The future of the classroom

Though they all cling onto hope that the upcoming school year will contain a hint of normalcy, if this year has taught them anything, it is that “normal” is subjective–and simply not the reality. Will classrooms ever return to what they once were? No one really knows. 

“Virtual assignments and going paperless, essentially, has allowed for different forms of collaboration I hope we can find ways to integrate within the classroom in a new way,” Hollowell said. “But I do think, even if we do return fully in-person and we don’t have to sit in rows anymore, I do think some of the strategies will carry over. My hope is that it won’t be the same, but for good reasons rather than bad.”

As the year comes to an end, Champion candidly discussed the weirdness of it all, while still encouraging his students and fellow teachers alike to not only embrace the circumstances but actively seek the life lessons within them.

“This is your life,” Champion said. “It’s frustrating, it’s weird, it’s not what you expected, it isn’t what you signed up for. You didn’t say ‘Oh, can I have the pandemic thing?’ It’s really easy to dismiss yourself from it and to push away or to fight back. Stop. This is your life. Like, what can you gain from this? How can you get stronger from this? How can you get smarter from this? How can you exit this with a six pack instead of being soft and gushy?”