SPOKANE, Wash. — School districts nationwide are adjusting to stay at home orders by switching students and teachers to online platforms. But the change has left some teachers with significantly less time to cover curriculum.
For Spokane Public Schools teacher David Montecucco, or Mr. Monte as the students call him, this change has inspired creativity.
Montecucco's 'classroom' is a spare room filled to the brim with hula hoops, board games, posters and more. He has used these props to teach his ninth and tenth grade geometry students about three-dimensional shapes.
But since he can't teach his students in person, Montecucco turned to YouTube.
"I think we all miss each other these past three weeks," he said. "Its really difficult, but by doing these videos every morning its kind of like I jump into their world and then they reply to me, and they jump into my world."
Its a world designed to inspire. Montecucco has his students learn through creative lessons such as creating monopoly boards or collecting recyclables.
His goal is to keep students engaged in learning without overwhelming them. His YouTube classroom's theme is 20/20/20, meaning students will have 20 lessons over 20 days for only 20 minutes a day.
That commitment to teaching inspiring lessons is helping his students get through this confusing time.
"He always brightens my day. It's pretty great," Grace Jager, ninth grade student at Shadle Park High School, said.
It brightens parents' days as well. Jager's mom said it is relieving for her daughter to have that support.
Even though Montecucco and other teachers have significantly less time with their students, they are working to get them through the stay at home order.
"It helps us both kind of realize there is still some good stuff in the world," Montecucco said.