Issue link: https://trevordayschool.uberflip.com/i/1295455
The 2019–2020 Academic Year Ends: When asked by family and friends how distance learning is going, my response is always, "It's manageable." As teachers, we had 14 days to remodel our curriculum, learn new apps, and find an appropriate place in our homes to welcome our students. (Never in my life have I been so concerned with lighting!) But the best part of our job was missing. Being able to meet readily with students—to help with homework, or just to catch up—was suddenly gone. The quick exchanges before class ("Who won the game?") were gone. Checking in with our peers over coffee or lunch—that was also gone. Our community, one of Trevor's greatest cornerstones, had been dramatically changed. Thankfully, the strength of that community has made the transition to distance learning manageable. Obviously, being back in the classroom is the ideal, but our students have found their way with distance learning. We were able to have those quick check- ins before class or during a breakout session. We could schedule Zoom meetings for homework help and have Slack streams to collaborate with our teammates. It is decidedly not the same, but it is manageable. During this time, I have been overrun by a barrage of applications, websites, and new technology. None of which are perfect, but they are manageable. Zoom has been great in terms of being able to see the students and have interactive classes. Notability and an iPad have allowed me to present notes in real time. Desmos.com will forever be one of my favorite websites and continues to be a helpful classroom tool. I also need to give a shout-out to Mr. Golanka, who has been an amazing resource for me during this time, for all things Portal and Zoom. Technology and the ability to work in real time have been the backbone of Trevor's success with distance learning. In the end, I have probably learned more than my students through this process: I learned more about my own teaching style; learned more about new technology that I want to incorporate even when we are back in the classroom; learned more about what is essential when teaching. What has made this whole process as successful as it has been? The Trevor administration and our parents have been amazing and supportive. But, ultimately, it has come down to our students. They showed up every day (admiedly, sometimes begrudgingly and still in their PJs) and have continued to make their education a priority. We may have physically le Trevor for the spring, but the community found its way into all our homes. n "It's Manageable" by Kelly Tice Kelly Tice is a Grades 9–12 Mathematics Teacher. She joined Trevor in September 2017. 4 2 T R E V O R D AY S C H O O L n S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 – 2 0 2 0