Virtual learning happening at home

Similar to the entire state of New Jersey, students at Patrick M. Villano Elementary School in Emerson have been attending virtual classes. Virtual classes started Monday, March 16, by order of Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III.

Virtual learning varies among school districts in the state. At Villano School, teachers post assignments at 8:30 a.m. daily. Students may complete the work between 8:30 am and 9 pm. The late end time allows parents to assist their children, if needed.

“I am not a morning person,” sixth-grader Michael DeOrio stated. “I usually do my work later in the day.”

Work includes assignments in Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies and/or Science plus current specials such as Art, Digit Citizenship, Spanish, Music, and Gym.

“I usually start my work at exactly 8:30 am,” fifth-grader Alexandra DeOrio said. “If I do my work in the morning, I have the whole afternoon to relax.”

Aside from email and Google Classroom comments, teachers are using a a new way to communicate with their students. The new communication is Google Meet which is similar to Facetime and Skype where lessons can be taught in real time through video. Teachers are trying to keep virtual learning as close to a regular school day as possible since schools are expected to be closed through the end of this month.

“Governor Murphy has publicly stated that he would revisit this on April 17th and the federal government has mentioned April 30th as the earliest in which any stay at home expectations would be revisited. As a result, the district is planning on the continuation of at-home learning until at least April 30th,” School Superintendent Dr. Brian Gatens said in a statement emailed to families today.

Bergen County is one of the counties in New Jersey with the most coronavirus cases, according to recent news reports.

Most parents have been working from home just like their children. Parents are juggling their work and assisting  their children at the same time.

“It has been tough teaching from home,” Kathy Tucker stated. She teaches eighth grade in Wayne, NJ. “It is a brand new experience, and we are still trying to figure everything out.”