“I am no longer just a teacher.
I am now a social worker, therapist, guidance counselor, parent, etc.
all while trying to get kids to care about whatever topic we’re covering.”
Here’s what they had to say:
1.
I don’t know how to teach well in the classroom the way it is today.
In my experience, students don’t want to be there.
They don’t see the point of in-person learning.
Calling home does nothing because the parents also don’t care."
katequimby88
2.
“I feel like the kids have a lot fewer social skills now than they did pre-pandemic.
skipnees
3.
“I am no longer just a teacher.
I am now a social worker, therapist, guidance counselor, parent, etc.
all while trying to get kids to care about whatever topic we’re covering.
I am teaching basic manners and explaining to students why their emotions are valid.
I don’t remember doing that prior to the pandemic.
29, Pennsylvania
4.
“Students are so addicted to screens.
My fifth-grade students will have literal meltdowns if we do an assignment that is not on their rig.”
43, Indiana
5.
“Everything is now officially online.
They just assign something on Reading A-Z and sit back and let the kids go to town.
The kids finish assigned work, but are they actually learning anything?”
mollyhovan
6.
“English teacher here.
More than ever we have to deal with psychological issues in students, like depression and low self-esteem.
At the same time, administrators ordered schools/teachers to gallop through the curriculum to ‘catch up.’
Many of them could/can not deal with the pressure of that impossible task.”
mudda8139
7.
“The use of tech does not necessarily equate to bad teaching.
In that way, the pandemic has improved teaching somewhat.”
bethechangeyouwanttosee
8.
“There are RAMPANT attendance issues that were not as common before.”
32, North Carolina
9.
“Fine-motor skills are nonexistent.
chillcrocodile14
11.
“My college students expect to Zoom into an in-person class or have complete video available afterward.
53, Tennessee
12.
30, Illinois
14.
“I teach elementary students with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities.
They struggle with basic concepts because they weren’t able to get the help they needed.
Now they are on a completely different graduation track because they are years behind where they should be.
Katie, Texas
15.
“The kids have changed a lot.
Far more students have anxiety now and need counseling.
49, California
16.
They have no attention spans.
They aren’t any busier than any pre-pandemic group; they just lost all sense of time management.”
Pre-pandemic, leadership was very involved and hands-on to find a resolution.
51, Wisconsin
18.
“No one is wrong anymore.
In class, they support their answers with ‘because that’s what I think.’
46, Arizona
19.And finally, “The teachers are still burnt out.
Weve all survived a trauma, but none of us have actually healed from it.
Rather than trying to address burnout, they are becoming more punitive.
Its pretty toxic now.”
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
