COVID-19 challenges teacher to become a better educator

As the new school term began with online teaching on April 22, Brown's Town High School teacher Yanique Dobson said the novel coronavirus has been challenging her to become a better educator.

She took a break from teaching the afternoon shift to speak with THE WEEKEND STAR about her dedication to her students, especially during this pandemic.

"I am currently in class as I am about to WhatsApp the work to the students so they can do it and send it back for us to mark them. This afternoon shift works better for some parents because they go to work and take the phones with them so we have to work along with them. It's a daily teaching for us and not just once or twice weekly," she said.

Dobson, along with members of her team, are support coaches who teach more than 70 students who have not mastered grade four literacy and numeracy examinations and require more support.

'"The students my team and I coach need all the support they can get. This gap and absence of face-to-face interaction will have a negative bearing on them academically. A lot of these students are badly in need of support so we will have to work double hard to give them whatever boosting they need to move into another class this September," she said.

Shortly after the deadly COVID-19 hit Jamaican shores, Dobson penned the lyrics to a song about handwashing which she said has resonated well with the students.

Pay attention

"I know my children very well and I know that there will be media bulletins, but it might not always hit the spot. I know they all love to sing, so when I did the song, I know they would pay attention to it. As teachers, sometimes we have to act like clowns for our students. Sometimes all we need is the red nose and the big shoes," she laughed.

Dobson's handwashing song, which she did in her classroom with some of her students, has garnered more than 24,000 views online.

She stated that the virus has caused major adjustments for the staff but stated that this does not pose an issue as she is in love with her job.

"This virus has taught me to open my mind to different things as it relates to teaching, as, although there are no face-to-face classes, we are still expected to impart knowledge. We started off with Google classrooms but then we realised that every student did not have constant Internet access. So our principal Alfred Thomas encouraged us to do whatever it takes to reach every student, so we have been using WhatsApp groups," she said.

"Like everybody else, I never wanted COVID-19 to enter our shores, but it is already here, so I just have to be of greater use and impact for my family and for those children at Brown's Town High School for whom I am responsible," she added.