Edmunds County Tribune -

The local schools are empty — no students in the classrooms. Closed by Gov. Noem for the safety of students and staff due to the coronavirus outbreak.

But local educators are still working hard to make sure students are learning.

Edmunds Central high school and middle school social studies teacher Mike Faw said he follows the same class schedule that he would normally have, “so my students know when to log into Microsoft Teams for our classes.”

Faw is also using Google Classroom to assign homework and give tests. The students can then share the results using email or computer apps.

“I have tried to make the online learning experience as close to our traditional classroom learning as possible,” Faw said.

Brian Hogie, the Ipswich middle school science teacher, said his students are able to obtain their classwork on Google Classroom. He can post assignments for the week using the online site. Each week the students receive three assignments to complete. “They can access all the information they need through this site,” he said.

Hogie also meets once a week with each class on Zoom, an online meeting website. “We spend about 20 minutes communicating about what will be due that week and what was due the week before,” he said. “Really it’s just a chance for us to see each other and communicate.”

Elementary students also use the computer for virtual classes.

Ipswich fifth grade teacher Carol Lacher said she uses Loom software to video herself teaching math lessons. Her lesson is then placed in Google Classroom for the students to watch. She will work with students individually on Google if necessary.

Her students get homework, photographed by parents and emailed to the teacher. “I then correct it and respond to the email letting them know how they did,” Lacher said.

The fifth graders get new math assignments and have to read a chapter in their novel, respond to questions and write a summary each day for four days a week. “We have started giving them a Brain Break on Wednesdays,” Lacher said. The student could take a virtual field trip or get caught up on lessons they may be behind on.

Lacher meets with her students twice a week on Zoom. “We get to see each other and they can ask questions or just talk to their classmates,” she said.

Last week Lacher did a scavenger hunt with them while they were zooming.

The students also have computer programs to reinforce the math and reading skills that are being taught, Lacher said.

Edmunds Central third grade teacher Michele Eisenbeisz said they do paper/pencil packets for the students, which parents pick up weekly. “The skills are being reinforced so students do not lose any essential skills that have been taught,” she said. The elementary staff keeps the parents in mind, not wanting to overwhelm them.

“I give review skills in language arts (spelling, vocabulary, reading), math, handwriting, science and social students,” Eisenbeisz said. She also gives the parents links to her Planbook so their child can access links to some fun videos and extra learning links.

“I can monitor progress on both programs and give bonus points,” she said.

The educators have to prepare for the students’ weekly lessons. Eisenbeisz goes to the school weekly to make copies for the following week. “I put a week’s worth of papers and little readers in a folder with their name and grade, so it is easy on the staff to hand out to parents,” she said.

She also asks parents to photograph and send homework pages via email. Eisenbeisz corrects it and sends emails of the corrected pages for the parents and students. She is available by phone or email to answer questions.

During Sandra Beyers’ library time for second and third grade, they Zoom with each other. They are working on a 50-state reading challenge.

“It is great to be able to see all the kids,” Eisenbeisz said. “I miss having my class in my classroom. I miss the one-on-one contact if someone is struggling,” she said. “I miss the giggles.”

Eisenbeisz said she knows this is the safest way to teach the rest of the year. “So, I am doing my best to find review material that will keep their interest and not panic the parents.”

Educational links are used by many teachers, everything from Physical Education to reading.

The Ipswich and Edmunds Central Boards of Education met on Monday night to discuss the end of this year’s unique school year.