École Olds Elementary teacher, Reanna Windsor, shares a glimpse of working together from home (Photo: CESD)

By Chinook's Edge School Division

never a dull moment

Busy Chinook’s Edge family settles into teaching and learning from home

May 11, 2020 | 6:00 PM

Families everywhere are juggling multiple demands at the moment. For the Windsor family in Olds, this involves three different Chinook’s Edge schools in two different communities as they learn – and teach – from home!

Reanna Windsor is a teacher at École Olds Elementary School who hits the ground running each morning, as she prepares to guide learning for her class of Grade 4 students as well as for her own kids.

Daughter Kelly is a self-sufficient Grade 10 student at Didsbury High and son Nicolas works easily on his Grade 6 coursework alongside his Westglen School teachers online. When her husband Paul isn’t working shiftwork, he takes the lead with Oliver (5) and Simon (2) so Reanna can take part in morning meetings with students, parents and co-workers. When he is working, the older kids take turns helping Oliver with his school work for pre-kindergarten, while also keeping up with their own studies. The day proceeds with Reanna providing classroom lessons, checking in with her students and organizing Google Meet once a week so her students can interact with one another.

“The days are busy, but I feel like we’ve all caught our breath in terms of using the technology and settling into this new way of learning,” said Reanna, who attended Chinook’s Edge schools herself and graduated from Sundre High.

“It’s still strange, though. It really won’t be the same until we’re back in class and I know a lot of my students are really missing school. They miss the routine and all the joking around – they want hugs and physical connections. But we’ve all learned so much through this; it has definitely made us take a look at what we bring to teaching and learning.

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“Everybody is dealing with this situation differently, but I know teachers and staff are trying so hard to make this work well for their students. Our EAs are connecting with each student, they’re doing research on different activities for students to do at home. They’re just chipping in wherever they can and helping make the whole thing work – and I think everything is working very well.

“For my family, having a routine is key: we all get up at the same time, and try to hold work and play time at similar times each day. Nic is in charge of recess! He organizes outdoor activities and we are all keeping well, but I know my kids are missing their friends and teachers just like my students are.

“For me having a busy home is not new, but I know this has created stress for other people. One mom asked me when they will find out who their child’s teacher will be next year and then added ‘I hope it’s not me again!’”

(Sandy Bexon)