Concord teachers keep doing what they do best

The implementation of effective distance learning was destined to be a work in progress. Now, the process has taken on greater urgency due to the closure of local schools because of the coronavirus.

The task remains daunting, especially as the time at home turns into months.

The fallout of not having that personal daily contact with her students – including missing assignments – is becoming real for many teachers.  Ann Borba teaches sixth-grade language arts and social studies at Oak Grove Middle School in Concord.

Borba, whose students include English as second language learners, plans to reach out to parents of those children who are not participating or when a child is missing a few assignments.

During the initial few days of the transition to online learning, she spent a lot of time setting up Zoom and Google Meet so students could contact her to ask questions or just talk.

Variety of online resources

Borba emphasized that nobody sent home packets with the students. “We have been using technology.”

The school did have a checkout for Chromebooks, with many students and their parents picking them up. In addition, the vice principal told parents about a wireless provider that was giving two months’ service free.

The learning resources Borba set up for her students include EDpuzzle, Quizizz, YouTube, Newsela, Scholastic and Ducksters. The school’s principal created a HyperDoc for the school’s remote learning plan, which also has tips for health, welfare, counseling, mindfulness and links to supportive websites.

“We try to make the learning pertinent and accessible,” Borba said.

She has continued the learning routine she had in place in the classroom, including having students send their responses to literature paragraphs to her via Google Classroom.

“I will continue to create lessons that are dynamic, entertaining at times and follow the curriculum that we were on track to do,” Borba said.

Taking the work seriously

John McDonough, a teacher at St. Francis of Assisi School in Concord, has taken an old school and new school approach with his lesson planning. “Sustained learning” has replaced the initial catch phrase “distance learning.”

He recalled a healthy exuberance in his students in the final two days at school before the closure. So, he issued them a stark warning.

“This is not a vacation – this is going to be very hard and very difficult,” McDonough said of the time apart. Many initially thought would only be two weeks.

“You are going to have buckle down; this is on you – you will have to work hard,” he added.

McDonough is the eighth-grade homeroom and religion teacher and also teaches English, literature and social studies for grades 6-8. He has always taken a self-directed approach with his student as opposed to being “warm and fuzzy” and “spoon-feeding them” because, he says, that won’t help them succeed in high school. And, that hasn’t changed.

Parents drop off envelopes containing assignments each Sunday. They pick up new work at the same time. McDonough uses Zoom a few times a week to go over material with his classes. Students also have asked questions and sought clarification for one thing or another through email exchanges with McDonough.

Some kids overwhelmed

“I think it has overwhelmed some of the kids,” he said. He knows his students run the gamut from those who are very organized to others who struggle without the structure of his classroom.

These days, McDonough can commiserate with his charges.

“It doesn’t seem like I am really teaching,” he said, citing the assistance his gives his students through the personal contact.

He continues to draw on his corporate world experience to focus on what’s applicable now – ensuring he is being consistent and continuing to give his students the best Mr. McDonough experience possible.

“I am going to do those things that I do well and go on.”