How online learning has changed the experience of Lower School students
By Maddie Gadbaw ‘21
COVID-19 has changed many people’s lives. Online learning has been a challenge for everyone involved, for both students and teachers. Lots of focus in the Upper School has been on juniors’ rescheduled SATs and seniors’ changed graduation plans.
However, a group of students who are also being affected are Lower School students. Teachers at Catlin Gabel School (CGS) have had to adapt in different ways to cater to a younger group of students.
Lower School teachers share many ways that teaching children over Zoom is challenging.
“In real life, science class is about investigating by doing,” says Lower School science teacher Sheri Cocquio. “Being able to have all the same resources and materials for 210 students is nearly impossible, which severely limits the kinds of experiments students can do at home.”
The change to online learning has also affected Lower School art classes.
“As musicians we learn to listen to each other and respond with our own sound, whether it’s to adjust to a faster or slower tempo, or to feel the energy in the room increase and sing louder. Singing synchronously over Zoom is just not possible with the lag,” says Lower School music teacher Peter Musselman.
For Liza Lighthiser, a kindergarten student, quarantine is going well. “Mostly if it’s not 3:00, I play in my dollhouse,” she shares.
Third grader Regan Lighthiser says, “First, I’m done with school earlier, which is nice. But second, Zoom, homework and not seeing friends and just being with family is not fun.”
Still, there are lots of things that students share they miss about being with their friends in the classroom.
Sam Henry, a first grade student, shares that he misses, “Barn lunch, library, and playing with my friends.”
Wolfie Gronquist, also a first grade student, says, “I miss the playground… I miss everything about regular school.”
Aside from missing school, younger students have had to find new ways to hang out with their friends.
“I like to share my screen when I’m playing with friends on Zoom. I also like going to the park and socially distance with my friends,” says Joshua Tang, a first grade student.
“I have been on a couple bike rides, and I call my cousin on FaceTime,” shares first grader Burko Zaninovich.
Looking ahead to next year, Lower School teachers are planning new ways to keep younger students engaged in their work.
“I would say that something I plan to continue is ‘Zoom a Scientist/Engineer’ where we would invite a professional to talk about the projects they’ve worked on and how they use science or engineering in their lives,” says Cocquio, “We had a NASA engineer, butterfly ecologist, deep sea marine biologist, and medical detective come to talk to the Beginning and Lower School students.”
As CGS moves into the uncertainty of next year, Lower School teachers and students are prepared to continue building community in the classroom.