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Middle and Primary Section: Building Social and Emotional Connections During E-learning at SHSID

June 9, 2020

The rapid switch to online teaching this semester saw changes in how teachers communicated with each other and their students, how information teachers presented information, how teachers were able to monitor student learning, and much more. The FACES Professional Development program also continued during this time and had to adapt to best meet the needs of teachers across the globe. The teachers find themselves in a unique time where not much (or any research) exists on best teaching practices for students suddenly engaged in online learning. However, the teachers at SHSID, at both the Pudong and Puxi campuses, have recently had opportunities to engage in conversations about how to best meet the needs of students in and out of the physical classroom as we head into our last month of instruction.

An email came into every teacher’s inbox stressing the importance of maintaining social and emotional relationships with students in the online environment. Every teacher needed to continue to be encouraged in this as the end of the year rapidly approaches with sudden shifts to our normal teaching routines. Educators all know building good rapport with students is crucial to their success. How is this best approached? At a professional development session held Friday, May 29th, the grade 1-5 teachers shared with one another ways that they reached out to students during the online learning period. Some teachers shared meals virtually with their students online. Others sent special birthday greetings. Emily Horgan, a grade 1 teacher, presented to all of us the ways she has been building relationships to help students process a global experience. Every teacher was reminded to keep including the students who aren’t physically in our classrooms. They are the students who are sad that they can’t be at the school they love, so taking the time to check on them, saying a quick hello on Zoom in class, and making them feel included are small but critical actions to help them succeed as well.

The grade 6-8 teachers also met on Friday, May 29th to discuss how building social and emotional connections creates greater incentive for students to complete the school work that their teachers have thoughtfully created and assigned for them. Online school was brand new for all the students in February. Throughout the semester, middle school teachers saw how sacrificing time to scaffold learning reaped heaps of benefits for the students. Individual student check-ins, personalized reminders, and one-on-one Zoom sessions to walk through teacher comments are only a few ways our middle school teachers have been hard at work teaching not only content but how to do online school as well. But it wasn’t just about the students’ work. It never is. Every teacher at SHSID cares deeply about their overall success in every aspect of their lives. That’s why we sacrifice time to deepen these relationships.

Our students are always worth it. After thorough discussion and sharing among all the teachers, we have confirm the principle on their education once again: The overall success in every aspect of the students’ lives is the long-term goal of education.

(Written by Meredith Pearson Pictures by Meredith Pearson)