Hello Ben,
I have loved the creativity of having to try to learn how to make distance learning work, never having trained for it! In particular, I’ve tried to assign activities that they can do in virtual groups, taking advantage of their attachment to their phones. That has been quite popular as a way to feel connected during this stay home period.
We have taken the view at school that we must continue to engage our students so that we can attest that their letter grade at the end of the semester means something. I have not loved being chained to my computer for many hours longer than my regular day and lots of the weekends. I am a hundred percent exhausted (though with a sense of purpose and achievement!) and there’s still the month of May to go.
Our administration will be developing, over summer, plans to be ready for further school closures by establishing a distance-learning policy. That will include, I’m sure, more systematic tech training so that we feel fluent with the various digital tools at our disposal. What a way to approach the end of a career!
Next year will be my last in the classroom in all probability. By the way, thank you for recommending Deuxieme Livre. My level two’s have been enjoying reading the Civilization Francaise section while they shelter in place.
Corinne Bourne