Paw Creek Teachers Lead The Way In Return To In-Person Learning In Charlotte

Press release from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools:

12/1/2020

When elementary students returned to in-person learning on Nov. 2, Paw Creek Elementary teachers were ready. Taylor McNeill, Jeanne Bennett and Alexandria Pitts welcomed their students back with air hugs and high-fives.

“I think we were definitely ready,” said McNeill, an extensions programs teacher who returned to in-person learning on Sept. 21. She has nine students in her classroom who all have a wide range of disabilities. “They wanted to hug me. That was the hardest part,” she said. “We blow kisses with our masks on. We’ve learned a lot about staying in our own bubbles. It is hard to not be sharing materials and spaces. But we are making it work.”

After eight weeks, her students have adjusted to being back in school. “They understand the importance of wearing our masks and staying safe,” she said. “I am glad to be back. I am happy to see the kids again and be together. I do my best when I am teaching in person. Since high school, I’ve been working with kids with disabilities. They thrive on being together in person.”

Each of McNeill’s students have their own desks and tables. Small groups are limited to no more than three. Everyone wears masks and face shields when close contact is required. McNeill also has gowns and gloves for helping students in the bathroom. Each student has their own set of materials.

Two of McNeill’s students are remote learners. A remote teacher works with them directly, but McNeill stays in touch. She brings them into her morning meetings and pops into their virtual classroom as often as she can. “The other teacher and I are constantly collaborating,” she said. “It is hard. I miss them.”

Jeanne Bennett, a K-5 science lab teacher, works with all the students at Paw Creek. She’s part of the cultural arts team, which includes physical education, art and music. “We had to really modify our curriculum and the activities that we were able to do,” she said. “So much of this is hands-on. It is quite the juggling act to make sure that everyone has their own materials, that everything is sanitized. You have to be flexible and find the right balance.”

Bennett credits the strong leadership team at Paw Creek for encouraging the upkeep of students’ social and emotional needs. “Our administrative team is truly supportive and empathetic,” she said. “They care about the health and well-being of every student and staff member. This is a great campus to be on.”

As a science teacher, Bennett takes the opportunity to talk to her students about germs and the importance of masks. “Our mask compliance is pretty good,” she said. “They understand that they can be part of stopping the spread. It’s hard because elementary kids are huggy and touchy. I am huggy and touchy, too. But we just can’t right now.”

The best part of returning to in-person learning for Bennett was seeing her students and peers. “For me as a person, a human being and a teacher, being able to see the kids is the best thing ever. I am hoping it helps the kids too, to see other human beings and their friends, to be outside and enjoy fresh air and sunshine and recess.”

With three weeks of in-person learning under her belt, fourth-grade teacher Alexandria Pitts feels like she and her students are finally getting the hang of it. “I am in a trailer for the first time this year, and that really freaked me out,” said Pitts. “But we are doing great. They are spaced out 6 feet apart. We received a Donor’s Choose grant to buy chair packets for students to store their materials. We wipe down our chairs and desks every day. Having these routines helped reduce my anxiety.”

Pitts has 10 students in her A group, nine students on B days, and two other students are online only. Her trailer has two doors, one for entering and one for exiting. Colored dots on the floor help students stay 6 feet apart. On the playground, they play shadow tag where they tag each other’s shadows instead of touching each other. Thanks to donations from Classroom Central, Pitts has extra masks for her students in case they break or get dirty. “I think we’ve done a good job of transitioning,” said Pitts. “We just needed to figure out a system.”

Pitts teaches her students about germs and how important it is not to take them home to their families. “We have breathe breaks where students can go outside and get some fresh air,” she said. “At first, I was worried that the kids might take advantage of the breathe breaks. But now they go outside for 60 to 90 seconds and come back in ready to learn.”

For Pitts, the best part of being in person is being able to help students right away. “Watching that light bulb come on when they grasp something in real time is something that I’ve missed,” she said. “I realized that some of my students weren’t asking for help online because they were embarrassed. They are much more likely to ask for help in person.”

As middle and high school teachers prepare to make the transition to in-person learning, McNeill, Bennett and Pitts encourage other educators to be flexible, patient and focus on safety.

“It can be scary to think about coming back,” said McNeill. “There is so much unknown, and it has been so long since we’ve had a normal class. Do what you can. Prepare what you can. Make your safety and the kids' safety a priority. Focus on fostering relationships first.”

Bennett says the older students will probably have more questions about COVID-19. “Just be open-minded and willing to have conversations about truth and facts,” she said. “Share science, share some data and be prepared to be flexible.”

She also encourages teachers to focus on students' social and emotional needs. “Masks can make it harder to see emotions,” she said. “Something can be going on behind that mask. Keep the lines of communication open. We need to keep that human touch without the physical human touch."

This press release was produced by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.