Education

Franklin County third-grade teacher finds creative way to teach to empty classroom

During the coronavirus pandemic, many teachers are teaching to an empty classroom. Katherine Smart, a third-grade teacher at Franklinton Elementary School in Franklin County, found a creative way to make teaching online a little less lonely.

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By
Rick Armstrong
, WRAL photojournalist
FRANKLINTON, N.C. — During the coronavirus pandemic, many teachers are talking to an empty classroom. Katherine Smart, a third-grade teacher at Franklinton Elementary School, found a creative way to make teaching online a little less lonely.

Before the school year began, she asked her students to choose a doll to sit at their desk. Each student’s first name is written on a sign on the desk in front of the doll they chose to represent them.

She posted a photo of her cute classroom on her Twitter account.

That picture caught the attention of NBC's Today Show.

"Nothing sadder to a teacher than an empty classroom," her Twitter post read, "but I'm determined to not be lonely this year."

After she saw the NBC story, she broke the news to the students she now sees through Google Classroom on her school laptop.

Smart said her students were excited to see their classroom on TV.

"We’re happy that they’re safe at home, but of course, the teachers would rather be here at school with them," Smart said.

Not every student had a chance to pick their own doll, so Smart had to pick a couple of dolls out herself.

"The ones who I picked [dolls] for, they were excited. I just need more superheroes," Smart said.

Smart said Batman is the class favorite. Clifford the Big Red Dog and Pete the Cat are also popular picks. The Berenstain Bear family is also featured in the class.

Smart said that online learning is going more smoothly than expected, despite some technology issues during the first weeks of school. She tries to make sure the students have socialization opportunities with their classmates while they are online.

"They like to show their pets off to each other, and we have breaks so they can use that time to chat," Smart said.

Smart admits, even with the dolls, it’s just not the same.

"I do miss hugging them," she said about her students. "I do miss, you know, just that human connectivity, which is missing so it’s kind of hard."

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