Interventions are helping students stay on track during virtual learning
Posted on 09/18/2020
Interventionists and classroom teachers throughout Mehlville School District have been meeting with students to help them stay on track during Plan C: Connected, our virtual learning model.
“The activities I’ve been doing with students depends on their age,” said Dawn Bresler, Beasley Elementary English language learner teacher. “We’ve been doing name puzzles and identifying letters with younger students and supporting our older students with writing.”
Image: Beasley Elementary English Language Learners teacher Dawn Bresler plays a game with a student designed to help them identify letters.
Students needing additional support are often identified by their teacher and can be learning below, at or above grade level. Interventions take place either individually or in small groups of no more than three students.
“You’re working with them on their specific needs,” said Ellen Geders, Wohlwend Elementary reading interventionist. “Anytime you can make those groups smaller, it’s going to be beneficial for kids.”
Image: Wohlwend Elementary Reading Interventionist Ellen Geders watches as a student matches and identifies letters.
Parents have brought students to school for interventions, and our bus drivers have been picking up students whose families need assistance with transportation.
“It’s important for students to receive the extra support they may not be receiving while they’re learning at home,” Bresler said. “When they come into the school building, it really helps them connect with what they may have been missing.”
Teachers are hopeful these interventions will help students build relationships and personalize their education until we return to in-person learning.
“It’s extremely important, especially given the circumstances,” Geders said. “You get to make connections with these children, and that’s the most important thing.”
Please contact your child’s teacher if you think they would benefit from additional support. Virtual intervention times are available for students enrolled in Mehlville@Home.
How we’re keeping students and staff safe
During in-person interventions, students and staff have been following our district-wide safety procedures designed to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.
These include one-way traffic flow in hallways, social distancing and face coverings. Additionally, parents are waiting in their vehicles to limit the amount of people in buildings, students are completing our School Wellness Checklist before entering and plexiglass barriers are being used to separate staff and students.