Blizzard Bag #2: Digital Storytelling- Storyboard Directions: Fill & Download for Free

Several years ago in Massachusetts, multiple school districts (including my own), began experimenting with what were called “Blizzard Bags.” When we experienced inclement weather and it was unsafe for children to travel to school, school would be closed but teachers would put work online for students to do. Students were expected to do that work and teachers were expected to be monitoring their email for questions and to assist.This summer (July 2019), the state announced that the experiment was over, districts could choose to continue Blizzard Bags for just this year, but as of next school year (2020–2021), they would be discontinued. Why?Many teachers were providing “busy” work for students as the Blizzard Bag, not any meaningful learning. This was because…Many students were not doing the Blizzards bags, either because that couldn’t (no internet; a Special Ed student who could not do it without assistance,etc) or simply wouldn’t (students who saw snow days as mental health days, family time, etc).Using the data already gathered from years of Blizzard Bag experimentation, the state figured this out back in March: online distance learning was going to be inequitable, due to issues outside of the schools’ control. Some students don’t have reliable internet access; Special Ed students require help; etc, etc. Therefore, the decision was made that MA teachers are not actually teaching during social distancing. Rather, we are providing “enrichment activities” that are not graded. In my district, we are even further limited. Each subject was assigned one day a week, and we can only assign the kids 1–2 hours of “work” that day.So, in answer to your question, yes, we are “holding classes” remotely, but just like MA discovered years ago with Blizzard Bags, students are not truly learning. Therefore, I would say snow days aren’t going anywhere.

At the moment, I’m “cautiously optimistic” because for now we’re being told we’ll have full-time in-person classes in September. BUT:We’ve been promised classes of no more than 18 students per section. Yet we usually have 100+ students per grade. 100 students divided by the 5 sections I teach is 20 kids per section, so I’m not sure how this will work.It also seems like we’re going to be expected to be ready to switch to “distance learning” at a moment’s notice. If there’s anything we’ve learned from several years of “Blizzard Bags” and even more so from the last spring, “distance learning” DOESN’T work! There’s a reason MA decided to eliminated blizzard bags and go back to regular snow days!