Grands On The Move!
Retired recently? Working part-time? Not working at all, just taking time for self? That sounds reasonable… then why would two women way past 75, both retired, take on the role of doing the virtual online teaching of six of their great-grands, nieces and nephews?
When sisters Betty Burton Groce and Lois Smith Owens, learned that the children's parents, had decided against returning their children to the in school learning environment for the fall semester because of Covid-19, the two women began to talk to about how they could assist. At the same time as school began, all of the parents were called back to their full-time positions. Given the Pandemic presence throughout the country and the impact on the communities of color, all felt strongly about their decision. Thus began The One Room Schoolhouse and Virtual Online Learning.
The great auntie and the great gramma met with the parents and together they mapped out a plan to create a pod for homeschooling. Obviously, one a retired GRPS school teacher, and the other a retired professor, had the skills and the knowledge, but they are fast learning that they don't always have the energy… and that they are learning right along with the students. They cover subjects from French to PE, English to Social Studies, Math to Science and Bio-Physics to Band. The Grands are learning how to teach online!
Using the computer as a teaching tool has been a challenge, as well as understanding how a one room school functions since the children range from first grade to rising Senior and one who is Autistic and comes half days. They meet together every day in the home of parents who have a large open area that appropriately accommodates all of them. They have their assigned seats and the children come in their school attire promptly at 8:15 am. Their skills with their computers and all that goes with that constantly amaze the 'teachers'. Almost always they are disciplined and focused, needing help at varying levels, however, when they do get restless and noisy, it can be quite loud! All are cousins and because of the Coronavirus spent most of the summer together. They are good about helping one another where and when possible. The two sisters are able to check grades and comments from the actual teachers on a daily basis and one of the parents set up a group text chat so that the sister teachers, parents and kids can all participate in any concerns there might be. Academically the children are doing quite well.
The children and parents really appreciate the enrichment experiences that the 'teachers' provide. They've learned the difference between creative and critical thinking and daily have short activities that increase that knowledge. The 'teachers' took them on a field trip to learn about indoor and outdoor plants and how to care for them. A most important part of this home schooling with these two particular great-grand 'teachers' is that they have learned a great deal about their Black History and what it means to be Black in America Today. The videos and discussions have added an immense dimension to the kids 'education'.
This virtual online 'One Room Schoolhouse' pod for homeschooling has been an awesome and challenging opportunity for the two retired educators who committed to this charge for the first semester during this difficult time in our entire country. The feedback from parents has been very appreciative, positive and supportive. The two sisters began their pod the very same day school started and are still moving forward.
Here are some of the comments from the kids about their home-school learning pod: Devon Brown 7th grader: I like online school because Great Gramma Bett and Great Aunt Lois are helping me get my grades up and get all my work done. Jayden Ervin, Senior: Having Gramma Bett and AJ help us with school is good because she helps me stay on task because at times I can get on my phone and forget to do my work, so it helps me get my work done! Amajay Ervin 9th grader: I appreciate Grandma Betty and Auntie Lois helping us. They teach us a lot of stuff besides our school work. They want us to be Excellent!! Janae Ervin 8th grader: If I had a choice, I would go to school. But I don't want Covid- 19 so that's a problem for everyone. To me, I think I'm doing pretty good, its not all that hard for me. Working with my Aunt and Grandma is fun to me. Overall it's not difficult for me, but I would like to go back to school. Jadis Ervin 1st grader: I like Gramma Bett and Aunt Lois coming here…sometimes I get tired, but I like Aunt Lois' dog Coco!Aunt Lois and Coco and me go for a walk for my recess every day. Jahvin Ervin high- performing Autistic: I find everything on my computer. Gramma Bett helps me.
Tagged in: