Remote Learning Supports for Families

By Abdullah Mberwa, Youth Center Coordinator, UNP & Bryant Baird, Teacher, Glendale Middle School

The following interview illustrates an ongoing collaboration between UNP and Glendale teachers to support local families during remote learning and school closures.

Even though schools have primarily switched to online learning, what classes continue to be hosted in the school, and for whom? Why is this important?

At Glendale Middle School, some students are coming in for live instruction and learning. For instance, one group is the English Language Learners who are Newcomers, Level I and Level II. This group consists of 32 students who are divided into groups of eight. They socially distance while in class, and eat breakfast and lunch in their classrooms. Each desk has a protective shield. All students wear masks, and masks are provided. They are encouraged to wash hands frequently, and hand sanitizer abounds in the school. They have four classes daily: Math, English Language Arts, English Language Development, and alternating P.E. and Music.

Live instruction for these students is important – they need to learn in English and in-person. Being able to hear English improves their ability to speak and write it. Students can also borrow electronic devices to use in class and at home. Most have home internet access. However, not all have access to assistance with online instruction in their homes and many lack the guidance necessary to use English to navigate their assignments and class work.

How has the UNP Hartland Youth Center Coordinator collaborated with faculty and staff at Glendale to continue supporting families?

Abdullah is available to help us guide the students and their families in this endeavor. He conducts home visits, and provides school and behavioral support. Whether the need is social, emotional, behavioral, or academic, Abdullah continues to assist students and families during this time.

Thinking over these last few months, what are some of the most important highlights, challenges, and successes that you have experienced teaching and supporting families? Is there a story that you could share?

Students are amazing and seem to roll with and navigate these changes with positive attitudes and zero push back. They enjoy the connectivity and respond energetically. Since September, students are speaking, reading, writing, and listening in English at higher levels. Some who have struggled with reading before are reading and are excited to read. On one occasion, when students were asked to read aloud, one student was so excited that he stood on his chair and read proudly and loudly.

It has also been fun to watch friendships develop among them. Students of different ethnicities are becoming best friends and teaching each other phrases in their native languages.

The P.E. teacher offers a bike club, which the students love. All are riding bikes. And, one student who had never been taught to ride a bike has learned. Many of the students ride their own bikes to school. One girl gives another girl a ride home on her bike each day.

These small classes allow teachers to focus more attention on individual students and support each student’s learning more effectively. As a result, these students are flourishing.

Are there other thoughts and details you would want to share about why working flexibly and creatively with the school community is important?

During this unprecedented time, three words come to mind: patience, flexibility, and grace. Keeping everyone safe and learning is no easy task. The way things have been done traditionally does not always work under these new circumstances, and looking beyond for solutions helps us all adjust to the situation quickly and more effectively.