Reopening Schools: 12 Things to Keep in Mind
Governor Inslee's press conference and updated WA State Department of Health guidance for K-12 schools provide additional research and guidance that will encourage more schools to reopen for in-person learning, while continuing to mitigate risk and respond to the unique needs of their families and communities. There are challenges ahead, as well as a sense of renewed hope.
As Head of an independent school, I recognize that our challenges in a Preschool – 8 school with 370 students might seem quite different compared to large public schools. After all, we have the autonomy to determine, following health and government guidelines, how and when to open our campus to in-person learning. Trust me when I say that is both a benefit and a challenge.
Yet, all private and public schools, regardless of size, have many similarities. My school has been open in some form for in-person learning since September. We've learned a lot, and as schools across the U.S. plan for students and teachers to return to campus, here is my advice:
Don’t underestimate the psychological impact for teachers (and students and parents) as they return to schools and classrooms, especially if they have not been physically on campus for several months. Acknowledge (and build in time) for folks to have a moment (or two). Depending on how the campus has been used, it can be a shock to walk into a space that has been unoccupied for so long. That coffee cup, the student paper, or the post it that was left behind can create strong emotions.
Give teachers time to be on site without students. They need to get comfortable with their classrooms, play around with furniture arrangement, and think through new routines. They need to walk through the protocols and policies they will be asking students to follow. Treat it like the first day of school. In many ways, it is.
Start slowly. Better to have a few successful hours or days, then reflect and adjust. Gradually add more students, days, or time. Everyone needs time to reflect and adapt. There is no way you will have it all figured out before students arrive. This is a classic “experiential learning” moment.
Name your fears. Coming back into the building, and being surrounded by more people than you may have seen in months, is scary. Fear – name it, understand it, and talk about how to mitigate it.
Everything takes longer! The smallest procedures suddenly have all these layers of complexity - physical distancing, cleaning, and mask-wearing. Assume it will all take longer – and be okay with that.
Think through daily school life. And I mean the smallest details around routines we used to take for granted. Consider protocols regarding school-wide routines such as arrival, dismissal, snack and lunch, of course. But don’t neglect the smaller details such as bathroom breaks. What about water – will students bring their own water bottles? What about recess? Passing in the hallways?
Be ready for meltdowns. And I am talking about students as well as adults. Crying. Feelings of being overwhelmed. Scraped knees. Who need some extra TLC? Are there systems and people in place to check on everyone’s social and emotional well-being? Remember, some students thrived in a remote model. And regardless of preferred learning modes, change is hard.
Be exceedingly clear on protocols and procedures. This is all overwhelming enough. We all need to know the “rules of the road” and the non-negotiables. This is a time when everyone really must be on the same page.
Okay, here is a big one. You thought remote teaching was hard? That is nothing compared to hybrid. It is freaking exhausting. Here’s the deal: When you teach fully remote from home, you don’t wear a mask. If you are teaching in a classroom, you will be wearing a mask all day. That’s hard. But what if you also have students at home? Now you are teaching virtually with a mask on as well. And, not all students will come back to campus. Some may be thriving in an on-line environment or there may be a cohort system in which half the students are home at a time. How do you build community? How do you ensure that all students are engaged? How do you plan for both in-class and at-home assignments and lessons?
Parents will (again!) need support. When the school was fully remote parents were under tremendous pressure to support their child’s virtual learning. Now, they will need to adapt to their child being at school part of the time. How will they manage half days? Every other day? Transportation to and from school? What if their new school cohort doesn’t match their current friend group?
Create a culture around mitigating risk vs eliminating risk. Of course, in schools we have a zero tolerance around serious illness. We don’t want anyone to get sick. But we know that there will be suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. By implementing a variety of strategies, those cases can remain isolated. Remember, closing a cohort is a strategy, just like mask wearing and physical distancing.
Have redundancies, alternative plans, and a flexible mindset. What happens when a teacher needs to quarantine? Who steps in? How do you manage a cohort having to shift back to remote? What if the entire school needs to return to remote learning for a time? How are assignments, tests, and grades managed for students who are in the hybrid learning program, remain remote, or perhaps have to shift between these programs? Are attendance and grading policies clear, yet flexible?
I am going to repeat this one: You thought remote teaching was hard? That is nothing compared to hybrid. And remember that many teachers have their own children in school who will also be navigating a new hybrid model.