In some ways, school hasn’t really changed much. Fifth-grade students at Peralta Trail Elementary School in Gold Canyon start their mornings by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and listening to the morning announcements. The biggest difference is that they're doing this all from their homes through Zoom.
The Apache Junction Unified School District in the East Valley was one of the first Arizona districts to start its new school year in late July. It’s been conducting virtual classes since then.
Teacher Courtney Campbell said she and her students have learned to make the best of the situation.
“Today we made up a version of Heads Up, Seven Up, and they had so much fun, so I think I am really loving it,” she said.
Even though they aren’t physically together, Campbell makes sure her students are having fun while they’re learning. On a recent morning, she challenged the students to use an onomatopoeia when they heard their name during attendance. The silly sounds made Campbell and students giggle.
For Campbell, this new school year is a big improvement from the spring when the Apache Junction district had a hard time connecting with them after the pandemic began. Less than half of Campbell’s students were able to log in to the class, as many lacked Wi-Fi or a computer.
“I felt worthless. I really did,” Campbell said. “I felt like I couldn’t reach all my kids. I couldn’t teach them anything new. I just felt like I was trying to keep them in love with the idea of school as much as I could.”
The district serves about 3,000 students who are mostly white and Latino. More than half of students come from low-income households, said Superintendent Krista Anderson.
The district offered extra credit to students who could attend virtual classes, and held those who didn’t harmless. To avoid those discrepancies this year, the district distributed laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots to any students in need.
This means expectations for students are different this year, Anderson said.
“Kids are required to be in school and kids are required to participate and yes it’s not the ideal setting, but I know what we are doing is good,” Anderson said.
The first days back were a little rough, Campbell said. In addition to connectivity issues, students had to get used the new computer programs and new class expectations, such as having their video cameras on.
“I have camera-shy kids that I have to give pep talks to before class sometimes like, ‘No one is staring at you on your video,’” Campbell said. “So it’s just something that they have to realize is OK and overcome.”
Campbell’s student, Aaron Saldaña, 10, said online school is OK, but he doesn’t think it’s better than real school.
“It’s been weird waking up in the morning and then just walking over here,” Aaron said, referring to his study area.
Prudence Rockwood, 9, said not being in the classroom has been hard, especially when she’s taking notes during Campbell’s class.
“I find it a little more complicated to watch her because she freezes sometimes and sometimes I can’t hear her,” Rockwood said.
Despite the difficulties, both students said they're enjoying the experience and being in Campbell's class overall, but they're looking forward to the day when they can see their friends again.
The district understands how important it is for students to interact with each other for the social and emotional benefit. One way the district provides students with the socialization they crave is by leaving a virtual Zoom room open during lunch time. Campbell recently connected a small group of students through Zoom so they could play Roblox, an online game, together.
“So it was like they were still huddled up at recess playing and then they came back after and were like, ‘That was the best recess ever!’” Campbell said.
Apache Junction teachers and students will return to the traditional classroom soon. This week, the district’s governing board voted to begin a hybrid phase where students will be at their school campus for two days, and learn from home the rest of the week. The board is considering a full school reopening for October.
But having to start their school in a new, nontraditional learning mode has opened new possibilities for the district, Anderson said.
“With our teachers being basically pushed to a technology world, it has expanded their skill set and so I am excited about what we’ll be able to do with our professional development and our teachers and their instructional practices when we do return back,” she said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the location of Peralta Trail Elementary School.
