In a prior post I touched on this particular part of Brian Crosby's other video. It reminded me of a time not so long ago when I had a student in my homeroom diagnosed with leukemia. He did not make it back to school after February and the district hired a tutor to go to his home and keep him up with the curriculum. I found it difficult to send readings and worksheets home in hopes that the tutor would be able to get across what I wanted her to. He also missed out on many labs and hands-on activities.
More importantly, he missed the daily interactions with his peers. He was no longer part of our homeroom or science class. He simply disappeared and students soon thereafter stopped asking when he would be coming back. This is where I think Skype could have helped. It could have made the student feel like he still belonged and was part of the class. Being able to interact with the class may have made him feel better about himself and not so isolated. Perhaps he would have felt like a normal teenager, if only for that 45 minutes. I only wish I had thought of something like this when he was in my class.
Amy, I am touched by how difficult this situation is. But I agree that Skype may be an excellent resolution. After all, it would be good for the student experiencing an extended absence to just feel connected. I appreciate your respect and concern for your students. It makes me glad to be part of the profession, if only in training.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Skype is a great tool, your compansion for your students is the real tool. It can be such a difficult situation, but having a teacher like you doing everything you can to bring a "normal light" to a difficult situation is truly inspiring.
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