Online Teaching from a teacher’s viewpoint
Alyson Engelbrecht • May 18, 2020
Written by Caroline Correia
I am both a teacher and a parent of three school going children navigating both online teaching and learning. As a parent we would like to see our children achieve and excel at all they do, however, online learning is a totally new ball game and the children have had to learn to navigate the apps that the school is using, be it Google classrooms, Microsoft Teams or Zoom. For a lot of them, this can cause major anxiety if they are unable to upload, download or connect to an online class. They long for the security and normality that the classroom offers.
Some children have adapted well and are enjoying the freedom and independence that online learning has afforded them. However, some children have not adapted and are not coping at all. They miss the personal connection and interaction with the teachers, and they miss the routine. Tears and tantrums have become the norm and a sense of being a failure has invaded their thoughts and subconscious. They fear not understanding the work and disappointing their parents. This has led to the parents taking over and doing the work for the children, which in turn cements their thoughts of being incapable of doing it for themselves and adding unnecessary pressure on parents.
Coupled with the stress of online learning, is the anxiety and uncertainty of the pandemic that we are facing. As adults and parents, we are stressed and anxious about finances, about the safety of our families and the future. Our children pick up on snippets of conversation that they hear, our anxiety and our stress and they in turn internalise it and their fear becomes a beast that they cannot control. We need to be aware of not feeding the beast but relieving their fears and anxiety around the pandemic and their safety.
As online continues, you will probably see an increase in your child’s tantrums and emotional behaviour. They are feeling overwhelmed by all they are seeing and hearing. Teach them the correct protocol for returning to school and being in public, but do not frighten or overwhelm them with too much information about deaths and statistics of other countries. Children find it challenging to deal with all this information and it adds to their fear of losing family members and loved ones. Often children who are acting out just need you to put your arms around them, cuddle them and tell them that all is going to be okay.
When lockdown is over and the children return to school, teachers will play catch up and get the children to where they need to be. This is our super-power – we teach. What we cannot do is fill a child’s emotional bucket and soothe their troubled minds. That is a parent’s super-power. Do not be so focused on online learning that you forget to focus on your child’s emotional and mental wellbeing. Reassure them and make sure that they understand that they do not have to carry the burden of the pandemic, they need to be children and play, read, listen to music and feed their souls. Allow them to step away from their devices when they feel pressurised and to spend some time in the garden, reading or just talking to them.
We are all in this together and we will get through this. Teachers will get your children to where they need to be academically, you need to keep your children mentally and emotionally stable so that they can return to school ready to learn.
Twenty years of trusted education meets expanded opportunities, greater accessibility and future-ready learning from January 2027. Families across Hartbeespoort can look forward to an even stronger independent school offering as Pecanwood College becomes Pinnacle College Pecanwood from January 2027. The transition brings together two decades of local educational excellence with the academic strength, innovation and opportunities offered by the expanding Pinnacle Colleges network. Current and prospective families stand to benefit from a school that retains everything the community values while opening the door to even greater opportunities. Pinnacle College Pecanwood will preserve the school's caring culture, close relationships, boarding facilities, IEB curriculum, sporting tradition and vibrant co-curricular programme, while providing students access to a broader network recognised for academic excellence, future-focused learning and preparation for life beyond school. Pecanwood College has proudly served the Hartbeespoort community for 20 years, offering education from the early years through to Grade 12, including boarding. Dedicated teachers, a nurturing environment, strong IEB academic results and diverse sporting and cultural opportunities have established the school as a respected educational institution in the region. That solid foundation will now be enhanced through the wider Pinnacle Colleges network. Students and teachers will benefit from shared academic expertise, established operational excellence and opportunities to participate in broader academic, cultural and sporting initiatives across multiple campuses. Pinnacle Colleges equips students for tertiary education and successful careers through a balanced approach that combines academic excellence with innovation, career guidance, coding and robotics, technology-enabled learning and holistic personal development. Respect, responsibility and a strong sense of community remain central to every campus experience. Academic success already defines Pecanwood College. The Class of 2025 achieved an impressive 98.59% matric pass rate, a 94.36% Bachelor's Degree pass rate and an average of 1.9 distinctions per student. Pinnacle College Pecanwood will build on these achievements through strengthened academic systems, shared expertise and continued commitment to outstanding IEB education. The name Pinnacle College Pecanwood honours both the school's proud heritage and its exciting future. Twenty years of commitment by students, teachers, families and the wider community remain firmly embedded in the school's identity, while its new name reflects membership of one of South Africa's fastest-growing independent school groups dedicated to innovation, accessibility and student success. Hartbeespoort families can now enjoy the best of both worlds: a close-knit community lifestyle paired with access to a high-quality independent education close to home. Pinnacle College Pecanwood is well positioned to become the school of choice for families seeking exceptional academic opportunities, future-ready skills and an environment where every student can thrive.
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