from a middle school lens, so some of these things may look different at the elementary or high school level...
*Starting each day with a quick homeroom/advisory/home base check-in. 10 minutes max. Social connection, topical mini-lessons, sign up for activities, advice/support/communication, etc.
*Dedicated time every day for kids to go to an activity of their choice...non-academic and hopefully incorporating some body movement! Fitness center, rock climbing, yoga, dance, walk & talk, intramural sports. Have staff lead things they're passionate about or simply lend a helping hand...get the blood pumping and minds clear before learning!!
*Grading or reporting that is directly tied to standards, and students' mastery and proficiency of those standards.
*On that note, students create and build on portfolios showcasing their learning, projects, work samples, reflections, goals, etc. Instead of conferences...or perhaps as a part of them - students using those times during the year to share their portfolios and lead discussions around all of the facets.
*Interdisciplinary opportunities where students have flexibility in how to use larger chunks of time, instead of being locked into periods or blocks in specific classes.
*Access to content being based on proficiency rather than what grade a student is in.
*Partnerships with community members and businesses to provide students the chance to make school-real world connections, intern, learn about possible careers, use their voice in the greater community, and learn about different viewpoints and issues just beyond the school walls and their social spheres.
*Recess. Don't laugh, I'm serious. Kids need it.
*On that note, a mid-day block of lunch-recess-office hours-flex time. Every kid would either be eating, enjoying some much-needed recess time, or meeting with teachers in a one-on-one or small group flex setting to focus on specific needs, get help, work on enrichment, etc.
*A focus on volunteerism throughout the year...this could connect with the community partnership if wanted, but either way have that as a component all students understand is a part of their time during the school year.
*Built-in ways for online/virtual academy students and in-person students to connect within classes and curriculum, but also for larger events and purposes and different points throughout the year. No need for these to exist in silos!!
This is all quite a bit, but now seems like as good a time as any to really stretch our thinking about what might be possible for schools, and more importantly what could be possible for our students!
