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As bungled school openings continue to go viral across the country, we are craving some sort of positivity to reflect our previous senses of normalcy when it comes to kids and learning.
This teacher, Mackenzie, has taken some serious steps to keeping her kids engaged, and as a result has seen her techniques go viral on popular platform TikTok.
@kenziiewenz my facial expressions trying to keep kindergarteners engaged in online learning ##onlineschool ##fyp ##teacher
♬ original sound - kenziiewenz
Mackenzie, who barely even blinks during this entire lesson, employs a number of tactics to keep her students engaged.
As she teaches her kids about the number four, she looks around the video session to see what combinations of fingers her students are holding up that will add up to four.
"Oh! I see Brian is holding up the number 2 and 2, that will also make 4!"
@BuzzFeed Awww luv her bubbly personality. Damn, this makes me miss when I was a TA for 1st graders. Kids r the best!— Ism Herm (@Ism Herm) 1600312850.0
@BuzzFeed And she keeps this up all day? Bless her heart!— Howard Gaines (@Howard Gaines) 1600312974.0
@BuzzFeed I would need 1000 cups of coffee to act like this— Lamstars (@Lamstars) 1600313142.0
@BuzzFeed She's good.— Jai_S (@Jai_S) 1600313741.0
@BuzzFeed Reminds me of our regular daily conference calls at the office. Ha.— flobee buzzin (@flobee buzzin) 1600324855.0
Mackenzie told Buzzfeed News:
"In order to keep 5- and 6-year-olds engaged, you really have to do a performance for them."
"I do think that teachers are actors and we have to put on a show for these kids to keep them engaged when they're in their homes."
ugh I love teacher tiktok dis gonna be me one day https://t.co/o5JxcLtu49— kevin (@kevin) 1600140737.0
Shout out to all teachers, especially those teaching virtually. @GHESchool goes viral on @tiktok_us. https://t.co/on0zGOa9g5— Christopher Beasley 🍎 (@Christopher Beasley 🍎) 1599923962.0
I hate that kids are losing so much valuable social time out in the world but man, love teachers so much. Making it… https://t.co/ELwTjdedmA— chrissy teigen (@chrissy teigen) 1600239512.0
She added:
"I wasn't exaggerating for the camera or doing anything but teaching."
"I was just trying to make sure they were looking at me and not their doggies."
Mackenzie spends around three hours per day with her kindergarteners, with small breaks so the kids don't fatigue.
@chrissyteigen https://t.co/0Oteo3Gtjq— Travis Snow (@Travis Snow) 1600239937.0
@chrissyteigen Here’s another one 🥰🥰🥰 https://t.co/7HlKQI2Lso— Stephanie🌻🦋 (@Stephanie🌻🦋) 1600244772.0
@chrissyteigen she's a real one, all that energy to keep her kids interested and engaged in what she's saying, even… https://t.co/TtrArNuO2w— j kellzy (@j kellzy) 1600239940.0
@chrissyteigen This was my favorite one yesterday. When he said give your brain a kiss a part of my heart broke bec… https://t.co/G0lfkW76jQ— Hard Femme (@Hard Femme) 1600268302.0
@chrissyteigen You nailed it, Ms. Teigen. My wife teaches 2nd Grade here in Seattle. She cares so much for her stud… https://t.co/hk51jiFs6M— D. Sheed (@D. Sheed) 1600242360.0
Mackenzie often ends her day with headaches and exhaustion, and watching back this video says that "it completely makes sense."
She thinks the positive response to her video is because:
"I think they're [viewers are] realizing how hard it is to be a teacher."
"Teachers definitely don't get enough credit for what we do and [people] never get to see teachers in action."
This pandemic has had an exhausting effect on many of us, but if you can watch this video and see how to push through, maybe you can cull some inspiration.