By Elizabeth Richards
 |
Third-grader Kai Welch of Windham, left, is joined by his
brother Harbor Welch, as they participate in remote learning
lessons at home offered by RSU 14 teachers. Kai's third-grade
classroom is taught by Jessica Melcher and has 27 students
from both Windham and Raymond.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SKYLAR WELCH |
Remote
learning in RSU 14 is set up so that students have a teacher and a classroom
community that they engage with daily. As the halfway mark approaches for the 2020-21
school year for the district, families from Jessica Melcher’s classroom shared
their perspective on the experiences their children have had in the remote
learning format.
Melcher
teaches remote students in third grade with academic support from Wendy
Bland. The classroom has 27 students
from both Windham and Raymond.
There
were many factors that went into the decision to have their children learn
remotely, families said.
Amber Carey, who has three school-aged children, said that they opted to go remote out of an abundance of caution and consideration for people in their lives in high-risk categories with whom they wanted to maintain contact.
Skylar
Welch said her mother, who is a retired teacher, was providing after school
care.
She’s
high risk, so wouldn’t have been able to continue if the children were in
school, Welch said.
Now,
her mother is helping Welch’s two children, who are in kindergarten and third
grade, with their remote learning.
Consistency
was another factor for families. Ashley Dorney said she remembered how hard it
was to adjust last spring and felt like if her son got used to being at school
again and they had to close, it would be harder than being home from the
beginning.
“Especially
now that there have been more and more cases at the schools, I’m no longer
questioning if I made the right choice,” she said.
Jessica
Dyer’s family had health considerations, and she also said they knew that there
were many students with IEPs and learning differences who truly needed to be in
person.
“We
wanted to make sure that we left space for those children who did need the one
on one,” she said. “If I kept him home,
that allowed one more space for another child to be there.”
Families
and students from Melcher’s remote classroom say that the year has gone much
better than many of them had anticipated.
Nicole
Warner said she was worried after last spring, when her son didn’t do any
schoolwork at all after March. This year
has been a much different experience, she said.
“It
has been phenomenal,” she said. “We have
had nothing but a great experience thus far.”
Other
parents of students who are remote learning agree.
“I
have been surprised at how great it’s been going,” Welch said. “While of course
I wish my kids were in school, I know that they’re home and they’re safe,
they’re healthy. Having that peace of mind has been really important for me as
a parent.”
Dyer
also went into the year concerned after having issues last spring, including
not having access to a computer. This
year, however, everyone was better prepared, and computers and supplies were
distributed so they had everything they needed ahead of time, she said.
“It’s
been much more organized and more of a steady flow,” she said.
Carey
said that Windham Primary School, in particular, has provided a very
effective model for remote learners.
“There is structure
and consistency, online and offline assignments, comfort and competency with
technology, support in every area, both engaging and activity-based options and
enrichment opportunities across the board,” she said.
Students in Mrs.
Melcher’s class agree.
Moira Elder
emphasized every syllable as she said, “It is a -ma
– zing!” Some of the things she enjoys
about remote learning are the consistent schedule, being able to stay home,
getting outside more, and being able to play with her cat whenever she wants.
Samantha
Carey said remote learning works for her because she has everything she needs,
can interact with others, knows what her assignments are, and “it’s really
fun.”
Remote
learning won’t work for every child and the experience will be different for
each child. And certainly, families
said, the teacher can make all the difference.
Families
agreed that Mrs. Melcher is an excellent educator who gives each child the
individual attention they need even with the large group.
“This
teacher is amazing,” Warner said. “She
knows every single kiddo. You can just
tell she just knows so much about them.”
Dyer
concurs. Her son has faced some big
struggles in previous years, she said, and distance learning has separated him
from the negativity and allowed him to find his love for school again. Melcher,
she said, took the time to get to know him, understand him, how he operates,
and his learning style.
Families
said Melcher and other staff use breakout rooms efficiently to allow students
to learn at an appropriate level.
Moira’s
mother, Jodi Elder, said that when things aren’t working, staff changes it. For
instance, Moira was struggling in math a little, because she simply wasn’t
enjoying it. Now, Moira said, she works
with another teacher one day each week, who “has these great, fun ways to do
it. My favorite was when we were doing multiplication
in arrays and groups, she did it with angry cats.”
While
families said children miss interacting with friends and peers, the remote team
works hard to create experiences to allow for socializing. For Mrs. Melcher’s
class, there is a Friday “Social Hour” with activities that change each week.
Remote
learning, like all of the options this year, has challenges, but for some
families, it’s truly the best option.
“These
teachers have had to completely overhaul, practically reinvent, their core
practices,” Carey said. “When we look at
what they’ve done, it’s unbelievable to see the efforts that have been made.
The kids are engaged, they’re enthusiastic, they’re happy and they’re doing
good,” she said.
“Be it in-school or remote, there are educational
challenges throughout,” Carey said. “My kiddos need support, and we aren’t
acing it all, but we are doing our best. They won’t come away from this
experience having not learned anything; they’ll come away having been enriched
with new experiences we hope will foster more flexibility, patience,
experience, and appreciation for what they have as it carries into the future
of their personal educational journeys.”
Welch
said, “It’s a great option for people and I think the school is doing an
amazing job at adapting to each of the kids, adapting to the changes and still
making it work with what they’re given.”
Perhaps
the best endorsement comes from the students themselves. Samantha Carey said she likes remote learning
better than “real” school because she gets more support.
"Remote learning is the best choice for right
now,” said Moira Elder. “It’s a great
experience for any child who loves home.” <
