YDEV 560 Fall 2020

COVID-19 has brought me into a new norm. That new norm being the world of technology, zoom, google hangouts, google classroom, etc. Before COVID hit, I knew little to nothing about these systems but I had no choice but to learn these systems as a way to communicate with parents who have kids enrolled in the Afterzone program under the Providence After School Alliance. Like me, our youth had no choice but to become familiar with different technological systems in order for them to keep up with their classwork as well as their homework. Their school days consist of sitting in front of a laptop and doing nothing but classwork and not seeing their teachers. The Healthy Children's Organization has published an article regarding youth's mental health during the pandemic. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Signs-your-Teen-May-Need-More-Support. aspx

  The pandemic has affected youth workers in every system that youth development occurs and every facet that we touch.  I asked two of my trusted colleagues how they have adapted since changing their worlds over a single weekend this spring. They also shared their thoughts what eight months of uncertainty, fear and modification has taught them.     The first youth worker I approached is a pre-school teacher. She was asked to conduct distance learning from her home using her own personal computer in March.  She reports losing as much as half of her class.   Because many parents were home, they could not justify paying for pre-school when they weren't working.  Others parents continued working and needed an alternative childcare solution so some students went to other programs.  With the students that remained,  some were encourage to attend and do assignments.  Others lost interest, lacked support at home or simply...

A large classroom all to ourselves. Ten students eating snacks, laughing, enjoying a movie. It's our "Cru Club" and we are enjoying a movie from Japan, a fun conclusion to our months of Japanese studies. The students make comments on the fantasy adventure, fighting over who gets the extra snacks left over. The large room seems small, it is filled with laughter, joy, and excitement. "Cru Club" is now a small bedroom with a single voice. Although it is a classroom our space is now a screen. On the screen are the names of students, and just those names. The only sound is my voice teaching my lesson. No more discussions, no more arguing over snacks, no more comradery. Before COVID my students looked forward to attending their after-school program, seeing their friends, and learning something new. Now, they might still enjoy some of the lessons we do and games we play but interactions are minimal to none. It has been months since I have seen my st...

In January 2020, I remember watching videos on Reddit that were coming out of Wuhan China.  I saw people wearing Tyvek suits, masks and shields who were welding apartment doors and building gates shut.  A shrieking woman was pushed into a small compartment of a van, with a door slamming in her face.  I saw people pressing into hospitals, with rows of patients lining the hallway and snaking out the door.  Day by day, I watched these images with horror.  At a funeral for a beloved uncle who was born in China, I mingled with a family member who works for fitbit, and who had just been in China visiting her family, a few hours south of Wuhan.  She reported that the stories and videos were true. I remember a few days later, I met with Lesley, who co-directs YDEV with me and who is chair of our department, and I asked if she was at all looking into how to transition classes into virtual mode.  I felt a bit crazy asking this question, half jokingly, at the time. In February, my partner and kid...

Monday, November 30 th , 2020               The first time I heard of COVID-19, I was working as a Behavior Technician for Bellingham High School in Massachusetts.   My coworker was the first to tell me the news about it during early 2020.   At the time, I didn't pay much attention to it and neither did any of the students or staff.   As time went on, the news surrounding the virus became more prevalent, but it almost seemed to catch on like wildfire come the second week of March 2020.               On Thursday, March 12 th , 2020, Bellingham High School had a scheduled half day set in place for their students.   During these 3.5 hours, staff spent the day attempting to maintain some normalcy but also mentally preparing both themselves and the youth for a potential shut down.   As panic struck through the rooms, students slathe...

Katie DaRosa Blog Post  Teaching in a pandemic  It was March 2020 when our state went in a full lockdown. During this lockdown I was currently an admin assistant at Pumpkin Patch Early Learning Center. I was working for this ELC for over a year and truly felt comfortable in this work and space. While I was in quarantine, I started to reflect on my career, education, and personal growth. During this time, I withdrew from the MSW program and switched to the YDEV program to continue my work with young people and left the ELC.  After a long 5 months of being unemployed, I finally got a teaching position at an independent school in Providence, Rhode Island as a 5th grade teacher's assistant. I was filled with mixed emotions because for 5 months, I did not leave my home much nor did anything because of the risk of exposure but, I was still extremely excited and blessed to be able to work with young people again. In August 2020, I started working in my classroom in person with...

2020, Oh what a year. I remember welcoming 2020 in NYC. I saw thousands of people (both locals and tourists) visit the big apple to celebrate the New Year. I still remember being at my friend's apartment in Manhattan overlooking Times Square (as we wait for the countdown and ball drop) and I told myself that this year is going to be great – I'm going to travel, focus on improving my career (possibly look for other jobs with better pay; a job that entails working directly with the youth), excel in my last year of being in grad school and making the most out of it. I had so many big plans for 2020 that I wanted to do and accomplish. Unfortunately, the year 2020 had a different plan for all of us. One of the biggest changes and challenges I've had to deal with and endure because of this pandemic involve my line of work. COVID-19 had a huge impact on how I do my work in supporting people (both youth and adults) with ...

When this pandemic hit in March our school was full of panic. Teachers were the frontline workers fielding questions from frightened, uncertain students with absolutely no concrete information. Nothing has changed on this front, students still have questions about what's going on in the world around us as well as the uncertainty of when they will be able to go back to school and get back to a "normal". With no real answers to any of their questions and with so many of our own we are called to be a steady character in all of their lives. Our students are searching for consistency, stability, and answers. I am seeing how students are rising to the occasion. Students are trying, with adjustments to lessons and really focussing on necessary work when planning, students are able to engage in meaningful learning and skill building.  The structure and focus of content are streamlined in order to support learning through online platforms. This new model of education has really pu...