KC metro's elective teachers adjust to new classroom normal

Elective teachers all over the Kansas City metro are trying to figure out a new normal of teaching.

WE'RE HELPING YOURYOUR FAMILY MADEDECISIONS ABOUT GOING"SAFELY BACK TO SCHOOL"-- AN IMPORTANT PART OFREBOUNDING FROMCOVID-19.AND AS MORE DISTRICTSTURN TO VIRTUALLEARNING TO START THEYEAR -- IT LEAVES AQUESTION MARK FORELECTIVE CLASSES --PARTICULARLYPERFORMANCE-BASEDELECTIVES LIKE BAND ANDDRAMA.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER JORDAN BETTSASKED TEACHERS AROUNDTHE METRO HOW THEY'REPREPARING FOR CLASS.ELECTIVE TEACHERS ALLOVER THE METRO ARETRYING TO FIGURE OUTTHIS NEW NORMAL OFTEACHING.Stephen Rew, Choir Director atRay-Pec High School"We are always going to havesafety at the top of my minds."FOR RAY-PEC HIGHSCHOOL CHOIR DIRECTORSTEPHEN REW, HE ISTHINKING OF MULTIPLEWAYS TO EDUCATE.Stephen Rew, Choir Director atRay-Pec High School"We have even looked athaving an outdoor classroom."ALSO THINKING OF HISONLINE APPROACH.Stephen Rew, Choir Director atRay-Pec High School"You find a recording of achoir that you are emulatingand the kids have the music athome and you are playing thatrecording and they are singingalong with that."BAND TEACHERS HAVEONE PROBLEM LIKE CHOIR.YOU CAN'T GET EVERYONETO PERFORM AT THE SAMETIME.Clif Thurmond, Director ofBands,Lee's Summit West High School"Students had the option toeither perform for me orrecord themselves practicingor learn something new andthen we would give themfeedback."STUDENTS IN LEE'SSUMMIT COULD GO BACKTO THIS TYPE OFLEARNING IN THE FALL....Clif Thurmond, Director ofBands,Lee's Summit West High School"Certainly similar to what wedid then we will do this fall,ifnecessary.

Well, it actually isnecessary because we havestudents choosing online fully.They have that option.

Wehave to prepare a course forthem as well."IN K-C-K --DRAMA STUDENTS AREPERFORMING ONLINE.ONE OF THEIR TEACHERSSAYS HE SEES VIRTUALCLASSES FOR NINE WEEKSAS AN OPPORTUNITY TOGET CREATIVE.Billy Brame, Drama Teacher atArrowhead Middle School"I just know it's so importantthat we give kids access tothe interpersonal skills to thekinds to things that come fromgetting a theatre educationand just because we have thepandemic, I don't think weshould limit the imagination."DESPITE THE CHALLENGESOF PANDEMIC TEACHING --THESE TEACHERSSTRONGLY BELIEVE THEIRCLASSES SHOULD BETAUGHT -- EVEN IF THEYHAVE TO DO IT IN ANUNCONVENTIONAL WAY.Stephen Rew, Choir Director atRay-Pec High School"I think there is value in allofour elective classes.

Icertainlywouldn't have made it throughhigh school if I didn't havethose elective classes."JORDAN BETTS 41 AC