Teaching during Covid
Frontline workers during Covid and how they coped with teaching children during the peak of a pandemic
WITH Covid infections shooting up schools across the country they were forced to close for a third time just after Christmas. Now as the schools reopen leading path out of the national lockdown AMY JONES spoke to teachers to find out how they coped with many hurdles the pandemic brought. The teachers wished to remain anonymous so they could speak truthfully of their experiences.
Teachers were forced to adapt quickly when the first lockdown hit. Faced with new regulations, new ways of teaching, including in-class and remote learning. New resources were needed, online platforms for uploading work, at home packs for children and PPE to keep everyone as safe as possible.
The lockdown brought hard work, stress, new challenges and major adaptations for teachers to face and overcome.
One teacher said “At the beginning it was really stressful, there was no notice and we were just expected to teach online and in school.
In the first lockdown, we didn’t have a clue. We didn’t expect much from the families at home to do work, they had to do stuff but it was a case of ‘just do what you can’. We were still sorting ourselves out.”
Adjusting quickly, along with something so “new and scary”, both teachers and parents were unsure of what to expect.
Remote learning was taught through Zoom calls and homework was given out to be submitted online for teachers to view and mark.
Many families said they struggled not having a computer available for their children to use, along with still having to work from home themselves. The teacher added: “Everyone was having to use computers, parents, kids and staff. Everything was online”.
Schools supported parents and children as best they could, offering at home packs with printed-off work, some teachers hand delivered these to the children’s homes.
“Dividing time between online and in-class teaching wasn’t an easy task”, with teachers needing to do both each day to provide as much support and learning to all children.
One said: “The workload was absolutely massive. I was working until around midnight each night as you have to plan so much more thoroughly.
“It was really hard because all the children need the attention and input but those within school are more demanding because they are physically with you.
“When we worked remotely it was hard and you start to wonder whether you are giving them all that they deserve”.
Technology played a huge part in teaching children, but when that technology proves unreliable, it can make remote learning difficult. Teachers suddenly expected to become IT experts, “Some of the children would say, ‘Miss I’ve deleted all my work how do I get it back?’, I didn’t know how to do this, I’m not an IT specialist”.
Credit: Pixabay
Children’s attention span via Zoom was also limited with a different environment at home. Some children appeared in their pyjamas or still eating their breakfast. Teachers having to remind them that “this isn’t what they would do at school”.
Children’s attention span via Zoom was also limited with a different environment at home. Some children appeared in their pyjamas or still eating their breakfast. Teachers having to remind them that “this isn’t what they would do at school”.
But what came with teaching online also showed some positive outcomes, “It was so nice to see them chatting with each other when online. I think it’s really grown their bond as a class as they were interacting with the whole class rather than mainly chatting to their friends.”
Some teachers felt unsafe during the pandemic when teaching in school. People being told to stay at home, teachers along with many other key workers kept working through lockdowns putting themselves at risk on a daily basis.
One teacher said: “It was scary when someone in your bubble got Covid.
“It’s been difficult to socially distance whilst at school when around the children.
But ultimately saying, “It’s our duty (and our passion) and it’s unavoidable”.
Teachers claim there’s been “a lack of support” from the government and more funding for resources were needed as well as more time needed before they were told schools would be reopening or were to be closed.
“Everything has been so last minute” said a frustrated teacher.
Teachers felt this put an unnecessary strain on them, “the government isn't fully clued up on how the running of schools goes”.
With schools now reopened it appears to be a mixture of emotions for teachers.
“I am wary that all schools have gone back at the same time and it may show a rise in Covid cases again, especially as no one in a school has been given a vaccine.
“I think it is important to highlight the children's social, emotional and mental wellbeing needs to be addressed and met before anyone goes ‘gung-ho’ on eduction. We have an opportunity for children to reflect and learn from this experience, which no other children have gone through.”
“The children needed to be back in school. They need their peers and to be able to play and talk with one another. Children’s stamina had reduced, they need the classroom to spark ideas off each other.”
There was a lot to get ready before the rush of children came running through their doors again but with this also came great happiness.
“The children needed it. I needed it. I’m really excited to have them all back”.
"Having the children back in front of you is amazing. Seeing their faces beam when they learn new things, being able to have those moments again is the best feeling”.
With almost a year of schools opening and closing it has certainly brought its challenges to teachers across the UK. Whether that is in a primary or secondary school, it’s been hard work and determination to provide the best they can for the children’s education.
And with schools now officially reopened, vaccines being rolled out and things looking brighter for the future, hopefully this will be the last time we have to face schools closing again, saying goodbye to Zoom teaching once and for all.