Making Learning Personal

Liz Matheny, Frederick High School

@matheeli

When schools transitioned to distance learning in March, many of us experienced growing pains. From navigating new platforms to determining the most efficient way to communicate with students and families, we were all learning and adapting as quickly as possible. That experience was no different as we planned the Vanguard Summer Academy (VSA) in June. Based on our experience participating in VSA in 2019, we wanted to cultivate the same invigorating experience that fostered connections with teachers across FCPS, but we were nervous if that same energy could transfer to a digital environment. We continuously posed questions like, “How can we build meaningful relationships virtually?” and “What activities should be done synchronously and what can be done asynchronously?” Truth be told, these are the same questions I am asking myself as I consider plans for the fall.

As we worked together as a team, I learned so much from the other FCPS educators who were also serving as Vanguard mentors. I was inspired by Maggie Wolen’s willingness to lead the charge on transitioning a Breakout EDU room experience to a digital platform. Even though I was very anxious about it, it was one of the best moments of my VSA experience. I observed how it forced participants to actively discuss and problem solve using shared materials but in a virtual setting. Additionally, I have always loved how Amy Cordes incorporates the We! Connect Cards into professional learning experiences, but had a lightbulb moment when Lindsey Weaver confidently incorporated them into our connector session. I can easily use a few of the low-stakes questions to kick off a Google Meet to build community with my students in the new school year. Similarly, watching Jonathan Newman troubleshoot technical difficulties and provide links to participants through the Google Meet chat helped me visualize how I can provide example texts and supporting resources to students in real time during a synchronous session. And if there were any doubt, Matt McVay helped me realize that asynchronous activities can be lighthearted and fun.

Even though I was nervous about leading professional learning in a virtual environment, VSA helped me realize that fostering authentic connections and learning experiences is possible. Instead of fretting over the unknowns of the upcoming school year, I’m taking the energy and knowledge I gained from VSA and am brainstorming ways to adapt my English classroom so that it is a place where students feel welcome, seen, safe, and eager to learn.

Congratulations to Casey Keyser (Cohort 1) for being selected for the 2021 Award for Teaching Excellence by The NEA Foundation!

Jennifer Young, Thurmont Elementary School

@FCPSYoung

Spring, a time of year when teachers are usually looking forward to field trips and end-of-year celebrations, had become a time of uncertainty about what lies ahead for the school year. Just this morning, the host on the local radio station asked the question, What does school look like moving forward? As always, I am grateful that we have great educational leaders working to answer that question. So while the radio host debated things like staggered starts, and how to maintain social distancing inside of a school building, I found myself thinking instead about a different question: How do we apply the lessons of distance learning to our physical classrooms in order to build a better education for students when we return?

In my own journey with distance learning, I have identified five lessons that I hope to take back to the classroom with me.

1. Students rise to meet the expectation.

Distance Learning has forced a level of independence that isn’t always present in the classroom, and students are rising to meet that challenge! As teachers, we work so hard to support our students that we can forget to let them fly solo. A lesson of distance learning is that the majority of our students are able to independently apply what they have learned. Returning to the classroom, we need to remember that lesson and continue to challenge our students to be independent.

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Jessica Myers, Waverley Elementary School

@FCPSmsmyersEL

While I agree and understand that life is hard and scary right now with so many unknowns, I wanted to highlight some of the amazing shifts that are happening in education due to distance learning to hopefully brighten your day, and help you see some positives that are coming out of this crazy time.

Almost literally overnight, the face of education has changed. Unfortunately, prior to COVID-19, our classrooms in many schools were much the same of what they were as far back as 1915, with desks in rows, and teachers talking at the front of the room. 1915?!?! 1915?!?! That’s OVER 100 years ago! When we think about the advancements in EVERYTHING else in our world, how sad is that, that the classroom model of teacher lecture and student listening quietly has stayed the same in our fast paced world for THAT long?!?

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Crystal Dorsey, West Frederick Middle School

@MrsCDorsey

Don’t worry…..Don’t panic! These are the statements that kept going through my mind as I logged on to Google Meet to begin my journey as an FCPS Vanguard teacher.

The Vanguard Summer Academy was exciting! It was exciting because as a new Vanguard I was able to listen and learn from those who had already started this journey. The “Seasoned Vanguards” (as I like to call them) provided me with valuable knowledge on Blended Learning and what my first year as a Vanguard Teacher may look like. In summary, the academy was exciting because I got a chance to learn from some of FCPS’s most innovative educators!!

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Lindsey Weaver, Middletown High School

@thefitbrarian

Any experienced runner knows the value of a good post-race shakeout run. This is a run a day or two after a long run or race for recovery of sore muscles. Not long ago I ran the Catoctin 50k, which takes place on a portion of the Catoctin National Scenic Trail. For those unfamiliar with this trail, it is a relatively technical and unforgiving series of climbs and descents. It is a challenging race to say the least, but I felt confident; I had trained enough and was prepared. Even so, about 25 miles into the race I hit what is known as the pain cave: a period of time where I experienced a level of suffering that made me question why I actually paid good money to run. Instead I could have easily gone out for a nice morning run, avoiding the struggle and the discomfort...but if we’re being honest, where’s the fun in that? Though the race was growing difficult, I pushed through the last eight miles with determination. The day after, I took a much deserved rest day. I felt that I had earned the right to be absolutely lazy, and so I did nothing but lay around reading all day. Rest days are an important part of recovery after all.

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September - Vanguard Forum (Cohorts 2-4)

October 26 and 27, 4:30-6:30 - Cohort 4 with Catlin Tucker

October 28 and 29, 4:30-6:30 - Cohort 2 with Catlin Tucker

November 4, 12:00-3:00 - Q&A with Catlin Tucker (All Cohorts)

December - Elementary Vanguard Forum

December - Secondary Vanguard Forum

The Vanguard Teacher Program is a three year, competency-based, teacher leadership program. Vanguards will teach, lead, and coach others to create a blended learning environment in the classroom, while building capacity within schools and across the district.

Email: eric.haines@fcps.org
Website: vanguard.fcps.org
Phone: 301-644-5182
Twitter: @EHaines24