"The Digital Teacher"

As I began planning for the week, I was petrified, I knew I was plannning virtual assessments for my kindergarten students. I was planning but, I could not envsion or forsee what it was going to be like to assess kindergarten students virtually. I tried to imagine every scenario possible, but in reality, I didn't know what situations to plan for. So, I set out trying to figure out how to assess; whole group, small groups or individual. Final Plan were as follows: Phonics would be individual during my live sessions, I made schedules to meet with students Monday and Tuesday between 9:35AM and 2:45PM with breaks in between. Science would be in small groups; I made 4 groups of 4-5 students and met with students on Thursday Math was also in small groups scheduled on Friday Technology: Phonics was assessed using split screen, as I met individually with students, students were given a set of letters and simple CVC words to decode. I was surprised and overwhelmed with the student's responses. The students were happy, they were confident and they were eager to show me what they know. Based on the student's responses, I felt a sense of euphoria. It was going to be ok. I pushed forward with Science and Math. I used live Participation Nearpod lessons to assess both science and Math and again, I was met with such enthusiasm from the students. As I watched through my computer screen, I was filled with mixed emotions. I felt sad because my students were so eager to please and this was their reality at the moment. I felt sad because I was teaching them from my empty classroom seats ready, desks ready but my classeroom was still and quite. However, It was exhileratating, the sense of accomplishment, I felt, for sucessfully navigating through a week of Virtual kindergarten Assessments. The week ended with a Virual Literacy Night, Teachers read books, Teachers performed Book Skits and my students felt they were transported to a Virtual world of Books coming to life...