MADISON COUNTY, Ala — Now, teachers fully depend on technology to help students learn. Lesson plans have gone virtual as a result of the virus.
Amber Saunders, an 8th grade English and Language Arts teacher at Sparkman Middle School says it's been tough not teaching in her physical classroom.
"I miss my students," she says. "One of the biggest things that we had said was we didn't get to say good-bye. We didn't know what was going on. We'd thought we'd come back, but then we didn't."
Saunders and many more teachers and students in the Valley are working remotely. Students at Madison County Schools have used a 'Digital Backpack' to access curriculum.
She believes the biggest challenge is keeping students engaged.
"Students have more going on in their lives right now than just trying to get assignments in. Many of them are caregivers for younger brothers and sisters," she says.
Saunders says she's keeping students engaged by hosting a meet session using Google Classroom.The program started this year.
"Once a week we meet with our homeroom students, and we kind of give them some fun activity, just to keep them engaged, and keep them coming back. Ask them how they're doing," says Saunders.
Activities include online charades and 'pictionary' games.
Huntsville City Schools have offered their online 'Blended Learning Plan' for students also.
"Of course it is taking some transition getting used to, but we're several weeks in now and we're very pleased to be in a district where everybody seems to be having good experiences with it and everybody seems to be comfortable with it," says Huntsville City Schools Chief Communications Officer, Craig Williams.
The school year for both districts end on May 21st.