On April 6, elementary and secondary school teachers across the Commonwealth entered the second phase of distance learning, in which curriculum will be advanced, though at a slower pace than under normal conditions. During the prior two weeks of closure, however, teachers worked hard to support students with review and enrichment activities.
Janet Brown. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
In a recent conversation, Janet Brown, head of the English department at Bromfield, talked about what that time was like for her, and she described the creative projects the teachers in her department developed for their students. “I know other departments did some wonderful work, as well,” she said.
Brown said her work days remained consistent; “I’m working full days—just from a different place,” she said. There were days when she spent four hours on Zoom. The last in-person faculty meeting was March 12, and between then and March 30, the full faculty met three times online. There have been five department leader meetings on Zoom since March 12. Brown has held department meetings, communicated individually with teachers in her department for support and on schedules for next year, and interacted with students, particularly on next year’s placement for them. “All the teachers are working really hard to support the kids,” she said.
Brown said she was impressed and grateful for the ways in which teachers in her department went beyond the review and enrichment learning opportunities recommended in guidelines provided by the state commissioner of education.
One example is an activity developed by Emily Verrochi to serve the community while expanding her students’ study of Shakespeare. In a letter to her classes, Verrochi wrote: “One small way we can support our families in town is to make available recordings of our favorite children’s books to help provide content that is educational, homemade, and created with love.”
Verrochi described the activity: “Objective: Using your knowledge of how Shakespeare uses literary devices (such as figurative language), diction, connotation, and punctuation to convey emotions and plot to the reader, record yourself reading a children’s book that shows your understanding of such conventions. We will share these videos with Hildreth Elementary School so that children can hear others read some of their favorite stories.”
Partnering with library
Cristin Hodgens reported, “The eighth-grade partnership with the Harvard Public Library also continues with great joy. Thanks to a carefully culled fourth-quarter book list, specifically designed by HPL reference librarians Lisa Gagnon and Jill Hayes for the Bromfield eighth grade, students also have the opportunity to read a high-interest, free, Hoopla e-book of choice.”
Brown herself, following the initiative of a few students, took the opportunity to pursue something she has tried previously but not been able to carry through—establishing a Bromfield chapter of the National English Honor Society for those students who have a deep love of English and want a further outlet for their interests. The goal will be to write a charter, but in the meantime, Brown created a readers and writers collaborative. Eleven students in grades 10 through 12 have met twice, most recently to read an original poem or an established favorite.
In addition to her duties as a teacher and department leader, Brown has been offering a meditation class before school every morning. She now videotapes the meditation class and makes it available each day to students and faculty through Google Classroom. Currently, she has 40 people enrolled.
Brown called attention to a project by special education teacher Jesse Shaw, who has given the school community what it may need most. In a video called “Smiles for Students,” he has assembled clips of teachers and staff in their home environments, all set to music. The opening clip is Principal Scott Hoffman, with his dog on a leash, introducing the film and crediting Shaw with putting it all together. Next is a baby slowly being raised horizontally into the air and then the faces of his smiling parents appearing on either side of him. From there on are teachers playing with their kids (including blowing a son’s hat off with a leaf blower), petting dogs, walking outside—and each one includes a huge smile and a big wave.
