Pandemic educating ought to give us hope for the longer term | Training
Over the past few months, we’ve seen a lot of news about how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted our children’s education. Yes, school closures, online learning, and hybrid models have transformed the lives of our students. But as an educator, I remain long-term optimistic about the future of education in New Mexico.
The pandemic experience has accelerated change, given teachers incredible professional growth, and proved that our education system can adapt to the needs of our children.
My experiences of teaching pandemics – and those of many teachers I know – have been marked by professional growth in ways I previously didn’t think was possible. In my case, COVID-19 has forced me to completely overhaul my curriculum.
While I prided myself on an interactive notebook curriculum that I created and revised each year, the pandemic forced me to create a full online curriculum at warp speed.
This transition to online learning was a step I wanted to take eventually and slowly, but the pandemic has accelerated that process out of sheer necessity. Countless teachers around the world have made similar changes because they knew students needed to keep learning.
If you get a bird’s-eye view of the teaching profession during COVID-19, the seismic shifts toward online literacy are incredible.
It’s not just the teachers – I’ve seen the students adapt tremendously over the past two years. The pandemic has not only changed the pace of technology, but also the economic and health needs of the society that new graduates will enter. My students take on the challenge of preparing for this new future by developing digital literacy, flexibility and other 21st century skills.
My hope for the future doesn’t diminish the reality that the pandemic has been a tough experience for many families, and some parents have seen their children struggle in ways they hadn’t previously realized. But despite the struggle, families are adjusting, and together we are moving toward a new educational future.
Just as an example, the proliferation of learning capsules and the nearly doubling of homeschooling across New Mexico during the pandemic reflects parents’ willingness to invest more deeply in their children’s learning and an openness to embrace non-traditional learning methods.
The pandemic has increased awareness of all learning opportunities, not just home schooling. Fortunately, New Mexico offers a variety of school types so families can find what works best for them.
In the public domain, families can take advantage of open enrollment, which allows students to attend public schools outside of their assigned neighborhood boundaries.
Our state also sanctions charter schools like the one I teach at. These flexible public schools each have a community focus; with me, the students devote themselves to an artistic focus: dance, music, visual arts or artesanía.
In some school districts, families can choose magnet programs that offer specialized instruction in areas such as STEM or even work shadowing. And our state offers several free online schools; These are often safe havens for students with special health needs and students who study at their own pace.
This School Choice Week (January 23-29) let’s continue to spread awareness of learning options and good news in education by celebrating excellent teachers, strong schools and students who have benefited from choosing an environment that works well for them. Many communities hold school fairs during School Choice Week so families can “shop” schools. In Albuquerque, students from across the state will showcase their talents at a celebratory showcase.
Post-pandemic, educators and families have an opportunity to refocus as we look ahead to the next school year. We will face many challenges in the post-pandemic world, but as we help each student find a school that is right for them, I truly believe our next generation will continue to adapt, learn, to their new environment and will thrive.
Azizah Michalski has a master’s degree in elementary education and has been teaching math at Tierra Adentro of New Mexico in Albuquerque since 2011.
