For the 3 years now, I have participated in the Hands2Help Challenge hosted by Sara @Confessions of a Fabric Addict. This year, Sara added an additional challenge called Hometown Heroes. She requested that each participant donate a quilt to 'someone in your community' that has worked during COVID-19 (front-line worker) as a way to say "Thank you" and "Hang in there, we see all that you do."
There are so many possible recipients as many have worked tirelessly through this unprecedented time. First that come to mind are those working in healthcare, police and firefighters, but Sara encouraged us to think outside the box as there are endless possibilities.
Since I work in an elementary school district, I have seen first hand how school teachers have had to work harder than ever before, learning new technology quickly, making changes several times throughout this school year to accomodate students, their families, and administrative directives, all the while teaching their students; remotely, hybrid and/or in-person (and taking care of their own families.)
For my Hometown Hero, I chose my friend and colleague, Megan. Over the years, I have worked closely with Megan, subbing for her, helping out in her classroom, and even teaching 'long-term' for her when she went on maternity leave.
Megan teaches 1st grade! Here we are together.
The picture above is from before COVID-19. The students sat at tables, shared supplies, made projects to reinforce the lesson and were able to move around the classroom. Her classroom is well organized and full of fun learning activities.
I was working on March 13, 2020 when the staff got an email with 3 hours notice that school would be closing and to prepare their students with enough materials for the near future. That was the last time students would be back in-person until October 2020.
This school year started with remote learning, first teaching from school.
Then hybrid learning started. Some students attended on Mondays and Tuesdays, others on Thursdays and Fridays while others remained remote. All were remote on Wednesdays. Desks, social distanced with protection screens replaced tables.
All students had to have their own supplies and take home everything daily.
Everyone needed their own water bottle as the water fountains were turned off. Backpacks were loaded and heavy! A lot to ask of kids.
After one month+, remote learning returned. This time, the teachers needed to teach from their own homes. Below is Megan's classroom from her basement.
When the students and teachers finally returned, hybrid looked different as schedules changed weekly so students could attend on alternating Wednesdays. After spring break, most students returned to 5 days but there were still some families that remain remote.
In giving you a glimpse of what teaching looks like during the pandemic, I hope I was able to convene the fact that teachers have had to work incredibly hard to accommodate all the changes while still teaching their students. It wasn't and still isn't easy. Technology is great, but we all know that there are unforeseen glitches that pop up and need to be addressed immediately.
Megan spent her time learning the technology so she could make sure my day went smoothly when I sub for her. I appreciate how organized and detailed her plans are which makes my day in her classroom a joy.
I presented Megan with my Fresh as a Daisy quilt this week (which was also Teacher Appreciation Week!)
You can see additional pictures of the quilt here. I love my job as a substitute teacher!
Megan is one of many teachers that have worked hard during the pandemic and are deserving of our "Thanks! We see all that you do!"
