August 25, 2020
By KEITH RYAN CARTWRIGHT
Rutherford County Schools
Yes, there have been some bumps in lesson plans and a few technology glitches the past couple weeks.
Like the time Grace Day, a third-grade teacher at Rock Springs Elementary School, saw her laptop go dark right in the middle of a lesson that combined both in-person and virtual students, but no one panicked. She powered down her computer, restarted it and then logged back in and then — “my class was great.”
It only took a minute and, like Day told her class, 11 in-person and another seven who join online, “Every day is an adventure.”
But for Day, who is beginning her 14th year in an elementary classroom, computer problems of today are not all that different from having issues with an overhead projector in years past.
“It’s OK for things to go wrong,” she said. “We adapt, we adjust and we grow.”
It’s been an important lesson for educators, parents and students alike, not only here in Rutherford County but nationwide and other parts of the world.
“The teachers have met this challenge with their heads held high,” said Shannon Holland, an assistant principal at both Rock Springs and Stewarts Creek elementary schools. “We’re going to find a way. We’re going to be solution-oriented and we’re extremely proud of what they’ve done.
Holland added, “My motto is one moment at a time, one day at time and together we’re going to solve it.”
Rock Springs administrators have given their teachers autonomy in their classrooms to determine how best to reach their respective students but need to meet with distance learners every day. Ashley Hairston and Kara Reed are first-grade teachers and — at least for the first few weeks — are meeting with traditional and virtual students separately; while Day is conducting lessons simultaneously.
“First-graders need more of a step by step (instruction) and an introduction to the procedures and routines,” said Reed, “whereas third-graders are a little bit more ready to move on. They have more of a foundation, so I think this new learning style is the same way. We’re taking small steps to get these first-graders where they need to be with the live lessons.”
However, in another couple weeks, Hairston said they would like to eventually Zoom with virtual first grade students during in-class lessons for English and math.
But, for now, she and Reed are recording lessons and posting them online.
Conversely, Day wants to foster a feeling of one united class among tradition and virtual students. The students in both settings greet one another at the beginning of class, and when she’s through with the lesson, her traditional class always says, “Goodbye,” to the virtual students.
“I can see my in-person people and interact with them and then I look at my screen and I’ve got all my other kiddos,” Day said. “Their faces are on the screen and they’re giving me a thumbs up or a thumbs down or they’re showing me their work. Being able to interact in real time has been very helpful.”
In the meantime, as teachers gain confidence in what the platform is capable of doing — Hairston said she “can do more virtually than I thought” — and students develop their own comfort level, success depends on communicating with parents.
It’s important everyone understands what is taking place.
“Even in the traditional setting,” Reed said, “the more open the communication is between parents and teacher, the more successful the learner can be.”
Day agreed.
“My parents have been so gracious,” said Day, while Holland added, “Even if a parent is giving us constructive criticism, you’re partnering with us. It’s a learning curve … and their feedback is just as important to us as what the teachers are saying.”
The administrators at Rock Springs are proud of their staff and remain supportive, Holland said, who encourages everyone to be flexible.
“We have to be student-solution driven,” Holland said. “We are always trying to make the decision on what’s best for the students.”
She concluded, “It’s going to be OK. Just take a minute and take a deep breath. There is an answer and we’re going to find it.”
PHOTO PROVIDED