Effects of Distance Learning

By Kathy Gilliam

As a result of the Covid-19 schools have had to transition into a distance learning program for the students. This happened very quickly and has affected many people: the parents, teachers, and most of all the students. The learning from home process is either done with packets made up by the teachers or online. I can only write about what we have done at our school; different schools may have different procedures

From the teacher’s point of view my first thoughts were the well-being of my “babies.” I would miss them greatly and, like many other teachers, worry about them every day like they were my own. I am a pullout teacher and help students who are struggling and need extra help. Therefore, I know it will not be easy for some of them to do the work unless they have someone to sit with them and help them read and understand it. I have seen the concern and the tears and the worry of the other teachers as they try so hard to make sure every student has what they need to do the work and understand it. They have tried to answer questions and be available to help when it was needed. They truly miss their students and will never forget the 2019/2020 school year.

As a parent I have also experienced it from the other side. I have a nine-year-old boy who is in third grade. He is very active and likes to be outside playing or working. So, it is frustrating to try to make him sit down and do work. I have other jobs I do, other than working at the school, so I know how parents feel trying to get their work done and teach the children. Like many parents I am old school and things were done very differently back then. Sometimes the new methods of teaching are difficult for us old-school parents to understand. It is very hard for parents to help our children with something we don’t understand. The process of working and teaching children from home is not an easy one, but I will say I am very impressed by the support and the dedication that I have seen from the parents.

The children! Oh, I can’t even begin to imagine what many of them are feeling: the fear, the frustration, the confusion. Their lives turned upside down in the blink of an eye: no school, no friends, and for many the need for food. So many students are missing a once in a lifetime event they worked so hard to achieve. They are missing out on the special events, like prom, grad night, walking the halls for the last time, and graduations, from the little ones to the seniors. Learning from home is not easy for some, they need the routine and the support. Many children will struggle next year as a result of having to do the distance learning. Some of the children will make it through this with just a memory to talk about later in life, but others will be affected for a very long time or even the rest of their lives from this experience.

The Journey from Struggle to Appreciation

by Landon Abshier 

Growing up I was never good at reading or writing. Taking the reading/writing portion of standardized tests when I was younger was always a nightmare. Because of these required examinations that I had to take when I was younger, I never grew to enjoy reading or writing due to my past struggles and lack of skill. However, as time went by, my taste for literacy began to change.

It all started in elementary school with my very first standardized test. I was so excited and prepared for it all at the time. I finished the test and felt pretty good about everything.  When the results came in, I passed in every category except for the reading/writing part of the test. I was devastated! Ever since that experience I have never had any desire to improve my writing skills because I thought that I would always be a terrible writer. And, to this day I am a very troubled reader. These experiences lowered my confidence when it came to anything related to school work.

On a positive note, today my relationship with reading and writing has improved. Nowadays, I enjoy spending a lot of time writing poetry. As far as reading goes, I do enjoy a good book every now and then. Struggling with reading and writing has definitely caused a lot of pain and discomfort, but as I continue to improve those skills I am learning to enjoy reading and writing.After one semester in an intensive reading class in high school, I improved my FSA score to a solid level 4 and my teacher, Ms. Garcia helped me to believe in myself. If it were not for my parents forcing me to pursue a college degree, I would not be enrolled today. Thankfully, they believe in me and push me; otherwise, I would not have attempted college at all. I am appreciative of my struggle because it taught me to be thankful for how much progress I have made when it comes to literacy.

The journey has so far has been bumpy, but if it weren’t because of my memories of failing over and over, I would have never had the drive or motivation to want to be better than what I used to be. I still have a lot of overcoming to do with my reading skills, but as for writing, I have completely fallen in love with it and I especially love writing poetry. Today my love for writing and creating works of art stretches beyond imagination and writing will forever be one of my favorite hobbies.