Village Way educators maintain strong connection with at-risk students isolated at home.
Village Way Educational Initiatives partner Makr-Jdede Naamat High School is a small, all-girls high school which serves as a last-chance for teenagers in the Arab villages of Makr and Jdede. Students at this school come from homes facing economic hardship and do not have access to computers or the internet. This means that they cannot connect to the existing distance-learning platforms created by Village Way Educational Institute facilitators and now in use during the current coronavirus crisis.
Educators at the school understand the importance of maintaining a strong connection with their at-risk students and providing a sense of structure and purpose during the long days at home. As a result, they had to get creative about how provide instruction and coursework.
Educators maintain connection to students through smartphones
While the students do not have computers, they do have smartphones.
To meet the needs and situations of their students, educators have created short videos of their lessons (complete with writing on a white board) and sending them via the WhatsApp. messaging platform.
Students can write back messages with questions and comments. The girls are so happy to have regular contact with their teachers and fellow students, and to have tasks to accomplish while at home. For our students in complex home environments, these connections offer reassurance that their teachers and friends are still with them home during this difficult period of isolation.
The art teacher created an assignment to have students paint stones with images and messages that reflect their feelings during this challenging time.
The art teacher created an assignment to have students paint stones with images and messages that reflect their feelings during this challenging time.
Click here for more information on ongoing activities of our youth during the coronavirus crisis in Israel.