Dr. David J. Childs, D.D., Ph.D.
Northern Kentucky University
The world has been forever shaped by the global pandemic. As a result, we have had to make major adjustments in how we do things. The pandemic has impacted businesses and organizations and the way they operate, including restaurants, grocery stores, trucking companies, the meat packing industry and even education.
Educators in general (K-12 and at the university level) have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. Teachers now more than ever need resources that will help them navigate the challenges that present themselves as a result of the pandemic. One major challenge has been that teachers have had to shift their curriculum to an online environment, or in many cases they have to teach both online and in person. 
Woman Teaching Online
From: https://apuedge.com/5-tips-to-landing-your-first-online-teaching-job/
“As teachers, students, and families enter an uncertain school year with new routines, both in-person and virtual, PBS LearningMedia offers this special collection of flexible resources to support learning from anywhere. Find videos, self-paced Interactive lessons, printable activities, and more.” Teachers can browse the PBS “distance learning broadcast schedules aligned with PBS LearningMedia resources.” These resources can be found on the page entitled PreK-12 Resources for New School Routines, it offers a number of resources that can help teachers successfully teach online.
One great idea from the PBS Learning Media site is entitled Learn Along Bingo Packets. “These bilingual, weekly Learn Along Bingo packets for elementary teachers…include a range of thematic learning opportunities for children to choose their own learning adventures. Check out these other resources for teaching online from Democracy and Me. One is an article entitled Suddenly Home-Schooling? Here’s Help and another is entitled Incredible Online Museum Resources for Teachers. Both sites contain a numbers of resources and teaching activities for educators who find themselves teaching online.
The pandemic really did hit the teaching profession hard. My parents are both teachers so I got to watch how they dealt with it. Attendance was worse than ever and no one ever turned their cameras on. With that in mind, it was very hard for them to connect with their students. I think it is good that you gave ideas that may help prevent these situations.
I live in an area where internet access is prevalent, however, I was raised in an area that as of today, access to the internet may not even be a possibility in the home. In some homes, though it may be available, it may not be financially viable. Teachers are having difficulty even connecting with their students, much less educating them. I hope the money given to states, particularly Kentucky, for covid relief, does actually reach these communities and help them gain access.
During this time many teachers had to quickly learn how to teach and engage students virtually. I think this is an important topic to look into for all present and future teachers alike. As due to the unpredictability of the pandemic it is unsure when these resources will need to once again be utilized. This article provides links to school routine ideas, and other virtual resources.
As a mother to a child in the education system as well as a future educator I couldn’t agree more with this statement, “Teachers now more than ever need resources that will help them navigate the challenges that present themselves as a result of the pandemic.” As the pandemic forced many teachers to teacher virtually it has definitely made it challenging to do so effectively and therefor students learning is suffered. Over the last few months, I spent time in aiding in a first-grade classroom at a school that had been primarily online for the last year and a half. With that said, there was a huge gap in where students were at academically and where we as teachers expect for them to be according to age and state standards. One thing that I think is a positive that has come out of this pandemic is that we as teacher have had to be flexible with our teaching and have had to be resourceful in finding new ways and technology tools to use with our students. I chose this article because I was hoping it would provide me with some tools that I could use in my future teachings. The pbs weblink that was references in this article was great and was made easy to use for both teachers and parents. I liked that it provided a variety of learning experiences including printables, shows, and apps/games to play as well as listing the learning goal and age range. I could definitely see implement this as a teacher and at home as a mother.
I can’t fathom how difficult it must be to be an instructor during these times, given the frequent modifications that must be made dependent on the pandemic’s outcome. I work a customer service job, and I’ve seen how COVID has impacted us, and how we’ve had to get accustomed to being understaffed and somewhat over worked.
I can only imagine the difficulties teachers must have when transitioning to a fully online class system. Their whole world of teaching is thrown out the window leaving them with the uncertainty of how to cover everything that is required in the time frame they are allotted. Luckily, PBS has resources for teachers which I believe is very beneficial to those who are left confused on where to go with their curriculum and how they can provide it in a knowledgeable way to their students.
I cannot imagine how hard it is to be an educator during these times because of the constant changes they are having to make based on the outcome of the pandemic. I work in supply chain, and I see how much we have been affected by COVID and we have had to conform to social “norms” of working from home, being in the office, working from home, being in the office. As a child, it has to be extremely confusing and hard to get into a schedule/routine with the constant changes occurring. It is truly amazing to see how the school districts have come together to adjust to the new norms that children, parents and workers are faced with.
I think that everyone can agree that it has been tough being a teacher and a student during this pandemic. Not enough light has been shed on what stress it has put on the school system. Teachers need all the help and advice that they can get in my opinion. I think that my teachers have done a great job, but I can tell that they’re struggling.
I think that everyone can agree that it has been tough being a teacher and a student during this pandemic. Not enough light has been shed on what stress it has put on the school system. Teachers need all the help and advice that they can get in my opinion. I think that my teachers have done a great job but I can tell that they’re struggling.
I have never liked taking online classes, but since there have been more and more outbreaks of the COVID I have been forced to do mostly online classes. I have adjusted to taking my online classes, and setting certain days and times I really sit down to do my school work online. Since I have figured out how to manage my time with taking online classes I prefer online classes over face to face courses. The article states how many more resources teachers are provided with to navigate through different challenges due to the pandemic. The world has learned how much they can do/work from home. Thank you for sharing this great read.