Teachers worry students falling behind with distance learning

Teachers are stressed and worried that your kids aren’t learning from home.

One Lee County teacher said she thinks some kids are falling behind as virtual learning continues.

“Technology is great when it works and when it doesn’t, it’s not so great,” said Colleen Canciani, a 9th- and 10th-grade reading teacher.

She said Google Classroom doesn’t come close to the classroom experience.

“I hear parents struggling and that’s really what makes me sad. The parents are struggling to try to teach them something, and they’re not familiar and they don’t want to steer their child wrong.”

That adds to her stress.

A survey just released by the Florida Education Association says Canciani isn’t alone.

“This is a stressful time for anybody. Working from home, especially when you have to engage students, is very difficult work,” said Fedrick Ingram, president of the FEA.

Ingram said he hopes the Department of Education listens to teachers as they plan for the next school year. The state said it plans to, starting with a survey of its own to ask teachers and parents for feedback.

The big question: will students be where they need to be come fall?

“There is an anticipation that when students come back that there may be some learning losses,” said Rob Spicker, spokesperson for the School District of Lee County.

Canciani understands that and said teachers will be ready to react.

“That’s what it’s about. That’s why teachers teach, because it’s what kids need.”

The School District of Lee County said Tuesday that all summer school classes will be done online.