Jackson Heights’ I.S. 145Q took to Twitter to share a video of their science teacher, Andrea Feldman, singing an uplifting cover of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor with an online learning twist as teachers prepare for the abrupt transition due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“At first I was afraid, I was petrified, kept thinking I could never live without you in my class,” Feldman sang in the video, uploaded to Twitter on Wednesday, March 18. “But then I spent these last three days planning lessons all day long, and we’ll be strong, Google classroom all night long!”
Feldman has taught at I.S. 145Q for 11 years and created the school’s running club.
But her students mainly know her for her ability to make everything into a song — for instance, she’s eager to show them her Plate Tectonics song in the coming weeks.
Remote learning session at its best. Ms. Feldman and science will survive!!! pic.twitter.com/wjjolqAaIL
— I.S.145lions (@IS_145Q) March 18, 2020
“I often use songs to reinforce the material I am teaching because kids know the words to every song that’s out there,” Feldman told QNS. “Aside from the fact that it’s fun, and they are laughing — with me or sometimes at me, and I’m totally OK with that — if they can remember some simple verses from the songs we do in class it can help them to remember key information that we are learning.”
On Sunday evening, the city announced that all public schools will be closed until at least April 20 with remote learning beginning Monday, March 23. In the meantime, the 75,000 teachers in New York City’s public school system, the largest in the country, are being trained for remote learning.
When asked how the past few days of training have been for her and her colleagues, Feldman said I.S. 145Q has come together to make the best plan for their students, mostly by using Google Classrooms as well as other ways to implement video and live chats.
“Our school is an awesome community where teachers are always willing to share best practices and that is exactly what has been happening this week,” she said. “As a science department, we met and planned out the units for the next few weeks for what our kids should and will be learning. Most of our teachers and students have used Google Classroom and have experience with it so the past couple of days teachers were sharing some of their expertise on what they know.”
Feldman believes her active lifestyle helps her stay positive during this time of uncertainty, and she plans to help her students with that too because “it’s more important now than ever.”
“I started a running club at my school and I created a Google Classroom for that crew as well,” she said. “Even if they can’t get outside and run, there are some fitness activities I am hoping they will do in their homes to remain active. Exercise releases endorphins which help to keep you happy and positive.”
She hopes teachers will stay positive and help their students get through this time, most of all.
“Our kids are probably going through a mix of emotions from being worried, curious, scared and nervous about what lies ahead,” Feldman said. “If my silly songs and jokes can help put a smile on their faces and get through this, that’s the most important thing to me.”
