The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a psychological, emotional, and physical toll on students and teachers. The long-term impact will likely be felt for years to come. As a former special education teacher, I understand educators are in the midst of a very difficult and challenging situation right now.
While it is not an exaggeration to say that we are living in an unprecedented time, I believe there a reason to be cautiously optimistic and hopeful right now. The creation, production, and distribution of the vaccine continues to ramp up. Nearly 17 percent of the adult population across the U.S. has received the first dose of the vaccine, and as we enter into the spring, this rate is expected to rise rapidly.
However, while the end of the pandemic appears to be within reach, it will take many more months to get there. Recently, I’ve been talking with educators all across the country and many of them have told me they are organizing their lesson plans so that they can be taught in all three learning environments—in-person, virtual, and hybrid.
No one is quite sure what the next few months will bring us or even what going back to school will look like this fall. That is why our Healthy Relationships Curriculum is the ideal program if you work with students who have varying needs. Regardless of whether your student is on the autism spectrum, has a cognitive impairment, a learning disability, or a unique need, our program is specifically designed to teach them critical life and social skills in a way that they can easily understand.
While many schools have felt it has been necessary to adjust the modalities by which students are learning, the key to their success is not where they are learning but what they are learning. I know alternating between in-person, virtual, or a hybrid learning environment is not ideal for students, but the disruption to their routines can be minimal. Continuity and consistency have always been at the backbone of a successful learning environment and that is what our program provides.
The Healthy Relationships Curriculum is highly adaptable, and its content transcends the space where it is being taught from. When educators purchase our program, they receive over 100 educational videos, 39 ready-to-use lessons, outcome measurement tools, and an online portal that connects them directly with me and our team. Our online portal is also designed for them to connect directly with their students’ families. And now, more than ever, this type of interaction is a necessity. Special education students need structured support and guidance. That is why whether students are learning from the confines of their home or in a traditional classroom setting—our program is not limited by location or geography.
Here’s to the next few weeks and months looking brighter!
All my best,
Jen Falkowski, M.Ed.