|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Students regain focus after snow days
Source:
Cranberry Eagle
Written by:
Paula Grubbs
Published:
February 24, 2010
Like everyone else, school officials have battled the snow for the past month.
They have to get parking lots plowed, check bus schedules, and help students and staff who struggle to get to school.
Also, the numerous school snow delays and cancellations have caused teachers to refocus students' attention on classroom work instead of telling snow tales.
John Giancola, Rowan Elementary principal, said snow delay days don't seem to be a problem for young students in the Seneca Valley School District.
"Kids are resilient and flexible," he said. "It only takes a few minutes for them to get acclimated to change."
There have been plenty of school day changes this winter. Classes have been canceled six times. Two-hour delays to start a school day have occurred three times.
Mark Jones, a second grade teacher at Chicora Elementary in the Karns City School District, said even if the events outside the classroom window, such as snow, are distracting for a minute, he can pull the students back to learning.
"It doesn't seem to be a disruption to them," he said.
If the flakes kick up outside, Jones might even bring their attention to it.
"We'll give the snow attention for three minutes and then they do redirect right back to the lesson," he said.
He compared it to passing out a manipulative educational item for the children. After giving the students a learning aid, such as a clock for time-telling, he lets them play for five minutes before he starts the lesson so that the students will listen and not play with item more.
In much the same way, he said, if you give the students two minutes to talk about the snow, then they won't be distracted.
"Kids are flexible, sometimes more so than adults," he said.
When a canceled school day or a two-hour delay disrupts the lessons, Jones said he will spread that material over the next few days. Often there are a few lessons set aside for review at the end of a unit and Jones can use that time to catch up if needed.
Karns City has canceled school four days and operated on a two-hour delay twice.
Maggie Tkatch, a Seneca Valley High School learning support teacher and 10-year faculty member, said secondary schools follow a modified class schedule on snow delay days instead of eliminating classes.
She said if students are returning to school after a day or more of cancellations, they are excited to be back.
But she said they are not distracted because the snow delay system has been the same throughout their years at Seneca Valley.
"They're into the material, they're asking questions," said Tkatch. "They have their homework caught up."
Tkatch said she and many teachers at the high school post assignments online so students can keep up with their work in wintery weather.
"It's business as usual," she said.
Third grade teacher Peter Tucciarone, who has taught in the Seneca Valley district for 15 years, said more of his time is spent on classroom management when there is a snow delay day.
"The kids are a lot more distracted," said Tucciarone. "They get thrown off; they're more energetic and talkative. It's hard to get them focused."
Tucciarone said core subjects are pushed to the front of the agenda when class time is shortened. He added teachers can find themselves up against the clock because some lessons come in packages that must be used and returned by a certain date.
But he said the educational materials companies that provide those packages usually allow some leeway in weather situations.
Carolyn Cornish, assistant superintendent at the Butler School District, said teachers use routine to get students to focus.
At morning meetings in the elementary schools, students share what they are working on that day. That is a good opportunity for students to talk about current events, even if that is the snow.
She said after school has been canceled because of snow, students might talk about what they did on the day off.
"They put those issues to rest and then focus on the day," Cornish said.
She said it is important to take time to talk about events in the students' lives.
"Doing that really helps focus," she said.
In Butler, classes have been canceled five times, students were sent home early one day, and they started school two hours late four times.
Susan McElheny, a 25-year faculty member who teaches first grade at the Mars Primary Center in the Mars School District, said it is fun to see how excited her students are when they arrive on a delay day.
"They're 6; they're 7; they're excited," said McElheny.
She said students practically report to lunch right after they arrive on a two-hour delay day.
"After lunch, it's down to business," she said.
McElheny ensures core subjects are completed during shortened days, and students do not have recess.
"We tell them 'You had your playtime at home before you came," McElheny said.
She said students understand they have a lot to do in a short time, and they knuckle down and complete their assignments without complaining.
McElheny, a winter lover who is not yet tired of the snow, tells the students she still loves the snow.
"They almost groan," McElheny said. "I think even they are getting sick of it."
Mars has canceled school days five times this winter and had four days with two-hour delays.
Lee Pyle has taught family and consumer science to the ninth and 10th graders at the Seneca Intermediate High School for 17 years.
She said delays are made easier by flexible curriculum that allows teachers to move lessons around during classes, which are about 12 minutes shorter than normal, on school delay days.
"We're able to still do our curriculum and cover everything," Pyle said.
She said she doesn't really see a change in students' attitudes or attention levels during shortened days.
"They know it is for their safety that we have the delays," she said.
Pyle said students returning to school after four days off a week ago were excited to see their friends and tell one another their snow stories.
Pyle also praised the district's new notification system, in which staff, students and families receive automated messages about delays or cancellations because of weather.
"Everyone gets the message," said Pyle. "You don't have to sit in front of the TV."
The experienced educator pointed to the 1992-93 school years as the worst, weatherwise. Pyle recalled six inches of snow on Halloween and the St. Patrick's Day blizzard.
"I'm hoping we don't add this year to the list," she said.
|
|
Back |
|
|
|
|
|
|
