
One
of
the
challenges
of
teaching
virtually
is
making
connections
with
students.
Saunders
Middle
School
has
developed
an
opportunity
for
teachers,
counselors,
and
administrators
to
talk
with
students
and
get
to
know
them
in
a
fun
way.
Assistant
Principal
Steve
Webb
stated,
"This
is
all
about
socializing
and
building
positive
relationships
among
student
peers
and
especially
getting
to
know
and
building
a
positive
relationship
with
a
staff
member."
Every
Thursday
from
2:35
to
3
p.m.,
Saunders
Middle
hosts
"Let's
Talk,"
an
interactive
Zoom
discussion.
Staff
choose
topics
like
Xbox
versus
Playstation,
how
great
are
Pop-Tarts,
and
what
is
the
worst
song
you
ever
heard
for
discussion.
Each
week
a
few
questions
are
available,
hosted
in
its
own
Zoom
room.
Students
sign
up
for
the
question
they
want
to
discuss
and
join
that
Zoom
room.
The
rooms
are
kept
small,
so
all
students
have
a
chance
to
talk.
If
one
room
is
full,
the
student
may
select
another
room.
The
idea
for
"Let's
Talk"
came
from
the
Advisory
Block
Committee
including
Kenneth
Harkins,
an
eighth-grade
language
arts
teacher
at
Saunders.
The
committee
recognized
the
need
for
more
socialization
between
the
students.
They
wanted
to
give
students
an
opportunity
to
simply
talk
to
each
other.
Some
of
them
have
not
talked
to
friends
since
March.
Harkins
shared,
"The
pandemic
and
virtual
learning
can
make
you
feel
isolated,
but
if
you
had
a
topic
you
are
interested
in
and
know
other
people
would
be
there
to
talk
to,
it
gives
you
a
chance
to
connect."
The
feedback
from
students
and
staff
has
been
overwhelming.
Teachers
have
reported
being
able
to
connect
with
students
on
a
deeper
level.
Students
are
enjoying
the
social
aspect
of
seeing
each
other
and
meeting
new
friends.
Students
in
the
Korean
Popular
Music
room
have
started
an
email
group
to
stay
in
touch
with
each
other.
While
the
Zoom
meetings
are
designed
to
only
go
for
25
minutes,
most
teachers
end
up
staying
on
longer
because
the
students
are
engaged
so
much
in
the
conversation.
The
response
has
been
so
positive
that
other
schools
are
reaching
out
to
Saunder's
staff
to
emulate
the
program
in
their
schools.