Lessons from the past school year. Plans for the year ahead.
What went well this year?
The use of technology: Educators said one silver lining of the pandemic was the fact that it forced schools and districts to upgrade technology, and it forced teachers to learn how to use it.
Some students thrived and gained valuable skills during the pandemic: Consistently, we heard from educators and parents this year that some students were doing really well with online learning. In the K-12 setting, teachers shared that highly motivated students who had support at home had more time to devote to projects and learning new skills. Teachers also shared that virtual learning helped students with behavior issues as well as students who struggled with self confidence. As a result of the positive experiences for some students, many districts and community colleges are planning to have a fully virtual option next year and in future years.
Better collaboration between educators; better communication with parents: As many educators have said, this year made all teachers feel like a first-year teacher again. One benefit of that was increased collaboration between teachers and faculty as everyone learned new techniques and strategies. Educators and parents also shared that communication between parents and educators improved during the pandemic. While internet access was a challenge for some families, educators said their communication with families increased and some pointed out that parents gained a better understanding of teachers’ roles.
Educators grew, reflected on their practice: Finally, many teachers and faculty members said they have grown as educators during the pandemic. Educators at all levels were proud of the way they adapted and responded to the challenge the pandemic presented.
Congratulations Patty, you're the KUIC Teacher of the Month for May 2021! Congratulations again and thank you for your hard work!
Parent letter:
