Washington science teachers get creative during pandemic learning
The Seattle Times Education Lab: Updated Jan. 4, 2021 at 6:21 am
By Hannah Furfaro, Seattle Times staff reporter
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...Ray Tsang, who teaches physics and chemistry to Franklin High teens in Seattle, says checking in with his students emotionally is more urgent than faithfully following the curriculum. Many come from low-income families and work part- or full-time to help supplement their family’s income. Some have contracted the coronavirus or have family members who were affected.
“One day [a student] wasn’t participating as much and she was like, ‘Sorry, I’m really tired, I got diagnosed with coronavirus,’” he said. They spoke after class. “I just wanted to check in. Have you gone to the doctor? Do you have resources to deal with this?”
He shares resources, too, such as Washington’s new COVID-19 notification app, WA Notify.
“Of course, learning the [course] content is very important,” he said. “But it’s not more important than understanding the pandemic that’s happening right now.”