Lincoln teachers, students adapt to distance learning

Lincoln School teachers adapted quickly to Governor Bullock's March 15 announcement that schools would be closing for two weeks, rallying together and compiling materials to ensure students at all grade levels would continue to receive quality instruction.

"Everyone was really great about getting their plans put in place quickly, and by Wednesday, our students had packets or online classes to work with," Laura Allen-Bullis, the business and technology teacher, said.

Annette Gardner, the school's reading coach said, "As an instructional coach, I have been so impressed. The teachers have stepped up to the plate with intelligence and determination as they navigate how to teach concepts and assign work via the internet."

Allen-Bullis, fifth grade teacher Stacey Mannix, and sixth grade teacher Katie Spencer are all using Google Classroom to create online curricula for their students.

"I have been spending four to five hours a day at school working with kids and getting things ready for the next day," Spencer said. "For a lot of educators, this is brand new, and we are having to learn the new technology and teach it at the same time."

"This has been quite a learning curve for everyone involved, but the students have been really great and the staff are working very hard," said Allen-Bullis. "I have been surprised by how much more time remote learning requires. It is all hours of the day, and all days of the week."

In addition to daily video chats with their students, Spencer and Mannix both said their students are meeting in smaller video chats as well, to work together and ask questions.

"I use Google meetings every day to video chat with my kids. We are doing math lessons online. I'm also having the kids do a daily video chat with a small group to discuss the novel we are studying," said Spencer.

Mannix said that along with regular lessons, like math, her students have done PE together over Zoom, and she's working on ways to incorporate more interactive art and social studies classes in the coming weeks.

Because high school teachers offer multiple classes, the structure of their virtual classrooms looks different than that of the elementary grade classes. "I created Messenger chats for each class with students and parents, as well as an online Google Classroom where both students and guardians may see each day's assignment," said Allen-Bullis. "On top of this, I check in weekly with my students via the Zoom App, and this has worked well."

One of the biggest challenges for teachers has been not working with students in person."I miss the kids, but I get to see them. We have a lot of good goofy laughs. One built a fort and came to us from the fort," said Mannix.

"It's more difficult because you cannot physically see if students are understanding your expectations," Allen-Bullis added. "That face-to-face presence is such an asset. Remote learning has really forced students to be accountable for communicating their needs. Students are learning new ways of communication, and this will be a life-skill that is beneficial to all of them in the future."

The teachers seem to agree that despite the difficulties, this has demonstrated the resiliency of the Lincoln School and community. "The biggest success has been the shared camaraderie between the staff, guardians, and students. We are all dedicated to continuing education for these students, and so far, my experience has been really positive in seeing our school and our community band together to help make this happen," said Allen-Bullis.

"I'd also like to give a shout out to Derek, our lone janitor who is working his way through the entire school," Gardner said. "Diane Krier and Alyssa Kirkland go to work early each morning to prepare and pack healthy meals for the kids who need them at home. Jennifer Packer and Shane Brown have been steady, solid, careful leaders who expect and receive the best from their staff."

With school closed for another two weeks, and spring break scheduled for the week after that, the soonest Lincoln students will be back in the classroom is April 20, if the closure order isn't extended.