Teachers are Sharing the Difficulties of In-Person Learning on Twitter
By Mark PygasAug. 13 2020, Published 10:14 a.m. ET
Schools across the country are starting to return to in-person learning amid the coronavirus pandemic. In Georgia’s largest school district, at least 260 students and eight teachers have either tested positive or been exposed to coronavirus in the few days since reopening. Teachers have already shared some pretty creative ways to keep kids engaged and socially distanced. Now, teachers are also taking to social media to share the difficulties of in-person learning during a pandemic.
"This is a kindergarten classroom set up according to new Provincial guidelines," one teachers federation in Canada wrote. "This will be our students’ introduction to our public school system."
This is a kindergarten classroom set up according to new Provincial guidelines. This will be our students’ introduction to our public school system. #wherestheplaybasedlearning? pic.twitter.com/VtMWausdk1
— KPR ETFO (@KPRETFO) August 7, 2020
"This is the plexiglass shield just installed in every UGA classroom to separate faculty from students. I am just over 6 feet."
This is the plexiglass shield just installed in every UGA classroom to separate faculty from students. I am just over 6 feet. pic.twitter.com/pRFRuUalI4
— Scott Reynolds Nelson (@nelsonhist) August 6, 2020
The University of Georgia was roasted for their some of their preparations.
The precautions that UGA is taking against COVID-19 are pretty hilarious. Here are pics from a classroom and bathroom...
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) August 6, 2020
📸 @colettearrand pic.twitter.com/x8vRhXNjqo
Just look at it.
This is the one of the barriers against COVID-19 that the University of Georgia set up. pic.twitter.com/34MCpJEwGo
— colette arrand (@colettearrand) August 6, 2020
Other teachers are struggling to enforce social distancing in their small classrooms.
Renee sent me this picture of his classroom, set up for 31 students. His current class list is 35 students because he says budget cuts prior to the pandemic forced the school to close a classroom. This is the UCP's idea of a safe classroom in a global pandemic. #ableg #abed pic.twitter.com/eYRZ8OE6nI
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) August 9, 2020
"I've taught classes of 34+ students," one teacher explained. "This store, which is much bigger than the classroom I taught in, has a capacity limit of 5. Probably has better ventilation too. Asking for class sizes of 15 is not unreasonable."
I've taught classes of 34+ students.
— McLOLcat (@mclolcat) August 8, 2020
This store, which is much bigger than the classroom I taught in, has a capacity limit of 5.
Probably has better ventilation too.
Asking for class sizes of 15 is not unreasonable.@fordnation & @Sflecce need to get serious.#ONpoli #OntEd pic.twitter.com/1B7MK7y0ev
This president of a school board in Orange County, CA, had to purchase $85,000 worth of plexiglass for her students.
As president of a school board in Orange County, CA, I bought $85,000 worth of plexiglass for our 9,000 students to sit behind, and masks for all. That’s if we can get off the watch list of Governor @GavinNewsom . It’s tough out here in OC! Here’s a classroom set up. You like ? pic.twitter.com/QEHpZtmzlm
— Gina Clayton-Tarvin (@gclaytontarvin) August 10, 2020
This is going to be weird for teachers and students alike.
My friend's classroom in a neighboring county returning face to face:
— Aaron Avera (@AaronAvera) August 3, 2020
28 desks. 2.5- 3ft spacing. Blue zone for the teacher only. Masks optional. pic.twitter.com/rpSUbrnJFS
Meanwhile this teacher also had to purchase scrubs, face shields, masks, and cleaning supplies with her own money.
Scrubs, face shields, masks, cleaning supplies , desk shields, subsc. to virtual platforms, (a traveling cart which I’ve yet to buy,) and more therapy sessions than I’d care to admit. I also had to transfer my kids to private school to keep our schedules the same. So tuition too!
— Dana J (@DanaTeaches3rd) August 9, 2020
Ontario Intermediate classroom with just 27 desks. Other classes are larger. In what possible world does @Sflecce and @fordnation think their cheap and dangerous plan will lead to a #SafeSeptember?@PublicHealthON#onted#parentaction4ed pic.twitter.com/dYUOtrBKBP
— KPR ETFO (@KPRETFO) August 11, 2020
This is not social distancing.
Teacher Theresa sent me these pictures. She's expecting 38 students in this Grade 1 classroom.
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) August 6, 2020
This isn't right at anytime. It's certainly wrong during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We need to cap class sizes and do whatever it takes to make that happen. #ableg #abed pic.twitter.com/UJdR3YqUkH
"Quite possibly the saddest thing I've ever seen in my classroom," one teacher wrote. "This is not how I teach. This is not a room that says 'welcome, let's have fun learning!' This is not going be easy."
Quite possibly the saddest thing I've ever seen in my classroom. This is not how I teach. This is not a room that says "welcome, let's have fun learning!" This is not going be easy. pic.twitter.com/EHvxP6mZtx
— Carolyn Wagner, MJE (@LZwags) August 10, 2020
This teacher's classroom could only fit six desks.
One of my classrooms can only hold 6 desks while social distancing.
— Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming! (@kniggej) August 4, 2020
How in the world can parents willingly with full conscience and “of sound mind” think this is safe for your children.
This classroom typically has 20-25 students in it.
My daughter will be 💯 distance learnin pic.twitter.com/GkkUMBHnHE
"This is 2020," one teacher wrote. "I ordered face shields to wear with my multi-layered masks at school. It pains me to say that I don’t trust the quality of the PPE that will be supplied by my underfunded urban public school district. I don’t feel safe as a teacher."
This is 2020. I ordered face shields to wear with my multi-layered masks at school. It pains me to say that I don’t trust the quality of the PPE that will be supplied by my underfunded urban public school district. I don’t feel safe as a teacher. pic.twitter.com/PHRtwTjCAE
— Caitlin McCarthy (@CaitlinMcWriter) July 30, 2020
And yes, many have had to buy their own soap.
The past few times I’ve gone to my classroom there’s been NO SOAP🤯 luckily got my hands on some at the dollar tree after having no luck finding any. Now I gotta hide my stash🤫 pic.twitter.com/1IToBKPps0
— Ms. Nelson (@MsNelson305) August 10, 2020
This teacher is protecting her books from coughs and sneezes with a shower curtain.
Never did I ever think I’d be covering my classroom library with a shower curtain 😅 pic.twitter.com/SRFfdsv0SA
— Lesley Snyder (@lesleymsnyder) August 11, 2020
"The PPE my school district so generously supplied me for the entire school year. 1 homemade face shield, a leaking bottle of hand sanatizer, 1 pair of gloves, and a saturated 1 layer mask. Kids were back to school today."
The PPE my school district so generously supplied me for the entire school year. 1 homemade face shield, a leaking bottle of hand sanatizer, 1 pair of gloves, and a saturated 1 layer mask. Kids were back to school today pic.twitter.com/MSBiNj22FN
— Hipster Hot Mess (@anna_doak) August 6, 2020
"As a teacher, how can I possibly keep students and their families safe. This is a picture of my grade 3 classroom this year with 29 desks arranged as recommended by Hinshaw and LaGrange. This is social distancing according to them."
Please do! As a teacher, how can I possibly keep students and their families safe. This is a picture of my grade 3 classroom this year with 29 desks arranged as recommended by Hinshaw and LaGrange. This is social distancing according to them. https://t.co/KbYxw5lTp2 pic.twitter.com/uLBa3AOrWA
— kerrie Brooks (@KSerink) August 8, 2020
This isn't going to be easy.
