By MADISON INGRAM

(KJFM News) — While returning to classrooms has been called for Missouri, there is still hope for schools in Illinois at the beginning of May.

Social distancing hasn’t stopped students and teachers from connecting and learning.

Both Missouri and Illinois have enacted a “Stay at Home Order” for citizens. Area students generally receive a weekly packet of the content they would be learning in the classroom, and are expected to complete work at home. Schools have formulated packet pick-up and drop-off systems that keeps staff members safe from the spread of COVID-19. While hard on students, the social distancing transition also weighs heavy on teachers.

Teachers have transitioned their classrooms to a remote-style of learning in which students rely on help from family, friends and internet videos to better understand the content being administered at this time.

Kindra Phillips, Pikeland High School science teacher, has shifted her lesson plans to focus on current events such as wildfires and data regarding COVID-19.

“We don’t want to overwhelm students; online courses are something our students haven’t done before. We have provided links and resources for students to explore, but we want to make sure that we are taking care of them across the board,” Phillips explained.

Pikeland High School in Pittsfield, Ill., will be contacting students every other day to ensure students are doing well mentally and physically. The district is also creating cross-curricular projects in effort to better engage students in all courses. Students are also doing exercise every day for their physical education courses, as well as mental health and wellness exercises developed by the school’s guidance department.

“We want to keep students engaged and actively learning throughout this process,” assured Phillips.

In effort to remain connected with students, districts across the bi-state have turned to online tools such as Facebook and Zoom.

School districts in both Missouri and Illinois have been using Facebook to challenge students to participate in singing the school song, sending videos from their home saying hello, and even participating in spirit weeks. Schools are looking to reach students with fun content to engage and build.

 Zoom is a popular video communication application that allows users to record sessions, collaborate on projects, and share or annotate on one another's screens. Schools, colleges, places of business and groups of people have taken to Zoom to fit their communication needs during the pandemic.

Toni Doggett, Frankford Elementary first grade teacher, uses Zoom to communicate with her class of 25 students on Tuesday mornings and Thursday nights.

“I wanted to see them, and I wanted them to see each other. With a class of 25 we are used to having lots of company all day long,” Doggett remarked.

Doggett expects to have meetings with her class for the remainder of quarantine in effort to maintain her relationships with the students, as well as relationships between students.

“The biggest challenge to teaching while social distancing is keeping that relationship strong with your students,” Doggett explained. “I feel like the connection is not there like it was because I don’t get to see my kiddos in person, so that’s really the biggest hurdle right now.”

She noted that if parents are having trouble helping students with homework, they should reach out to the teacher or a friend who is knowledgeable.

Doggett also suggests that parents encourage other types of learning while students are at home. She noted that younger kids can learn how to prepare a meal and how to clean rooms, and that older kids could learn how to change a tire or mow the lawn.

Educators and students throughout the area look forward to getting back into the classroom and for their learning environments to go back to normal.