The 2020/21 school year will definitely go down in history! As I think about planning for this unique school year, I have more questions than answers, just like many other teachers. Ultimately, all of my questions relate to a larger one: How can we move forward with equitable mathematics learning in the era of COVID-19?
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has many great suggestions for school leaders and teachers in the areas of school decision making, professional learning and collaboration, effective teaching practices, and productive classroom structures. Some of these suggestions are new, and some are not (good teaching is good teaching), but one thing they have in common is an emphasis on relationships and connection between all stakeholders, especially between teachers and students. After all, what the pandemic has hurt the most is our connection with our students. “No connection, no influence!”—to quote Jody Carrington, author of Kids These Days: A Game Plan for (Re)Connecting with Those We Teach, Lead and Love (Impress, 2020). This is the case whether we are doing in-person learning or online, at-home learning.
Stay safe and stay connected!
Stacey Wu
