A New Way of Teaching- an interview with my mom!

Rileigh Thomas

The COVID-19 global pandemic has brought change to nearly every aspect of life. For many adults, this change is most apparent in their employment. Millions of workers are currently unemployed and unsure of when they will be able to return. However, teachers across the United States, including our beloved faculty at GM and neighboring schools, are working tirelessly to transform their teaching. They have had to adapt a whole new system of education in order to ensure that young American students are able to continue learning online at home. It surely does not need to be said that this is no easy task. As a student with parents who are educators, I have been able to witness the “behind-the-scenes” of this whole process… and it’s been a rocky one! I sat down with my mom, Lisa Robarts, to ask about the transition for herself and her colleagues. 

Mrs. Robarts has been teaching for twenty-five years. The first twenty-one years were spent as a special educator, and she has been teaching elementary art at Union Street Elementary School for the past four years. When asked what she loves most about her job, she replied, “Working with kids on art… Giving them a kernel of an idea, and then letting them create their own beautiful piece of artwork. I am always surprised at what they come up with on their own.” With that being said, not seeing her students for the past month has been difficult; “I really miss teaching. I worry about certain students that are not participating, and I worry about what they may be experiencing during this time.” 

Teachers have had to learn how to navigate new platforms such as Zoom, Google Classroom, and Google Hangouts, which many had never used before. They have been tasked with becoming familiar enough with these sites to not only navigate them on their own, but lead a class on them as well. Although certainly not ideal, these platforms have given students and teachers the opportunity to continue their vital work, and Mrs. Robarts was able to consider some other benefits as well. She explained how she’s “seen different sides of students. One particular student I had no idea was so theatrical… he’s been putting his artwork into movie clips that are really impressive. There are kids that barely talk in class, but are more engaged online. Also, I think in the long run, it is teaching some computer skills that kids may not have had.” 

Perhaps most difficult for everyone right now, students and teachers alike, is the feeling of disconnect and isolation. During this entire process, Mrs. Robarts said she’s learned one important thing; “I’ve learned that I don’t like a desk job, I need interaction with students and colleagues. I miss my colleagues a lot.” Being unable to attend school or go to work has led many others to a similar conclusion. For the remainder of the year, Mrs. Robarts hopes to find a way to make her lessons meaningful to students at home. She is learning that she must ask herself- “will this resonate with a student at home?” And, “what task will my students be able to handle and ENJOY while at home?” She reminds herself that this is a period of our lives that will pass, and now, she’ll appreciate working directly with kids more than ever.