Hybrid learning

The kids FINALLY got to go back to school.  Granted it was in a "hybrid" environment and required masks, but at least they got to go.  

I went back into the building at the beginning of February. That was a challenge because my kids had to get themselves into their meets and get all their work done without me supervising.  Carson was the one that struggled the most with that.  There was only so much Kayda and Dillon could do since the meet times often overlapped (in the middle of each other at middle school vs elementary).

Carson went back March 8th.  He goes Monday-Thursday mornings. He really enjoys half days with the smaller class size.

I was able to split Kayda and Dillon so someone would always be home. Kayda went in Monday/Wednesday full day, Dillon was Tuesday/Thursday.  They both had meets online on Fridays.  It was a pretty extreme transition from the online only format but they adapted well.  They were all excited to be back!

On the teacher side, online and hybrid learning are insane and inadequate.  The students didn't learn what they needed to online and then we had them 40% of what they usually have.  The time for helping them disappeared and you HAD to move more quickly than you'd like.  The performance and attitudes of the kids went WAY up once they were back at school though.  The number of students that had new accommodations for debilitating anxiety and depression was staggering.  Watching the students struggle to engage with me and even with their peers was heartbreaking.  The parents were frustrated and I felt completely helpless to do what needed to be done to help.  Any intervention time disappeared with hybrid classes.  Considering I never agreed with masks or shutting down schools it was especially difficult to talk with the parents of struggling students.  Quarantine broke the kids and placed a LOT of strain on families causing issues that hadn't existed before.  I actually spent quite a bit of time almost counseling parents.  As a teacher, we're actually left in the dark with students' situations.  We aren't told which kids are dealing with abusive households, which kids are struggling emotionally and mentally at a scale that doesn't have formal intervention, or have extenuating circumstances that impact their learning.  I am so grateful that we'll be going back full time next year.