I came across this blog that I started about a year ago. Please read it with that perspective and then after I’ll add in my new thoughts.
If we were beginning this school year (2020-21) like every other I have begun I would be writing a very different blog then I am about to write. I know schools begin at different times beginning in early August. The school district I work for staff return at the end of August and the kids begin in early September.
This year is unlike any other that I have had to prepare for, and it’s taken a ton of time to figure out how to prepare. I’ll admit I struggled last spring when we, with a few days notice, went to 100% virtual learning. Generally speaking, due to the nature of my job, I spend a lot of time at my computer so that part of my work day wasn’t so challenging. What I found challenging was trying to find a space where I could have confidential conversations that my family couldn’t hear. At home my office space is in the main area of our house so that wouldn't work. I tried a variety of spaces and just couldn’t get comfortable. At the time I thought it was only temporary so I felt I could manage. Now we are starting the 20-21 school year and remote learning has no end in sight. So I got to thinking how can I make this year better than the year we just ended?
For those of you who are starting remotely or in a hybrid model I’d like to share with you the things I came up with and I hope you’ll be able to apply some of them to your own situation. If your school is heading back to 100% in person all I can say is I’m jealous!
I am huge into organization so let’s start there, I find the more organized I am the easier it is to prepare lessons. Find a place in your house that can be devoted to your school work. This needs to be a place where you can leave it out all day and if needed all night. It needs to be a place that is not shared with other people. It’s ok to be selfish and devote a place just to you. If your kids are remote learning you should find them a space as well.
These were topics that I was going to elaborate on but didn’t:
Tote to carry manuals back and forth
Get familiar with your platform
Send some detailed steps to parents on how to access your platform
Mourn and let go of how you taught last year, there are really cool ways to teach remotely and don’t take more time
Fast forward to October 2021:
Well I can’t say that this year was any easier to start than last year. Granted we do have some more freedoms back like staff meetings in person, kids back in school full days, five days a week and sporting events. Unfortunately we still are dealing with Covid, it seems there are a variety of variances going throughout the state. Due to this kids and staff still have to wear masks all day. If you catch Covid or have been in close contact with someone who has it you have to quarantine.
From the school standpoint that is very difficult because school is half remote and half in person depending on your current quarantine status, this includes teachers. This creates all sorts of day care challenges for families. If your school has too many cases within a specific time frame the whole school needs to quarantine, this has happened to one school in my district. So with just a few hours notice teachers and families need to be prepared to return to a 100% remote learning status. To throw a bit more into the juggling act, in the state where I live state employees are required to be vaccinated or they will be fired from their job. So 1 week from when I am writing this is the deadline for all employees to meet the requirement. I am very uncertain as to where that will leave our educational and health systems in this state.
Honestly, when I started writing this blog just over a year ago I thought Covid would all be done and over with but now I have no idea how long this will go on. I feel (like I am sure many people do) that everything is so uncertain now, we have no idea of what tomorrow will bring. The one thing I do know is that this is the time to focus on putting positive energy out to the world. Be kind to your neighbors, do random acts of kindness, help someone when they need it, smile and be patient. We are all struggling and we all could use some grace.
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