The Pandemic Broke a Fundamental Principle of Teaching
America’s schoolchildren spent less time in the classroom last year than ever before in modern history. Now teachers are scrambling to fill in the gaps.
![Tonette McQueen helps Zion Graham, 8, with a summer school assignment at Hunter Elementary in Greensboro, North Carolina., July 19, 2021.](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/4gEs8p9AX23wi9r0bpi1-9N8XU8=/78x0:1484x1406/80x80/media/img/mt/2021/08/h_15548365/original.jpg)
America’s schoolchildren spent less time in the classroom last year than ever before in modern history. Now teachers are scrambling to fill in the gaps.
Kids deserve a real break, especially this year. But they shouldn’t avoid academic reinforcement entirely.
Each child will process this time differently, and adults can help kids find opportunity in the life that awaits them.
They need time to recharge. But taking a break shouldn’t mean ignoring academic skills altogether.
I feel like it’s my annual performance review, but with my son.
Is the school responsible for helping?
He works hard, but the system is working against him.
Most of the teachers and parents I talk with just want school to be school.
If adults don’t set the same expectations, children can get caught in the middle.
She gets overwhelmed every time—but breaking down the assignment into smaller steps could help her manage it.