Granton Interim Administrator and 4th Grade Teacher Discuss Keeping Kids Engaged

Monday, February 15th, 2021 -- 11:11 AM

-The Granton School District continues to provide a fun and quality education experience for both in-person and at home learning students during the time of COVID.

I spoke with Granton’s Interim Administrator, Jame Kuchta, and 4th Grade Teacher, Jessica Schier, and they discussed some of the ways they’re keeping the at home learning students engaged.

Mr. Kuchta:  “We have a wonderful 4th grade teacher with us today.  Jessica Schier is a Granton product and she’s been teaching for a number of years in Granton and she has some special things that we’d like her to share with us.”

Jessica:  “I have been teaching here at Granton for 4 years.  But, before that, I was born and raised here on a local dairy farm, so I graduated from high school here.  Went off to college and my husband and I, who’s also a Granton graduate, decided to move back to be closer to family and start our own family here in Granton.  And it’s been a pleasure doing that.”

Mr. Kuchta:  “Some of the things Jessica has talked to me about, and she’s even presented at our school board, with the things going on this year with our blended learning."

"Jessica is doing some real exciting synchronous teaching, where she’s teaching students digitally or remotely as well as the students in her classroom.  Several times I’ve walked into her classroom and have seen some great class activities and participation, so I’d love for Jessica to share some of that with us.”

Jessica:  “So, this year, like Mr. Kuchta said, has been a difficult and challenging year for all teachers, but really my goal for this year was not to have my students remember the difficult and challenging things.  I want them to remember that they were still able to participate in fun activities and just overall enjoy their learning as a 4th grader.”

“So, we’ve done a lot of different things and I’ve provided my students with lots of opportunities regardless of whether they’re learning here in-person here at school or if they are virtually learning from home for any reason.  Some of those things included walking through our school forest and having our virtual students on a phone or iPad and we looked at tree identification, we talked about different wildlife or animals we see in our forest.”

“Other things that we have also done or will be doing, we’ve had pumpkin decorating where he had a pumpkin decorating contest that involved both in-person and virtual students.  Virtual farm tours, a pilgrim simulation, just a lot of fun interactive activities that we’ve been able to do while still being socially distanced, but also incorporating those great learning opportunities.”

Question:  “Have students and parents been supportive of these activities?”

Jessica:  “I have been blessed to have a very supportive parent group this year.  And they have embraced my level of teaching and they want what’s best for their children as well.  They’re willing to stop at school and pick up any materials that I provide for them."

"I usually try to get those ready a week or two in advance and let them know that those are available to be picked up.  And then what we do is we use Google Meets and I use live teaching."

"So, while I have my students out in front of me here, I have my students at home on an iPad or on my computer and we’re able to interact right there in the moment and complete those activities.  But, like I said, I’ve been very blessed to have a very supportive parent group this year.”

Mr. Kuchta:  “I know that part of the 4th grade curriculum also involved Wisconsin history and Jessica has some creative ideas for how to teach Wisconsin history with this blended learning curriculum.”

Jessica:  “This year, like Mr. Kuchta said, 4th grade is all about Wisconsin and learning about Wisconsin history, but also learning about the industry of agriculture, which is something that’s near and dear to my heart because I live it.  My parents are still dairy farmers."

"So, I really enjoyed our social studies in 4th grade.  So, some things that I have done this year that I’ve had to do a little differently is we are part of an “adopt a cow” program through Discovery Dairy."

"And what that is we have a farm in Bangor, Wisconsin that has allowed us to “adopt” one of their calves.  Her name is Penny.  And we get updates throughout the school year about Penny and my students get to see what goes into farming life, but also see how baby calves grow up to be cows that are producing our milk.  And that goes right along with our great social studies curriculum.”

“Other things that I have involved my students in this year is National Cheese Curd Day.  We celebrated that back in October.  I purchased cheese curds for us to enjoy during our snack and milk break.  But we also talked about how we live in an area of the state where cheese is one of our major things that we produce.”

“Also, through the DNR, coming up this spring, I have ordered for my students a free tree that they will be able to take home with them and plant somewhere in their yard or in a forest near them.  And that’s on Arbor Day, so that’s one way we celebrate Arbor Day."

"We also talk about tree identification, which we live with a lot of forest around us.  I’m planning, hopefully this spring, a virtual farm tour.  Then we will be completing the end of the year Wisconsin Social Studies Project where students get to choose their own topic related to Wisconsin, to research it, to present it to our class and sometimes families and other teachers in our school.”

Question:  “Busy year for the 4th graders!  Is there anything else?”

Mr. Kuchta:  “I feel blessed to be here at Granton with superstar teachers like Jessica Schier and all the hands-on activities that I know our parents recognize and our students learn from.  It’s just a great way to learn and the attention that Jessica gives to all of her students, whether virtual or in-person, we’re just very fortunate.”

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.