LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A principal with the Clark County School District says schools are walking a tight rope as they figure out a plan to resume in-person instruction, but to also not lose any progress that’s been made.
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That principal, who spoke off the record to 13 Action News, says teachers will continue to figure out how to differentiate and individualize instruction to catch students up once they are back in the classroom.
It’s a process that’s been underway since distance learning began, but now teachers will have to deliver it differently.
“You’re not going to see immediate results,” says John Bruchhagen.
Bruchhagen tutors CCSD students at Infinity The Math Institute, and says the year away from school grounds may impact how the student performs in the classroom depending on the grade level.
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He’s noticed those in higher grades embrace the independence of distance learning and have thrived in it.
“They feel like with the abbreviated schedule, the entire last two months is going to be like the first week of school,” says Bruchhagen.
For those younger students, it’s an embraced return to human interaction.
Not for the academic reasons but for the social reasons, they’re just dying to get back to class,” says Bruchhagen.
While social interactions resume at a distance of their own, will the academics follow?
Bruchhagen says the biggest challenge for elementary school students during distance learning is getting personalized attention.
He believes being in the classroom now will make all the difference.
“When you’re on a Zoom call, you can’t talk to the teacher on the side,” says Bruchhagen. “You talk to the teacher and all 40 kids see you and your face and you’re asking a question.”
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The CCSD principal also says in addition to figuring out the academic plan is safety.
A worst-case scenario is a COVID-19 outbreak in the school, then a shutdown and students learning only online all over again.
