The learning environment of a Rockbridge County 6th grade classroom is filled with group learning, guided discussions, independent learning, and lectures. Additionally, the environment itself reflects so many of the major characteristics suggested by EL Education and Project Based Teaching, such as classroom Norms and many displays of individual expression. Though the Rockbridge county school system serves as a place to unite all of students, it is undeniable each student comes from a different background. The Community Academic Research Alliance at Washington and Lee University conducted an investigation into these matters, and according to their report entitled, “Poverty in Rockbridge,” many of Rockbridge County students come from impoverished households. However, there are also many students who benefit from the surrounding institutions, being VMI and W&L, either directly or indirectly. Accounting for the differences in student’s backgrounds, teachers and administrators must understand this perspective when enacting different strategies within their classroom and schools respectively.

In our experience, working in Mrs. Dowless’ 6th grade classroom, Maury River Middle School understands that and does well with implementing strategies that connect the students who vary widely. For one, the teachers invest in their students’ success and constantly stay aware of the varying abilities of those in their class, focusing on those who need help while allowing those who are better off to conduct more independent learning. Additionally, the classroom environment itself is conducive to learning and interactive learning through the organization of the tables, easily moveable and put in small groups, and a classroom pet which makes the classroom more inviting. On top of that, the school as a whole does well implementing technology, specifically centered around computers, into their curriculum. They assisted those who may be less fortunate with providing loaner Chromebooks so all students can have the same educational experience regardless of their background. Though an educational environment may always have room for improvement, Rockbridge County’s Maury River Middle School is on the right path towards fostering success for their students.

With the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, everything has changed, for both us and our partner teacher. Specifically in the Rockbridge County environment, the movement from class in person to class online greatly  affects our ability to connect with students who may either need the extra motivation or have a poor home life and need a place away from home to do their learning. In addition to those factors, as mentioned before, some students may not have access to a computer or the internet at home, which again inhibits their learning. Accounting for those factors, teachers are working hard to figure out ways to circumvent those challenges. For Mrs. Dowless, she is currently utilizing google classroom to try and reproduce the positive classroom environment that she had at school. a completely new environment. As the pandemic continues on, this struggle will continue on and  the Rockbridge County school system will continually try to recreate the positive environment that they successfully create in their schools.

Works Cited

“Poverty in Rockbridge.” Washington and Lee University, my.wlu.edu/the-shepherd-program/academics/community-academic-research-alliance-(cara)/rockbridge-community-profile/poverty-in-rockbridge.