The second prompt was one I really wanted to talk about. It asks how one would use UDL during a pandemic. Also, what sort of training would be required? The funny thing is that I did have to teach during COVID. It was my second year teaching, and I really had to think about ways to reach all of my learners.

The first thing we really had to think about was if the students all had access to technology and the internet. Most of the students did, but a couple did not. Providing a way for the learners to connect and learn was important. If that was not possible, then we had to come up with alternative plans that worked for the family. Some families had access to printers, whereas others did not. For students who did not have access, making a plan so they could still participate was really important so they had the opportunity if it was possible.

The thing that I really came to realize was that not all students had the same level of engagement based on what their family life was like at home. Some students had too many siblings who were all encouraged to work, along with parents who were trying to work from home. Sometimes, learning at home for students was not possible. In extreme cases, I found that offering printed worksheets was helpful. Sometimes, just a phone call to check in and encourage board games and home reading made a difference.

During COVID, a lot of companies like RAZ Kids and IXL were free. Those programs allowed some kids to thrive when normally they were not available to all schools because of the costs. What I came to realize is that online learning with children is hard, and what works for one family doesn’t always work for another.

I also really wanted to talk about curb cuts from the reading this week. I love that they are using things engineers create that benefit everyone. When reflecting on this, it made me connect to my classroom last year. I had a student who was hard of hearing. Because of this, they set up my classroom with a headset and soft pieces for the bottoms of all the students’ chairs. These accommodations helped students hear me more easily. As the teacher, my vocal cords were also more protected from overuse.

The second thing they installed was the soft pieces on the bottoms of my students’ chairs. Those chairs were fantastic. The amount of noise that was happening before was awful. Once these were installed, I had an easier time teaching. Students who struggled with sensory issues also benefited because of the lack of extra noise. Overall, it made me realize that both items would be beneficial for more students than just the one it was intended for. It would be best if these accommodations were provided for everyone. A teacher can dream.