Teacher Photo Story: How are Teachers Dealing with Remote Learning?
By Mr. Schmerler, Staff Adviser
The remote learning situation caused by the coronavirus that shut down Passaic Preparatory Academy classrooms since March 13 has been inconvenient, and just plain difficult, for students. But it has also had serious effects on Prep teachers, who have been forced to come up with new ways to teach — without being able to see their students in person.
The Boulevard hoped to find the silver lining in these dark clouds. So we asked teachers, “What is your favorite part of working from home?” And “How has this new teaching experience challenged you?” So check out your teachers’ PHOTOS, below, and their answers! Click on each pic to see expanded answers.
Let us know what you think, and if you have any questions or comments. Email Mr. Schmerler at [email protected].
Erica Sciametta, AP English Language and Composition, English 2 Honors
Favorite part of working from home: Not waking up super early, and having constant access to my refrigerator! How has this new teaching experience challenged you? A challenge that I'm facing is that I can't reach every single student in my classes and I am worried about those that I haven't been in touch with. Anything else? I miss all of my students so much!...
Valeria Montoya, Biology
Favorite part of working from home: One of my favorite things is that I'm able to spend more time with my family during breaks and right after school. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? This new teaching experience has challenged me in finding new ways to keep my students' motivation and mental health up, as well as my own. Anything else? The hardest thing about this who...
Jill Leonard, Physical Education, Health
Favorite part of working from home: Not having to set the alarm for 5 a.m. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? Communicating through technology instead of in person. Anything else? Stay healthy! Stay safe! #prepstrong
Ted Graham, Biology and Forensic Science
Favorite part of working from home: The only two parts I really like are spending more time with my family, and the ability to go for a run or walk at lunch without worrying about getting sweaty in work clothes. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? There have been many challenges, but I think the most difficult is to keep connection with my students. The second-most difficu...
Rita Vander Stad, Geometry and AP Statistics
Favorite part of working from home: I get to spend more time with my three dogs. I get to spend more time with immediate family. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? I feel like it is very disconnected. I miss the in-person interaction with my students. Anything else? To my students: I miss you all! You all have been doing an amazing job in this new and difficult tim...
Fannie Martinez, Advanced Drawing and Painting
Favorite part of working from home: Being able to use the restroom whenever I want, allowing me to drink 64 ounces of water a day. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? Accessing multiple pages. Going back and forth between APEX, Outlook, Google Classroom and Power School. Anything else? Stay Safe!!!
Jennifer Mold, School Counselor
Favorite part of working from home: During this difficult time, my favorite part of working from home is getting to spend so much time with my 19-month-old son. He is growing up so quickly and working from home has really allowed me to be part of his routines throughout the day. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? It has been a challenge trying to manage work while simultaneous...
Maureen Mulreany, AP English and Composition
Favorite part of working from home: I like the fact that I am better able to sit down and focus on providing students with feedback on their writing. I also like the facts that my two dogs keep me company while I am working. I may have to start bringing them to work when we return. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? The most challenging part of this experience has been attem...
Todd Schmerler, Journalism and Digital Journalism
Favorite part of working from home: NOT waking up at 6 a.m., driving to school and looking for parking! My wife. And her cooking. And the dog. Working out more and eating healthier. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? Teaching an elective is tough because I don't want to over-burden the students, who have enough work from their main courses already. But I want to m...
Aixa Burgos, Music Technology
Favorite part of working from home: Eating freshly made food instead of microwaving left overs for lunch. Also, unlimited coffee. 😊 How has this new teaching experience challenged you? Keeping my students motivated has been a challenge for me. Since we cannot see them in person, we can't give the extra smiles and those one-to-one pep-talks that helped keep them motivated in school. In...
Kristen Reilly, Science
Favorite part of working from home: Getting to spend more time with my family and the unlimited bathroom breaks I get. 😉 Also, watching my students rise to the challenge of distance learning and becoming their own self-advocates. When they need help they are learning to ask and speak up if they need more clarification. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? I miss my studen...
Gina Bang, Algebra 2
Favorite part of working from home: Spending time with my son Asher! How has this new teaching experience challenged you? It has challenged me to be more creative in teaching and providing support.
Emily Fitzgerald, Chemistry and Physics
Favorite part of working from home: My favorite part of working from home is being able to wake up later and work in comfortable clothes. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? What I love most about teaching is working with students and developing relationships with my classes. Going to school energizes me because I love to see my students learning. In teaching remotely, my interact...
Eric Costarelli, AP U.S. History
Favorite part of working from home: Fielding questions from the students. I miss them and it gives me a chance to speak to them. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? Not having face time with the students. Anything else? Wishing my best to all the students and their families. I miss you all and can't wait for things to get back to normal. Everyone stay safe....
Lauren Benedetti, AP Literature & Composition, English 1
Favorite part of working from home: My favorite part about working from home is that it has given me the opportunity to wear comfortable clothes all the time and to cook and bake more. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? This new teaching experience has been challenging in general. It is difficult not to be able to interact with students in person. The biggest challenge tha...
Robert Rodriguez, Physical Education and Health
Favorite part of working from home: Spending time with my wife, daughter and dog. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? This experience has challenged me to develop different ways to communicate with students. It has also been a balancing act between teaching and being a father and husband. Anything else? This picture is the sort of typical day at our house. Vivian an...
Katie (Carl) Scandariato, School Counselor
Favorite part of working from home: Spending quality time with my son and my husband. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? It has challenged me to be more creative and thoughtful. Anything else? I miss my students and my colleagues tremendously!
Christopher Tereshko, English I Honors
Favorite part of working from home: I enjoy spending more time with my wife and cat. I have been exercising more and eating healthier. I am as light as I have been in the past 10 years. Even just having the extra 40 minutes of no commute has given me more time to jog and prepare home-cooked meals. Because I have less responsibilities to take up my time in the evenings, I have been going to bed mos...
Claudia Severino, English I and English II Honors
Favorite part of working from home: Spending the day with my son and seeing some students really excel and take advantage of online learning. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? It's much harder for me not to have face-to-face time with students. Even little things, like saying hi in the hallways to students who I no longer teach or never taught. ...
Steven Herrera, Math
Favorite part of working from home: I get to wear my graphic Ts every day! How has this new teaching experience challenged you? The challenge I have faced during this time is wondering if my students understand the material or not. Anything else? I have not cut my hair in the longest. I look crazy!
Marc Figueroa, AP U.S. History, AP Human Geography
Favorite part of working from home: Getting a prep and an actual lunch break. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? Building a community of learners is a big challenge. The work given to students is very passive (assign, complete, grade) and lacks authentic learning. Anything else? I wish for everyone to stay healthy and safe!...
Kirsten Huze, AP U.S. History & Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Favorite part of working from home: Wearing sweats and T-shirts every day! How has this new teaching experience challenged you? I miss human interaction, seeing my friends and students. Anything else? The best thing about all the time at home is I'm catching up on my reading!
David Lee Anderson, Theatre Arts
Favorite part of working from home: Being able to work alongside my beautiful dog, Basil, has easily been the best part of working from home. ... And maybe the 240 hours I've put into Animal Crossing. On a more serious note, it has been great to reevaluate the idea of a work-life balance. I realized I haven't been taking care of myself as much as I should. Allowing myself to enjoy things outside o...
Chief Diego Diaz, ROTC, Naval Science
Favorite part of working from home: I can plan my personal schedule around class periods. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? It has forced me to think more outside the box to grasp students' attention. Anything else? In the midst of this epidemic, we just have to remember to have FUN! Everybody says that when life gives you lemons you better make lemonade, in my case I'...
Kenia Sosa, Spanish
Favorite part of working from home: For me, the best part is to see the hard work from my students. When I'm grading their assignments I feel very proud that even online they are working hard to achieve their academic goals. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? It has been a challenge because it's my first time doing virtual learning, however it has been an amazing learning e...
Susan Spoelstra, US History, World History
Favorite part of working from home: My super easy "commute" to school. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? The lack of communication with students has been challenging.
James Alessi, Intro to Law
Favorite part of working from home: Wearing pajamas to work. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? Dealing with the mental stress and the stress the students are going through.
Diosmerida Alfaro, Spanish I and II
Favorite part of working from home: Spending more time with my family, especially my daughters. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? This new teaching experience has challenged me in terms of communication. Although we have Chromebooks/computers, cellphones, it's difficult to get in contact with some students. I certainly miss the classroom interaction. Anything else? ...
John Lockwood, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science
Favorite part of working from home: My commute. I just roll out of bed and log onto my computer lol. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? There are three things that I find challenging. The first and most important is worrying about how my current and former students and my colleagues are doing. When I don't hear from a student for two or more days I really start to worry abou...
Numar Vasquez, Spanish
Favorite part of working from home: I don't like it. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? Making sure that the students are doing their work on time.
Alia Attyeh, Language Arts Inclusion
Favorite part of working from home: Connecting more with my colleagues knowing we are all in this together. I also enjoy not having to worry about preparing my lunch early in the morning. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? It's challenging not being able to interact with the students as a whole, especially during a group exercise or reviewing work together. Interacting via Go...
Ryan Contaldi, AP Macroeconomics
Favorite part of working from home: The air conditioning. How has this new teaching experience challenged you? It has been a challenge trying to manage work while simultaneously looking after my son. It is far from my favorite way to teach. I just hope the students do not forget how much I mean to them. Hear more from Mr. Contaldi about his background and experience as an MMA fighter on the Prepping Passaic podcast! ...
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