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The first few weeks of school are in full swing, and students are in the building!
Eager to hear about the start of the academic year, I had the opportunity to check in with Cook County science teacher, Emma Spoon. Emma has a unique employment situation at ISD 166 and was happy to share her experience over the past few weeks, as well as her goals for the months ahead.
Ms. Spoon has been teaching for six years in Cook County and is licensed in 5-8 Science and 9-12 Life Science. This year, she is teaching 6th Grade Earth Science, 6th Grade Safety, 7th Grade Life Science, and 7th Grade Health. With the excitement of going back to a more normal routine, I was excited to share the positive feedback from this local educator.
Below is our Q & A session:
Q- How have the first few weeks back been going?
A- Great! It’s been incredible to be back in a full school with all students in-person. The energy is fantastic. After more than a year and a half away from the building for some of our students, it is amazing to see the growth in them physically, mentally, and emotionally. However, we also are seeing the challenges and disruptions that students have experienced in their daily lives at home and in their education over the last year and a half. Reuniting and rebuilding relationships with our students has been an important reminder of the role we play in providing safe spaces and consistent faces for our kids.
This year’s winning Marshmallow Challenge team: At the beginning of the year, we do a challenging activity where students must build the tallest structure using the same materials and in a limited amount of time. It’s a great team-building and communication exercise! This group of 6th-grade students reached a height of 58 centimeters. From left: Lilija Smith, Ella Hallberg, and Shelby Bissell.
Q- What changes are in place, due to Covid restrictions?
A- We continue to have a mask mandate in place for all students and staff K-12th grade. In some ways, that has become the new normal, and in other ways, it continues to challenge us to communicate when we have a visual barrier to facial expressions and clear verbal dialogue at times. Teachers are taking advantage of the mild weather to ensure that students get outdoors for learning and to take short “mask breaks” whenever possible during the day.
Teacher Emma Spoon’s quiet classroom ready to welcome students on the first day!
Q-What has been most exciting or fun in getting to be back in the building?
A- As a science teacher, I am most excited to bring back the hands-on projects and labs that make classroom learning an interactive experience for students. Of course, there were elements of distance learning that I enjoyed, such as glimpses into students’ home lives and meeting many family pets, but there is nothing like sharing time and learning in-person on a daily basis. It has rejuvenated me as a professional and provides more inspiration to better my lessons and to be fully present in every moment with my students.
Q- What are some of your goals for your students, to have a successful year, both academically and socially?
A- We are all relearning expectations for the behaviors and habits that are required for academic success. In the case of preschoolers and kindergartners, 6th graders, 9th graders, and new students to our district, we are teaching new procedures and expectations for the first time. There’s a steep learning curve!
My goals for my students include improving their ability to communicate their needs and concerns directly with teachers, while also using the tools that we have mastered in the past year to better our connections and learning. For example, my shyest students have found ways to share their needs through virtual communications including emails, Google Chats, and messages within Google Classroom. I am grateful to have these new ways for students to “speak up” in ways that are comfortable for them.
Middle school is an especially social time, and my biggest goal is for students to develop the skills to use their social needs for academic gain, and I hope to develop and use more group projects that help students hone the vital skill of working in a team and teaching each other as peers. That’s what many of us have missed most in the past 18 months of isolation!
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