How Are Some Ways That Schools Makeup Snow Day

What Does Virtual Learning Mean For Snow Days? Even though many students are taking classes online, some schools are withal embracing Snowfall Days, in part, and then students tin all the same bask the magic of an unexpected break.

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What Does Virtual Learning Mean For Snowfall Days?

December 9, 2020 5:05 AM ET

From KBIA

What Does Virtual Learning Mean For Snow Days?

Fifty-fifty though many students are taking classes online, some schools are however embracing Snow Days, in function, so students tin notwithstanding enjoy the magic of an unexpected interruption.

NOEL KING, HOST:

What does online learning mean for what is arguably one of the all-time parts of babyhood, the snow day? Some parents and administrators are wondering if it still makes sense to miss a day of grade because of bad weather. Rebecca Smith with member station KBIA in Columbia, Mo., has been looking into it.

REBECCA SMITH, BYLINE: Keri Showers and her 8-twelvemonth-one-time daughter Ava crowd into the frame of a Zoom window. The pall behind them is covered with reindeer and silverish trees. And our chat begins like many present, unintentionally on mute. They alive in Columbia, Mo., where snow days still exist, even with virtual classes due to the pandemic. Ava's face lights up as Keri asks her her favorite snow 24-hour interval activities.

AVA: I like whenever we went sledding.

KERI SHOWERS: I think I savour snow days when I wouldn't have to go to work, and we could only stay inside and cuddle and sleep in if we knew in accelerate and just accept a cozy fourth dimension.

SMITH: Columbia Public Schools sent a message to families before Thanksgiving well-nigh possible snowfall days. It mentioned the joy and serendipity of an unexpected day off. Showers says she'due south torn. While she likes snow days, she feels like her three kids demand as much form time as they can become.

SHOWERS: If nosotros're all online like nosotros are at present, I don't understand why we would need to observe a snow solar day. I feel like they could make concessions for information technology. Similar, the teachers could not become in that solar day, yous know, and they could but exercise online from their homes.

SMITH: Craig Hounsom is the superintendent of Rolla Public Schools, a rural district nearly two hours due south of Columbia that's besides keeping snow days on the calendar. He says it'due south not an easy decision to make.

CRAIG HOUNSOM: We are a larger community but in a very rural expanse. And some of our staff that live out and about, the ability to practice online didactics from home is questionable for a lot of them. So some staff would need to travel in to use our facilities and our network.

SMITH: He says snow days are about more merely getting people to school safely. The district recently shared a post on its Facebook page encouraging people - broil the cookies, take hold of the sleds and make some memories if a snowfall solar day occurs. And Hounsom says anybody - parents, students and staff - have been flexible with changes due to COVID. And he thinks they all could apply a pause.

HOUNSOM: It's a lot. Students are online at present, yous know, this year already, much more than than they ever have been. And if nosotros accept a snow day and kids tin can get exterior and enjoy being a kid, I don't think that'southward a negative. We call back we'll brand upwards the 24-hour interval, and instructionally, we'll be better off.

SMITH: But non everyone thinks that snow days makes sense in this year of online learning. Natalie Milman teaches educational technology at George Washington University. She says she gets the joy of snow days. In fact, when she brought upwards the idea of catastrophe them, her own son asked, quote, "Are you hateful?" But she says, every bit an educator, she worries about the disruption.

NATALIE MILMAN: I know of a schoolhouse organisation in New Jersey that - they were very upfront about - they strongly believe in the snowfall twenty-four hours, and they desire kids to continue playing in the snow and enjoying information technology. You know, I know for many information technology's a nostalgic kind of matter from their own childhood. Is it something that is absolutely necessary and needed? You know, I think we could debate no.

SMITH: Back in Columbia, the Showers family is doing the best information technology can with online learning. While Keri Showers says she'south not sure how she feels virtually snow days right now, they do ever take their boots, coats and sleds ready just in case.

For NPR News, I'm Rebecca Smith in Columbia.

(SOUNDBITE OF Vocal, "DO YOU Desire TO BUILD A SNOWMAN")

UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS: (Singing) Do you lot want to build a snowman? Come on, allow's go and play.

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Source: https://www.npr.org/2020/12/09/944528424/what-does-virtual-learning-mean-for-snow-days

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