Wisconsin teachers and students alike are missing school in the classroom. No one could have guessed that the COVID-19 would close the country down for the rest of the school year. How is this new “normal” working for teachers and students? Every Monday I meet with the Wisconsin teachers through Zoom online conferencing to hear how things are going in the virtual classrooms. I am inspired by the desire of the teachers to not “get in a rut” with their online teaching. So I want to share some of the creative ideas teachers are incorporating into their lessons for students in the past two weeks.
The teachers at Three Angels Christian School in Madison, want their students to have a bit of fun while learning. Every Thursday is designated as “Spirit Thursday.” The first Thursday was “Hat Day.” The students could wear any kind of hat to the morning online meeting. Of course there had to be a Wisconsin cheese hat and a Packer helmet since we are in Wisconsin. The next Thursday was “Crazy Day,” Students could dress in whatever crazy outfit they could find. If you want to see what happens for the next three weeks on “Spirit Thursday” at the Three Angels Christian School, pictures can be found on their Three Angels Christian School facebook site.
Sharing is an important part of the learning process. Teachers Davina Fingerson and Jayme Denis have been working on poetry with their students. YouTube videos were sent to the students, with examples of specific poetry types. With direction from the teachers, students then created their own poetry. During online class meetings, the students presented their poetry to their classmates. Great job students and teachers!
Rick Blumenschein teaches grades 7-10 at Green Bay Adventist Junior Academy. Recently, in Biology, the students were studying fish anatomy. Mr. Blumenschein found a link to the Manitowoc Maritime Museum so the students could watch a whitefish dissection.
Teachers Vickie Martin and Adele Marsh, also of Green Bay Adventist Junior Academy have combined Science and Earth Day by sending students pots, soil, and seeds to start plants. The students are excited each week to show how their vegetables and flowers are growing as they learn about soil and various plants.
As the days get warmer it is important to get outside. Otter Creek Adventist School teacher, Daisy Nieman, sent her students a YouTube link how to identify birds by listening to their bird calls. What a fun way to incorporate nature in learning. Other teachers have incorporated outdoor photo scavenger hunts and encouraged students to find music in nature.
Many teachers are meeting their students each day for worship or Bible class. Your Story Hour has a free story on their website each day which some teachers require their students to listen to and then discuss during their online group meeting. You can hear the stories too! Go to yourstoryhour.org and enjoy the free story each day.
Starting a Kindergarten Facebook page is what Kindergarten teacher, Prima Glass, has found works best for connecting with her students and their parents. Every morning, on the Facebook page, the students join Mrs. Glass to sing songs, pray, and hear a Bible story. Parents post pictures of their children working on schoolwork and Mrs. Glass shows parents how to play games with their students.
Students from Maranatha Adventist Elementary School are working on putting together a living history time capsule. What better way for students to work on writing skills, but work on a COVID-19 time capsule writing project. Teacher Rosanna Ziesmer said, “Spring 2020 will be an unforgettable time in our lives. But students may forget some of experiences and feelings as we grow older. Our time capsule writing collection will help us remember who we were and what we did when we are older.” Thank you Rosanna Ziesmer for making learning fun and meaningful.
Thinking of others during this challenging time is what Petersen’s Adventist Elementary teachers, Tiffany Meulemans and Yolanda Voss, are instilling in their students. The teachers have asked the students to choose a local church leader and send them a virtual card. Below is an example of one of the cards from Isaac, a 5th grader.
In this new “normal” teachers are finding new ways to engage students with learning. Daisy Nieman has made videos of herself reading stories so her students can listen to them while they do their handwriting, just like it was in the classroom. Many teachers are using YouTube videos to enhance student learning. Jim Muhlenbeck, Bethel Junior Academy teacher, wants his students to enjoy science, so he has added YouTube videos to introduce topics such as; properties of matter, force, atoms, solids, liquids, gases, speed, velocity, and acceleration.
This has been a challenging new “normal” for all, but as I visit with our Wisconsin teachers a few things stand out. One, the dedication and love for their students is evident. Our teachers miss being in the classroom with their students; teaching, guiding, mentoring. Second is their love for God and wanting to share it with their students and families through morning worship and Bible class. How important it is to have dedicated teachers who are willing to share God’s love with their students.
During this new “normal” take time to thank a teacher!!
Sue Nelson, Superintendent of Education
