{"id":13840,"date":"2020-10-05T08:11:11","date_gmt":"2020-10-05T12:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/?p=13840"},"modified":"2022-03-21T16:04:18","modified_gmt":"2022-03-21T20:04:18","slug":"world-teachers-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/world-teachers-day\/","title":{"rendered":"World Teachers\u2019 Day Applauds Educators Who Ace Pandemic\u2019s Test"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Margaret
World Teachers’ Day honors educators such as Kalamazoo College alumna Margaret Ferris ’90, who teaches classes online and in-person simultaneously.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As teachers guide children in new ways through a pandemic, World Teachers\u2019 Day, celebrated each October 5, is recognizing the unique nature of this year with a theme of \u201cLeading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conducted through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the day is to honor educators such as Kalamazoo College alumna Margaret Ferris \u201990, a teacher at The Episcopal School of Dallas<\/a>, where she helps guide high school students in the classroom and online every day in the wake of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the connections I make with my students as they become adults, and I love sharing my passion for math with them,\u201d said Ferris, who is the school\u2019s Math Department Chair. \u201cMy hope is they will become as excited about the subject as I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

At K, Ferris prepared for a teaching career with a study-abroad experience that involved student teaching in Mexico City while she majored in math<\/a> and minored in Spanish<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took all the education classes at K, but more importantly, K taught me to think critically, be open minded and be accepting of everyone,\u201d she said. \u201cThe math education I got there was outstanding. Foreign study gave me a perspective of the world I wouldn\u2019t have otherwise had. And the liberal arts, having knowledge in not just one subject but every subject, has helped me in the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since college, Ferris has taught pre-algebra to Spanish-speaking students in Houston, was Director of Education at a Sylvan Learning Center, and taught all levels of high school math at two private schools in Miami before joining the Episcopal School. This year, however, has been unlike anything she ever could\u2019ve prepared for. Ferris\u2019 school started this fall with two weeks of online classes before returning to the classroom, where she has taught juniors and seniors AP Calculus and Statistics, in person and online simultaneously, for about four weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the hurdles, I was so excited to see my students and colleagues again,\u201d Ferris said. \u201cThere is something special that happens in the classroom that is very difficult to replicate. Our community has really come together to keep each other safe, as well. The seniors have set a great example for the younger students. Everyone is wearing a mask, following one-way traffic patterns, and maintaining a safe distance. I have been so impressed with our entire community and the way that we are showing such great care for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, social-distancing guidelines prevent group work, a major component of Ferris\u2019 curriculum, for in-person students.<\/p>\n

\u201cNormally, I would circulate around the room when they\u2019re working in groups,\u201d Ferris said. \u201cThat\u2019s a big adjustment for me. There\u2019s a lot more preparation that goes into each class period.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ferris also has to balance the needs of two audiences at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worry about the engagement of the students who are learning remotely,\u201d she said. \u201cAre they getting the same experience as the in-person students? I constantly find myself checking in with them \u2013 are you guys at home ok? Do you have any questions for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

And Ferris notes that opportunities for students to socialize with their peers, arguably a central part of the high school experience, look very different this term.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe online students don\u2019t have the same opportunities to hang out with each other,\u201d Ferris said. And for the in-person students, \u201clunchtime would normally be a time when they relax, connect with each other and talk about things that don\u2019t have to do with class. There are usually 10 students per table, and now there are four with partitions between them.\u00a0 What our school has done is create outdoor spaces that allow for physically distanced socializing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regardless, teachers like Ferris bring a silver lining to education during a pandemic. She said it has forced her to re-examine her teaching to ensure she reaches her students and guides them in ways that fit multiple learning environments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had to really look at how I teach and what methods I use,\u201d Ferris said. \u201cIt\u2019s allowed me to take a look at my curriculum and see how I could do things in a different way to make sure everyone is engaged, even if they\u2019re working on their own where they would normally be working together and more collaboratively.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, The Episcopal School of Dallas will continue to send its graduates to college at schools ranging from Austin College to Yale. In fact, the 107-member Class of 2020 received 460 acceptances to 139 colleges and universities. And teachers such as Ferris deserve a lot of the credit for doing their part to get them there.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my calculus class, I hope there might be an engineer or two, or a physicist,\u201d she said. \u201cThen again there might not be and I understand that. Some of my students will ask, \u2018Mrs. Ferris, why do we need to know math?\u2019 It\u2019s because by doing math, you\u2019re exercising your mind. You\u2019re learning to think critically. You\u2019re learning how to problem solve. You\u2019re learning to do something that\u2019s difficult. And that will serve you well no matter what career you choose. Just like working out exercises your body and you get stronger? This is exercise for the mind.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As teachers guide children in new ways through a pandemic, World Teachers\u2019 Day, celebrated each October 5, is recognizing the unique nature of this year with a theme of \u201cLeading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future.\u201d Conducted through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the day is to honor educators such as Kalamazoo […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":147,"featured_media":13847,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[232],"tags":[51,226,68],"post_formats":[],"class_list":["post-13840","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","tag-math","tag-mathematics","tag-spanish"],"yoast_head":"\r\nWorld Teachers' Day Applauds Educators - News and Events<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the wake of COVID-19, World Teachers' Day honors educators such as K alumna Margaret Ferris \u201990, a math teacher at The Episcopal School of Dallas.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/world-teachers-day\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"World Teachers\u2019 Day Applauds Educators Who Ace Pandemic\u2019s Test\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the wake of COVID-19, World Teachers' Day honors educators such as K alumna Margaret Ferris \u201990, a math teacher at The Episcopal School of Dallas.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/world-teachers-day\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News and Events\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KalamazooCollege\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-10-05T12:11:11+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-03-21T20:04:18+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2020\/10\/World-Teachers-Day.png\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1112\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"624\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Andy Brown\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"World Teachers\u2019 Day Applauds Educators Who Ace Pandemic\u2019s Test\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@kcollege\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@kcollege\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Andy Brown\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/world-teachers-day\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/world-teachers-day\/\",\"name\":\"World Teachers' Day Applauds Educators - 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aria-label=\"archive of category Alumni\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/category\/alumni\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Alumni<\/a>","tags_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/tag\/math\/\" rel=\"tag\">math<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/tag\/mathematics\/\" rel=\"tag\">mathematics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/tag\/spanish\/\" rel=\"tag\">Spanish<\/a>","social_share_info":"<a data-share=\"facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/world-teachers-day\/\" class=\"pl-facebook-share social-share-default pl-social-share\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fab fa-facebook-f\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><a data-share=\"twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/world-teachers-day\/\" class=\"pl-twiiter-share social-share-default pl-social-share\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fab fa-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><a data-share=\"linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/world-teachers-day\/\" class=\"pl-linkedin-share social-share-default pl-social-share\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fab fa-linkedin-in\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a>","wordExcerpt_info":"<figure id=\"attachment_13842\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13842\" style=\"width: 453px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-13842\" src=\"\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2020\/10\/World-Teacher-Day-600x583.jpg\" alt=\"Margaret Ferris on World Teachers' Day\" width=\"453\" height=\"441\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13842\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">World Teachers’ Day honors educators such as Kalamazoo College alumna Margaret Ferris ’90, who teaches classes online and in-person simultaneously.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As teachers guide children in new ways through a pandemic, World Teachers\u2019 Day, celebrated each October 5, is recognizing the unique nature of this year with a theme of \u201cLeading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Conducted through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the day is to honor educators such as Kalamazoo College alumna Margaret Ferris \u201990, a teacher at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esdallas.org\/\">The Episcopal School of Dallas<\/a>, where she helps guide high school students in the classroom and online every day in the wake of COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love the connections I make with my students as they become adults, and I love sharing my passion for math with them,\u201d said Ferris, who is the school\u2019s Math Department Chair. \u201cMy hope is they will become as excited about the subject as I am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At K, Ferris prepared for a teaching career with a study-abroad experience that involved student teaching in Mexico City while she <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/programs\/mathematics\/\">majored in math<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/programs\/spanish\/\">minored in Spanish<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI took all the education classes at K, but more importantly, K taught me to think critically, be open minded and be accepting of everyone,\u201d she said. \u201cThe math education I got there was outstanding. Foreign study gave me a perspective of the world I wouldn\u2019t have otherwise had. And the liberal arts, having knowledge in not just one subject but every subject, has helped me in the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Since college, Ferris has taught pre-algebra to Spanish-speaking students in Houston, was Director of Education at a Sylvan Learning Center, and taught all levels of high school math at two private schools in Miami before joining the Episcopal School. This year, however, has been unlike anything she ever could\u2019ve prepared for. Ferris\u2019 school started this fall with two weeks of online classes before returning to the classroom, where she has taught juniors and seniors AP Calculus and Statistics, in person and online simultaneously, for about four weeks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDespite the hurdles, I was so excited to see my students and colleagues again,\u201d Ferris said. \u201cThere is something special that happens in the classroom that is very difficult to replicate. Our community has really come together to keep each other safe, as well. The seniors have set a great example for the younger students. Everyone is wearing a mask, following one-way traffic patterns, and maintaining a safe distance. I have been so impressed with our entire community and the way that we are showing such great care for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Still, social-distancing guidelines prevent group work, a major component of Ferris\u2019 curriculum, for in-person students.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNormally, I would circulate around the room when they\u2019re working in groups,\u201d Ferris said. \u201cThat\u2019s a big adjustment for me. There\u2019s a lot more preparation that goes into each class period.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ferris also has to balance the needs of two audiences at the same time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI worry about the engagement of the students who are learning remotely,\u201d she said. \u201cAre they getting the same experience as the in-person students? I constantly find myself checking in with them \u2013 are you guys at home ok? Do you have any questions for me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And Ferris notes that opportunities for students to socialize with their peers, arguably a central part of the high school experience, look very different this term.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe online students don\u2019t have the same opportunities to hang out with each other,\u201d Ferris said. And for the in-person students, \u201clunchtime would normally be a time when they relax, connect with each other and talk about things that don\u2019t have to do with class. There are usually 10 students per table, and now there are four with partitions between them.\u00a0 What our school has done is create outdoor spaces that allow for physically distanced socializing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, teachers like Ferris bring a silver lining to education during a pandemic. She said it has forced her to re-examine her teaching to ensure she reaches her students and guides them in ways that fit multiple learning environments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve had to really look at how I teach and what methods I use,\u201d Ferris said. \u201cIt\u2019s allowed me to take a look at my curriculum and see how I could do things in a different way to make sure everyone is engaged, even if they\u2019re working on their own where they would normally be working together and more collaboratively.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, The Episcopal School of Dallas will continue to send its graduates to college at schools ranging from Austin College to Yale. In fact, the 107-member Class of 2020 received 460 acceptances to 139 colleges and universities. And teachers such as Ferris deserve a lot of the credit for doing their part to get them there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn my calculus class, I hope there might be an engineer or two, or a physicist,\u201d she said. \u201cThen again there might not be and I understand that. Some of my students will ask, \u2018Mrs. Ferris, why do we need to know math?\u2019 It\u2019s because by doing math, you\u2019re exercising your mind. You\u2019re learning to think critically. You\u2019re learning how to problem solve. You\u2019re learning to do something that\u2019s difficult. And that will serve you well no matter what career you choose. Just like working out exercises your body and you get stronger? This is exercise for the mind.\u201d<\/p>\n","comment_info":"No Comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13840","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/147"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13840"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13840\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13845,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13840\/revisions\/13845"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13840"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13840"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13840"},{"taxonomy":"post_format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_formats?post=13840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}