Over the past couple years, Fair Grove Schools have been using AMI (Alternate Methods of Instruction) whenever school is unable to be in session due to weather.
An average AMI day starts with teachers posting assignments to Google Classroom, sending announcements for all their students to see their work for the day outside of school. Whenever students finish their work and submit it, it counts towards their attendance; proving they did work even though they weren’t attending an in person class.
Some students think more highly of AMI days, like Allison Findley (12). Findley explained, “I would rather do work outside of school because, after getting school work done, I have time to do my own hobbies too.” Findley also added, “Teachers don’t usually assign lengthy assignments. It’s usually assignments that you can complete within 20-30 minutes.”
When students are unable to finish their AMI work on the days they’re assigned, students are mandated to go to a “Study Hall” to finish their work. Study Hall usually consists of students being called to the High School gym to sit in silence to finish their work.
Some students much prefer to learn in person than to do online days. Nico Jenkins (12) said, “I think I learn better on days that we spend in class with our teachers in person, but I can see how a lot of people would benefit from teaching themselves and going at their own pace.”
On the contrary, Alyssa Faubion (10) prefers online learning. She said, “I prefer online learning because it allows me to learn at my own pace, as opposed to learning in a noisy classroom environment. At my house, I can force out distractions and finish all of my work.”
One of the upsides of AMI is getting to finish your work in your own time. Students all organize their time differently, either waking up early and getting work done, or sleeping in to finish it later in the day. Jenkins commented, “Usually I take the opportunity to sleep in a bit and do my work in the afternoon/evening.”
In contrast, Keith Nolan (10) said, “On AMI days, I usually just try and knock out all of my work first thing in the morning so that I have the rest of my day to myself and my family.”
AMI days are a way for students to continue their learning from home even when the weather prohibits them from coming to school, allowing less days to be added onto the end of the school year.
