Hi all! It's been a while.
Obviously, everything in education, and in the world, has been turned on its head over the past year. September 2019 and September 2020 were shockingly different to only be separated by the span of 12 months. Some school districts have opened completely virtually, while others, like mine, have been able to adopt a hybrid virtual/in-person model. What's true for all of us, though, is that the norms of education have completely shifted.
Masks are now the expectation. Social distancing dominates. Technology is more essential than ever in even making this experience possible, and nothing makes my heart drop faster than seeing the little icon on my computer that signifies the internet is misbehaving (thankfully, we have an awesome tech staff who has absolutely been killing it so far this year).
Compared to what we've known before, this year is not normal.
But, it is becoming, each day a little more, both for teachers and students, the new normal.
I wanted to compose this post just to reflect on the main takeaways September 2020 has given me. These are points that are not organized in a specific order; they're mainly ideas I had when considering what's different and what I've learned so far this year.
In the interest of time, I'll just be focusing on my main points (because, once I got started writing, I found it hard to stop). Some will be broader and some will be more specific. Some may apply to you, while others you may disagree on. My goal here, in addition to finding some clarity (which is the point of every entry I write) is to maybe help someone who takes a moment to read this over, or even just assure them that they're not the only ones going through all of this.
So, without further ado, let's dive in.
Things are different / This is hard / I have limits
Truth be told, I originally considered putting this one further down the list, save it for after I've covered some of the more inherently positive sounding points I'll get to later. I ultimately decided not to do that for two reasons.
A. I felt that would be somewhat dishonest to myself, since this has been my most prevalent takeaway so far and I don't want to bury it.
B. This is not a negative opinion. It's not a rant; it's a statement that acknowledges that, like everyone else living in this time, I am experiencing something new that catapults me outside of my comfort zone.
It can be so tempting to want this school year to just go back to the way things were in September 2019, and that temptation can take on many forms. For me, I noticed early on in September that I was becoming frustrated that I wasn't able to "cover as much ground" in my lessons as I had in the past. I try to keep how I handle my classes each year responsive to the students and not become too "set in my ways," but, now starting my 6th year of teaching, I had a certain rhythm I was eager to settle into.
Even more eager than previous years, actually. I think I was clinging to the idea that, "if I can just do it like I did it before, it doesn't have to be different." Which is a valid way to feel in such uncertain times. Who doesn't wish their life wasn't disrupted by Covid-19?
But I can't pretend things are the same, as much as I may want to. On any given day, at least half of my students are experiencing class virtually. Our schedule was readjusted to help provide a safe learning environment, meaning my time with students has changed. Setting up cameras, microphones, praying tech stays good on both my end and the ends of my at home students, projecting through a mask, giving regular mask breaks, reminding students to keep a safe social distance...
This is not what we're used to. And that's okay.
It's also very hard, and that's okay too. Good teachers expect a lot from themselves; it's just how they're wired. Keeping that in mind, it can be very tough to admit that something is difficult, that maybe all the pieces of it don't come effortlessly, or that it isn't perfect every time. Many teachers, myself included, so want to be perfect every time.
To the point where we're pushing ourselves to fit the square peg of how we used to teach into the round hole of the 2020 school year.
And that's not helping anyone.
We need to adapt. We need to adjust. We need to educate these kids in a way that meets our high standards.
But we also need to give ourselves a break every once in a while.
What do I mean by that? I mean genuinely, actually taking time for yourself to step away. Remembering that we don't work 24/7 and that we shouldn't expect ourselves to. By acknowledging that this year is going to be different, and that that's okay. By extending the same patience and understanding we naturally provide to our students to ourselves.
It can be harder to do than it sounds; I started off the year determined to keep pace with where I had been in years past, to instantly find tech-driven workarounds to activities I could no longer run in class the way I used to, and to not let the virus "win."
And then, second week of school, I had a fever. I had to be out for a few days and get tested (negative, thankfully). I had to use more sick time in one week than I had in years past.
And the sky didn't fall. My classes didn't run off the rails. We slowed down for a few days while I was forced to listen to my body as it put its foot down.
Everything was okay.
Teaching is a profession that attracts generous people. Many of us are hardwired to be givers. We give our time, our talent, our attention, our feedback, and our joy. And that's good; that's part of what we need to do in this job.
But we need to remember that we have to take the time to have something to give. We are not perfect. We are people. And it's unfair of us to expect of ourselves anything different than what we expect of others.
2. Keep it simple
Remember playing telephone as a kid? That's basically how it can feel sometimes when you're teaching to in-person and virtual students. Your computer may lag during important instructions. A student may lose sound in a meet and have to rejoin. Maybe a student is talking to a family member or relocating a pet out of their workstation. Maybe you're hard to understand through a face mask, through a microphone, and over the internet.
Point is, I find myself repeating a lot. Some of the ways around this are presenting written or prerecorded instructions, but clarification and further explanation are hallmarks of any classroom in any time, so it's understandable that they would be accentuated here.
Combined with the altered schedule, these natural obstructions to communication can eat up a lot of class time. Which is why my second takeaway from September 2020 is to keep things simple.
By 'simple' I don't mean 'easy.' We still have an obligation to provide our students with challenging classwork. By 'simple,' I really mean allowing students ample time to grapple with a task. Don't feel like you have to do 10 different things each class period; focus on 2 or 3 you really want the students to dig into. I find myself designing assignments with a "less is more" approach; instead of 3 assignments that each touch on a concept, I'll try to design 1 or 2 that really dives into it in a way I feel is meaningful for the students.
This is also where schedules come into play. I'm a big believer in a routine in the best of times. Sure, there're always times and places to break with the schedule, but, especially given the upheaval elsewhere, I 1000% believe that routines are essential for student success this year. Time is a precious resource, and routines help make the most of it, as well as allowing students a general framework of what to expect.
3. Communication is Key / Encourage Questions
I'm a big believer in the idea that times of stress and crisis magnify strengths and weaknesses that already existed. Communication has always been one of my core focuses as a teacher; you have to develop a solid connection with your students and their home lives in order to help them achieve their true potential.
In what might as well be the refrain of this post, this is now more true than ever.
All of my students spend at least some of their school days at home. Some of them are 100% virtual. Not having a student physically in the room makes it all the more critical that everyone, student, teacher, guardian, is on the same page. Setting up systems early on with students and home about where assignments are located, how to ask questions virtually, and how frequently you as the teacher will be reaching out with updates sets everyone up for success.
This dovetails into my next point: encouraging questions.
I have made it a point this year to express to all students, parents, and guardians that I need to hear your question when you have one. I will never be angry or upset with a question. I will never discourage questioning. Especially since my ability to physically walk over and check in on a student is somewhat limited, creating a culture of questioning, self-advocacy, and independence will help everyone thrive in this new normal.
4. Patience is the Virtue / Lean on Each Other
This one kind of connects to its predecessor on this list. Is it frustrating when a student asks to reexplain an assignment you just went over because their computer glitched and they missed the first run through? Of course. Is that the time to lose your cool? I would argue not.
In addition to our students still being children (and people; all people make mistakes), they are currently living through a unique and difficult time in our history, one I am very grateful to not have to experience through the eyes of a child.
Fear of being exposed to the virus, family members becoming sick, economic instability, disappointment over cancelled events, not being able to see their friends, and coping with a stress I think most adults would agree is taxing are just some of the things these kids handle every day.
Like I stated in my first point, we have to take time for ourselves, and we need to extend that same courtesy to everyone around us. Remaining a calm, steady, compassionate presence in your students' lives can help make your class a fixture of stability in an otherwise scary and daunting time.
To build on that, I think it's important to, as a school community, encourage a culture where we all lean on each other for support. Everyone processes things differently, and we may not always be aware of what individuals are going through. Approaching situations with a kind and patient head is good advice even when there's not a pandemic, but it's an absolutely essential standard to try to maintain right now.
5. Set Expectations
This takeaway builds on crafting a reliable routine. It might look a bit strange and unexpected, but we are still in school. Our job as teachers is still to provide students with a quality education. Just because I might be appearing in a screen on their computer instead of in person does not mean that my standards or expectations have slackened. Keeping in mind all that I've said already in this post, I still expect my students to engage with their learning. I expect them to understand that this is "real" school that definitely "counts."
Whatever grade a student is in right now, this is most likely the only version of that year they are going to get. It has to count and it has to set them up for success later on.
That's where setting and sticking to clear expectations come into play. These can take the form of a routine, meet protocol, how to ask a virtual question, discussion protocol between in-person and virtual students, camera requirements, and how to turn in work, among other things. Communicating these protocols not only to the students, but their homes, reaching out when an expectation is not being met, and keeping clear records of student progress allow for complete transparency in this process, as well as indicating that you are taking this year seriously so, without stressing, your students should too.
6. Flexible is the Word of the Day / Humor Helps
The meet goes down. A Chromebook dies. The sound won't work. You forgot something in your classroom. You have to be out sick for a few days, waiting for a test result.
These, and many more, have all happened to me at least once, and it's October 11th.
Your body's natural response to these situations is to stress. You're losing precious class time, handling these hiccups. You need to keep moving, keep everybody on track.
That's not a bad way to think, but you can't make yourself sick over it.
This year, more than ever, I'm trying to encourage myself to follow the advice I give my students. One of the first things I told them on the first day of school is that we all have to be patient with each other, that getting frustrated with tech problems isn't worth it, that I'll work with them and I'll never be mad at them for something that's beyond their control. I want all of my students to feel comfortable in my class, and I want to lead by example.
The few times I've had a meet glitch, I've used that time to check in with my in-person students. I've assured my virtual students once we get back online that the contingency plan we have in place is working, and that they're doing what they need to do. I try to keep my cool; I express that this is something that's going to happen, that it's nobody's fault, and that we will adjust.
I genuinely believe that helps make them feel more at ease and ready to learn in my class.
Also, as always, humor helps a lot. Taking time to laugh with your students, ask them about their lives during mask breaks, reassuring them that you're looking out for them as a person as well as academically...kids are incredibly smart. They know when you care about them and will work for you when they feel respected and seen.
7. The Kids, As Always, Make it Worthwhile
This last one is a no brainer. The best part of my job, no question, is working with the kids. There are so many other amazing things (my coworkers and colleagues are absolutely fantastic), but seeing the kids learn and grow, hearing their creativity, marveling at how they see the world, that is what lets me leave work most days thinking I've got the best job, that this is the field that I unquestioningly belong in.
So make sure you make time for that. Don't get too wrapped up in what didn't get done or how you lost some time because of tech or a transition or something else outside your control. Don't spend your nights and weekends fretting that it's not like it used to be. Allow yourself time to feel frustrated, tired, and any other unpleasant, human emotions you have without shame or judgment. Take care of yourself, because it's the only way you can take care of them.
And, as always, always, always, they are so worth it.
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