By: Tori Boatner
WEST POINT, Miss. (Take 30 News) -- Shelter-in-place orders have been implemented in Mississippi, forcing teachers and students to be away from their classroom, but this doesn't mean they have to be away from learning.
Erica Pate is a third-grade teacher at South Side Elementary School in West Point and is using the web conferencing app Zoom to teach her students.
"My kids were probably a little unnerved by all this and meeting with them every day has kinda helped me not be nervous and I feel like it helps them too...have a normal routine," Pate said.
Her largest online class was about 18 students out of 25 and she tries to keep the lessons similar to how they would be in a classroom.
"I just try to keep it like we would normally do it in class. We do a phonetic awareness lesson, I read a story," Pate said.
Not only does she have to keep her third graders entertained, but Pate also has an 8-year-old daughter to keep busy at home.
"A local teacher and student spend most of their day on a comfy couch just like this one either learning or teaching new skills to have some sense of normalcy during this crisis."
"Keeping her entertained is way more challenging than my online class," Pate said.
Ruby Minyard is a second-grade student at Church Hill Elementary in West Point and said she misses school and her friends.
"I was excited when I got Spring Break another week because I didn't know it was on the coronavirus, but I miss my friends a lot," Minyard said.
Minyard said she is adjusting to school at home but enjoys being in her classroom more.
"With her, she wants to be constantly entertained through this...we've made brownies, we've cooked everything," Pate said.
Pate said not all of her students have internet access, but she usually has about 10 students per class.