Online learning is stressful for teachers, too

I was definitely not prepared for online teaching the first time around. And even though I was a little more prepared this time, I was certainly not prepared to have to revert to it this term. As a teacher (and a parent), it is hard.

My method of teaching is usually very hands-on. I teach four to five-year-olds and I see this age as one of transition. These children are in their second year of school if you count nursery. They are now learning the basic concepts which would take them through their entire school journey- letter formation, addition and subtraction, and so on. They are also now learning to head up their books, and on a personal development level, they are now learning to be truly independent. They need this one-on-one time with their teacher before they head off to the next level and they need to interact with their peers. My heart hurts for my little ones. 

Being on an online platform takes strategic planning and vision. It is unrealistic to expect that it would work the same way as a traditional classroom setting. Because of the age range of my students, I have to make sure to keep my sessions short and engaging, with lots of shared screen time. This includes PowerPoint, eye-catching documents, and YouTube videos. By the end of the 30-minute mark, the little ones are usually extremely restless. Then you have the isolated issues of students not having any devices, some not having adult supervision, and some not attending classes at all. Some parents are understandably having a really difficult time. I have a 12-year-old, and even though she is old enough to sit and pay attention to her own classes, I still have to juggle helping her keep on top of her offline assignments and find time to do everyday household chores and run errands. 

Another element I should highlight is that as a private school teacher, the school is not subsidised by the Ministry of Education. During the last lockdown, the administrators, given the newness and uncertainty of the pandemic, offered discounts to parents and teachers took pay cuts. We cannot afford to do that this year even though we understand that the situation for many parents may be dire. 

I can confidently speak for my colleagues as well when I say that I am in full support (if that is the decision of the Ministry) of schools reopening in Term 3. In my view, an extended online learning situation is not tenable. Not for students, teachers, or parents. 

This article appears in the March 15 edition of COVID Weekly. Read the full publication here.