Local teachers adapt extracurriculars to virtual learning

Local teachers have worked all summer to adapt their extracurricular programs to virtual learning.

They say students need these creative outlets more than ever right now.

CLASSES.

OUR SCHOOLS AREDEFINITELY IN FOR A UNIQUE STARTTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

ANDACTIVITIES LIKE BAND OR THEATERARE FACING BIG CHANGES TOO.23ABC'S KALLYN HOBMANN JOINS USLIVE WITH MORE ON HOWCOVID-19 IS IMPACTINGEXTRACURRICULARS.

KALLYN?I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL LOCALTEACHERS WHO HAVE SPENT ALLSUMMER ADAPTING THEIR PROGRAMSTO THE CHANGESOUR SCHOOLS ARE MAKING IN LIGHTOF COVID-19.

THEY'REMAKING THE MOST OF IT.

AND SAYSTUDENTS NEED THESE CREATIVEOUTLETS NOW MORE THAN EVER.SHEILA MCCLURE TEACHES THEATERAT GOLDEN VALLEYHIGH SCHOOL.

AND SAYS DESPITECLASSES GOING VIRTUAL DUE TOCOVID-19.

STUDENTS ARE ANXIOUSTO START ANOTHERYEAR OF THEATER"THEY NEED THE ARTS MORE NOWTHAN ITHINK WE HAVE EVER NEEDED IT.THIS IS THEIR OUTLET.

THIS ISTHEIR WAY OFCOPING.".

WHICH IS WHY SHE'S ADAPTING ASMUCH OF HER CURRICULUM ASSHE CAN TO AN ONLINE PLATFORM."IT'S THE SAME STUFF.

IT'S JUSTPERFORMEDA LITTLE DIFFERENTLY."HEATHER BRANDON TEACHES THEATERATBAKERSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.

ANDSAYS SHE ALREADY HAS HERFALL PRODUCTION PLANNED USINGZOOM AND VIDEO EDITING."WE REALLY TOOK THE APPROACH OFNOTTHINKING ABOUT, AND FOCUSING ON,THE THINGS WE CAN'T DO, BUT THEOPPORTUNITIES OF THE THINGS THATWE CAN DO."MCCLURE AND BRANDON SAY SOMESTUDENTS ARE SADDENED BYHOW DIFFERENT THIS YEAR WILL BE.AND OTHERS ARE LOOKINGFORWARD TO WHAT THEIR TEACHERSHAVE PLANNED.EITHER WAY.

THE TWO WOMEN AREEXCITED FOR THEOPPORTUNITIES GOING VIRTUALOFFERS... LIKE THE ABILITY TOEASILY BRING IN GUEST SPEAKERS."THE BARRIERS THAT WERE IN OURWAY OFTRANSPORTATION, TIME, SPACE INOUR AUDITORIUMS, ALL OF THAT'SGONE."AT STOCKDALE HIGH SCHOOL.INSTRUMENTAL DIRECTORSGEOFRREY RUUD AND AMANDA SPROULARE TAKING A SIMILARAPPROACH."JUST TRYING TO MAKE THELEARNINGEXPERIENCE POSITIVE FOR THESTUDENTS IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.THECOLLABORATION OF MUSIC IS SUCH ABIG PART OF WHAT WE DO SO TRYINGTO FINDWAYS TO DO THAT ONLINE IS REALLYIMPORTANT TO BOTH OF US."FROM ZOOM BREAKOUT ROOMS TORECORDINGS OF MUSICALINSTRUMENTS.

THERE ARE SEVERALRESOURCESSPROUL AND RUUD ARE USING TOGUIDE EACH STUDENT."TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CANGIVE FEEDBACK TO EVERY SINGLEKID, AT LEAST AS MUCH AS WE CAN.REACHING EVERY SINGLE KID,MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S NOTHINGTHAT FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS."AND SPROUL SAYS THERE IS HOPEFOR FUTURE PERFORMANCES.

"OURTECHNOLOGY IS AMAZING NOW SO,YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT O