Hester primarily supports her pupils individually according to the Montessori method, something that was almost impossible during the lockdown. Sometimes she gave an online lesson to an individual pupil. Because siblings and parents often also had to work online at the same time, this sometimes caused problems with the number of devices or the internet connection available to a family. With the screen in between them, it was also difficult for Hester to assess whether a pupil had really understood the lesson material. 'When you sit next to a child, you can see and feel whether the penny has really dropped.'
Hester and her colleagues made instructional videos to coach parents in home schooling. Looking back, Hester thinks they could perhaps have taken a more proactive approach towards parents. 'During the lockdown, we could have done more one-on-one work; we also heard this from parents during the evaluation. We need to take that criticism to heart.'
Hester's tip for other teachers: “Continue to work from your heart and your feelings, because then you will do the right thing. Be open to feedback, reflect, and learn from your areas for improvement. Keep believing in the child and in yourself.”