Supporting Student Learning Amid the Pandemic Requires Prioritizing Social-Emotional Care
Commentary authors
Krista Fairley
Rebecca Norwood
Janice Phan
Cynthia Sanchez
Summary
The pandemic has shifted the role of educators, urging them to go beyond traditional boundaries, ensuring student well-being through new challenges in remote learning. Teachers have adapted to online tools, engaged with trauma-exposed students, and provided one-to-one tutoring and emotional support. Administrators have coordinated food distribution, coached teachers, communicated policy changes, checked student well-being, and supported families. Essential lessons learned emphasize prioritizing social-emotional care for students and staff. To address this, maintaining connections through weekly office hours, redesigning learning strategies, allowing flexible guidelines, and investing in professional learning and collaboration are crucial. The shift demands bold transformations in educational practices, requiring inclusive policy decisions that value educators' insights and experiences to serve communities equitably amidst the crisis.
