if outbreaks do occur, individual schools will be tasked with creating staggered schedules to ensure no more than 14 students and one teacher are allowed in a classroom, with desks at least two metres apart. that means most students would only attend school half the time, or just part of the week.
but with expectations high for reopening, schools have to plan now to first support students’ mental health as a precursor to supporting academic learning.
kelly schwartz, associate professor at the u of c’s school of applied child psychology, says educators need to be prepared for a multitude of challenges as students face the prospect of not just their own covid-19 health risk, but the possibility of infecting others.
“there will be a lot of challenges because, depending on their age, kids may process and react in different ways.
“younger kids might adapt or process things in a way that may be less stressful, but then older kids will be thinking about the ‘what-ifs’ a little bit more.â€
schwartz adds that kids may also deal with fear through “whistleblowing,†by constantly reminding others to stand back two metres or obsessing over washed hands.
“the most important thing is for teachers to have confidence, to take on that leadership role, and just have those conversations with students that all of these responses are normal and that it is ok to not be ok.â€