Virginia teacher gives advice to help students be successful virtually

Teachers are talking candidly about the challenges this school year will bring.

With many school districts in Virginia opting to start the school year with distance learning, one Hampton Roads social studies teacher shares his thoughts on how to help students have a virtually successful school year.

Christopher True is a middle school social studies teacher who is gearing up for a new school year and the inevitable challenge that will come with it.

True says communication is key to virtual success.

“If that student is struggling with something, they may not be telling the parent.”

He says parents should encourage their children not to be afraid to reach out to their teacher for help.

True says the communication between students and teachers is just as important as the communication between the teachers and parents.

He says parents shouldn’t be afraid of contacting teachers and describes virtual learning as “a community-led effort.”

Schools will undoubtedly have expectations for students, even at home, but True hopes those expectations come leniency.

“If you have a student whose parents work and [that student] actually has to go to daycare, they can't be expected to be in a class zoom at 10 a.m. if they don't have access to that stuff. And that's just going to be one of those things that we have to account for.”

The test run of virtual learning at the end of last school year taught everyone new lessons, including that it takes time to adjust.

While he’s banking on beginning the school year virtually, True is looking forward to connecting in the classroom once again.

“There's no place I'd rather be. I can't wait to sit in a classroom with my kids again when we can do it safely and I can keep my students safe.”

WTKR's Kofo Lasaki first reported this story.