Back to school PUSH

What is your child's favorite part of the school day? Hanging out with friends at lunch and trading food? Playing tag at recess? Group work time? Manipulatives in math class? Secret handshakes with their teacher? Because NONE of these things will be happening in the fall.
Children will be 6 feet apart at minimum, learning tools will not be used if they have to be shared or cannot be disinfected. My students who I miss who I want to high-five I will have to remind consistently that we cannot be within a pool noodle length of each other. Then best parts of the school day are going to be gone. students will have to be in desks apart from each other while wearing a mask 7 hours a day.

What it can look like online (I know this because I did it this spring): Small groups working together in teams or channels, non-verbal students engaging fully in class through typing chat features, students holding social time with fiends online weekly since they now all have laptops and access to internet at home. (Yes I realize our district is ahead of others).
Students who needed support got more 1:1 time with teachers than they ever could have during a 7hr school day. I spent 15-20 hours a week in 30 min. increments with students in 1-on-1 and small group sessions to support learning goals. Flex time was crucial to their online success this spring. Every student with an IEP had a check and connect staff member, in addition to their case manager and the other staff supporting their learning (Specific to my building).
Remember that for every 1 hour of homework you assign a student, a student with a learning disability or for whom English is not their first language, could take 2-3 times longer. Without additional support time our students will suffer.

So before you push in person, remember what you are asking for. It will not be business as usual. Before you push 7-hour school synchronous days, remember that students at home will be in front of a screen for 7 hours. Remember that when you push synchronous learning it takes away the supports we are providing to our most vulnerable students.

As a point of note, my district is currently said it will be "FULL TIME REMOTE" for at least the first 6 weeks however they have also said that some students will be eligible for in-person services. I happen to be a special education teacher. I'm not a monster I know in person works better for some students, but I'd like to be around to be their teacher next year too.