Chinook teachers reaching out to students during COVID-19

While the school bell may not have hustled children back into their classrooms on Monday morning, student across the Southwest were able to resume modified school work from their homes.

As of Monday, the Chinook School Division is kicking off a Learning At Home session for students for the next two months, with children able to enjoy some normal educational activities in the midst of COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Kyle Mcintyre, Chinook’s Director of Education, noted that ever since the indefinite suspension of school last month, teachers throughout the division have been diligently planning to continue to deliver program opportunities for students. Over the last three weeks in particular, teachers have been taught different technologies and different methodology for working with children.

“Our educators have been busy at home preparing physical units, or cyber units, or electronic units, so that when kids and teachers return to the classroom as we now know it on Monday (April 20) they’re going to have supplemental and ongoing learning opportunities ready,” Mcintyre said during a phone interview this past week.

“We have really changed our whole pedagogical approach in a matter of three weeks. We have really forced a lot of people outside of their comfort zone where they’ve had to learn about new methodology, or new technology, or really find a way of unpacking the essential outcomes for every curriculum so that we can continue to support kids while they’re at home learning.”

Mcintyre explained that students will benefit from the additional learning opportunities they will be participating in while at home.