Behind the Masks

By Ma Ka Wai

 

I consider myself fortunate that I’ve been able to be face-to-face with my students five half days a week since April. Normally, we take precautions, such as using socially distanced desks, applying hand sanitiser, doing temperature checks, and of course wearing masks. All of those things have needed adjustments to my teaching practices, however, the hardest thing to adjust to has probably been the masks — and not for the reasons you might think. Can they get itchy and annoying? Of course. Is it hard to hear the students when they speak? Absolutely. Do I get very thirsty if I talk too much while wearing one? Most definitely. But that’s not what bothers me the most.

 

Pre-COVID, it never dawned on me how much of one’s personality and thoughts are revealed through their facial expression. I used to pride myself on being able to “read a room”. However, now when I look out into my classroom, all I notice is a sea of eyeballs, which appear to just be staring blankly back at me. I can’t tell if they’re happy, sad, confused, anxious, bored…or any other emotions you care to emotion. Granted, sometimes you can make a guess at what students are thinking just through their eyes, but it’s seeing their whole face that paints the true picture.

 

After our face-to-face half-day ends, we continue working during Extending Learning Time at home in the afternoon. This has become my favourite part of the day! Why? Because it allows me to work with students either one-on-one, in small groups or even one big group but crucially with nobody wearing a mask. Is it hard because we are doing it via Zoom and not in person? A little. But so much more of their personalities are revealed during this time. And in turn, they get to see so much more of mine. We laugh, we joke and we chat about non-school-related topics. It’s been a great way to build relationships.

 

Allowing students to express themselves and discuss their learning progress in different ways was starting to gain momentum as a useful tool before the pandemic. However, now more than ever, this is a critical strategy that every teacher should be incorporating into their practice. I have found that many of my shy students who tend to be quiet in the classroom are quite the opposite if allowed to express themselves in a video, via a picture, or even through a drawing. Again, I think the masks have approached to rob kids of the desire to truly express themselves but give them an activity on Padlet or Nearpod and just watch how quickly they come out of their shells.

 

Please don’t misunderstand me. I believe masks are safe and necessary right now for both teachers and students. But for however long we will have to wear them, it’s important to find ways around the barrier or the mask to get to know your students on a more personal level, it’s also important to check in with them and see how they are doing, not just in terms of their academic progress, but their social-emotional needs as well. With everyone in a mask we may not be getting the full picture, so please take time to get to know the individuals behind the masks. You’ll be glad you did!