Scratchbook #1, July 2 2020
So I’ll be teaching an MD middle school classroom (MD=multiple disabilities; so the kids have severe health and learning needs). By the nature of my kids’ conditions, most, if not all of them are immunocompromised and are at the highest risk of contracting/dying from COVID.
My district will *try* to enter in Phase 3 in September, meaning that families will have the option of sending their kids to school in-person or having them do classes online; many will probably do some sort of hybrid. I can’t imagining many of my parents being comfortable with sending these kids, in fact I already know one of last year’s students won’t be returning.
So I...guess I’ll be teaching almost exclusively online this year. Problem is, my kids can’t really learn like that. Hell, most of the stuff we do in class involve fine and gross motor skills, sensory stuff, communication, and engagement (i.e., just getting them interacting with things). All of which are difficult to impossible to do without being their beside them, with face-to-face and skin-to-skin contact.
Maybe I can focus more on supporting the parents? I know becoming a 24/7 stay-at-home parent is hard for anyone, but a lot of special needs families are used to have a huge support network of teachers, caseworkers, speech therapists, occupational/physical therapists, and now...nothing. They weren’t meant to be going at this alone and I’m sure they could use support. Maybe like on how they can work on IEP goals at home and providing fun activities?
So my classroom will probably have to be more like an office and a digital studio (although hopefully I’ll have at least 1 or 2 kids!). Might need to invest in a good webcam and mic set, and put up a simple cute background for videos.
There is one kid I’m particularly worried about. She’s one of those very rare cases in MD where she has absolutely zero motor function other than her eyes, and is average/above average intelligence. Because she is so aware, and her condition is degenerative, she sees exactly how she’s different from others and can mourn for her losing abilities. I know this lockdown must be so depressing for her, I know she’s struggling like hell and I have serious concerns about her mental health. So maybe I’ll set up daily/weekly video chats with her, read to her, joke with her, try to teach her some grade-level academic stuff through the computer, just...really reach out, try to be a happy part of her day. In case I mention her again, we’ll refer to her as...Lil Fart (trust me she’d love that).