Reflections on Online Learning from Mr. Lascano, Cville Day School History/Civic teacher

Joe Lascano is a 32-year veteran teacher and has spent 5 years of those at Elk Hill Charlottesville School. He describes himself as a digital native, was quick to adapt to the online classroom learning, and has been a mentor to other teachers who were not so comfortable adapting to the online learning classroom.

What has it been like shifting to the online classroom experience for you and your students?

We knew that all of our students were going to struggle with at-home learning. They already struggled day to day in the classroom and needed intensive one-on-one support educationally and emotionally pre-COVID.  We also know that for many of them they are coming from homes that were already in distress. We have seen all of this transfer to the online classroom. I have one student I cannot connect with regularly because they are constantly moving from one place to another, and other students who are yelling or hanging up on me. These home circumstance and behaviors were very similar while they were physically with us, it just now when the hang up me, I have very little ability intervene.  

I have learned that for many of students it’s impossible to set up regular classroom times for a variety of reason, it’s too hard for some of the kids to stay focused with  5 to 6 other students in the online classroom, the older students are needed to work and help with odd jobs, or they simply are too emotionally dysregulated.   With this in mind, I have adapted to smaller groups and one-on-one instruction times. I have begun to meet with 2 to 3 students a couple times a week for one to two hours where we review and discuss work that they were assigned such as videos, readings and activities. I have several students I meet with one several times a week, as well.

I, along with my colleagues, teach new materials and try to stay on track with what they would learn if we were in the classroom.I have even used the Pandemic as an opportunity to teach my students about the11th Amendment and federalism. We have debated everything from shelter in place orders, testing, Federal stockpile and even the eventual reopening of businesses. Let me tell you, many of my students have some very strong opinions.

My students want to learn. They are engaged and working hard during what is a very chaotic time, a time when they could easily not turn on the computer or pick up the phone.  I have one student who lives in a group home, we have been online together, and he has had to tell his peers to leave him alone because he was at school.   Many of them are hungry for the normalcy of school, to learn and are missing the relationships they have formed at school.While this time has absolutely been challenging, I am so proud of my students, in the adversity so many continue to show up and learn.

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