THE CLOSURE of schools in Ohio and the need to learn at a distance presented challenges for elementary teachers and students alike, with educators agreeing that structure and communication are important to a child’s education.

Lana Jennette teaches first grade at Ayers Elementary in Martins Ferry.

“We’re definitely making the best of it,” she said. “We were pretty prepared with the blizzard bags for winter that we obviously didn’t need this year.”

She said the school changed formats quickly.

“We got all of our materials ready, got everything put online, had a few days for the parents to come up and get anything that they needed,” she said. “I’ve been reaching out to families on Facebook.”

Jennette started a private Facebook group with her 20 students and another teacher’s class.

“That way, I can communicate with my class on a daily basis, give them some resources they can use.”

She said social media also provided valuable tools for inside recess. Parents reached out to her through Facebook for phonics videos. The planned lessons such as math work, spelling words and stories to red were assigned daily.

She said parents messaged her daily as well.

“I think the parents are really stepping up and understanding that if we could be there we would be,” she said.

However, she said pupils are not experiencing a “normal” school day, and routines and patterns are important for young children.

“Our day-to-day is a lot different,” she said, pointing out the loss of daily rituals such as greeting pupils at the door. She encouraged the pupils and parents to document their experiences.

“Because these kids, especially at a first grade level, are so young to realize that they’re living through history in the making, document some things you’re doing at home. Document some things that you’re feeling, as I don’t think they realize the impact of what’s happening. That way they can look back at it as they grow and think, ‘I lived through that. What a time that was.'”

“I’m also living this as a parent. I’ve got a sixth-grader and a fourth-grader,” she said. “I’m also turning myself into a sixth grade and fourth grade teacher to work with my girls. We’re trying to cover all bases. We’re trying to make sure we’re meeting all of their needs. There’s a lot of understanding and unknown territory right now.”

Union Local Elementary fifth grade and language arts teacher Randa Causby said tools such as Google Classroom have been valuable and helped familiarize pupils with online learning. Other options utilized included Zoom conferences and read-aloud videos where students can leave comments.

“We’ve had to make some adjustments. I get a lot of questions via Google Classroom so I’m having to constantly have my phone on me and answer back. I have my own three children … so I’m helping them complete their schoolwork while at the same time answering my classroom kids. It gets a little crazy sometimes,” Causby said.

She added that constant communication with parents was necessary. And there were other obstacles to overcome.

“I have one student that has to go to the neighbor’s house to use the internet,” she said.

Causby said the hours of a school day at home have become erratic, with some students starting at 7 a.m. and others when their parents get at home in the evening.

Tiffany McFarland teaches sixth grade science at Martins Ferry Middle School. She said many of the assignments for her four science classes included science, technology, engineering and math projects that did not require access to a lab.

“I actually learned how to do this at the beginning of the school year,” she said.

McFarland was impressed by the continuing cooperation of students, teachers and parents.

“I think it’s going really well. Way better than I expected,” she said.

“I’m amazed every time I check it as to how many kids are actually doing these assignments. Every time I get online, I’m grading 20-something assignments,” she added.

Parents also made use of her email and monitored their children’s progress.

“I’ll have kids message me about other teachers’ assignments, then I’ll message the teacher and get back to them,” she said.

She teaches more than 120 children, including a class with many on Individualized education programs.

“I have to really communicate even more with them and leave them more messages,” she said.

McFarland described one of her lessons on bacteria and viruses.

“That was pretty interesting for them. They all jumped on that right away with the coronavirus going on. They wanted to learn a little bit about viruses and things like that … ,” she said. “They’re asking, ‘When can we go back out and see our friends?’ ‘Do you think we’ll go back to school soon?’ I can tell that they genuinely miss being in school. …

“I miss them, I really do. I miss every one of them. It’s awful, staying home and staying away from people, and I hope we can get back to school eventually,” she said.