We have all said it, heard it, know it. The past year has been a wild ride. Nothing is normal; everything has shifted. While I have navigated the crazy with my students, I find I am beginning to feel increasingly unsettled by this season rather than adapting to it. Things that have been important to me over the years as an educator and in my own personal growth have had to be put aside. There just is not enough time or energy remaining at the end of the day to push my own personal boundaries, to look for new opportunities and inspiration, to network with other educators who share my passions, and to grow myself professionally according to my pedagogical convictions. The limitations of pandemic protocols have made it more difficult to meet with fellow educators, to be energized through collaboration, and to simply be encouraged swapping stories of the day in the lunchroom. I expected it at the beginning of the pandemic last spring, but I did not anticipate it would last this long. We have figured out how to push through, to continue turning the cogs of the wheels of learning in our classrooms, whether in-person, hybrid, or
Tag: remoteteaching
The C-Word
Technology is just a tool, not a teaching method. Just as in building a house, the tools alone won’t build a sound structure. The blue-prints, well-laid plans, forethought and skill are necessary to achieve the end goal. The same resourcefulness and expertise that made great teachers before Covid-19 remain essential.
Share this:
I’m a teacher. I’m a mother. I’m a mess.
Let’s be real, people. Balancing home life and work as a teacher has always been a challenge. There is always more to do: grading to finish, lessons to rework, students needing reteaching and greater differentiation. Of course, there are also dinners to prepare, kids’ games to cheer on, laundry to fold, and memories to make. In the current era of remote teaching and learning, the balance can be even harder to strike. The tensions between work and home are heightening as we try to establish boundaries to protect our home life and our sanity while meeting responsibilities toward our students. So what is the secret? My family will certainly attest that I have yet to master this completely. They graciously tell me they admire my work-ethic. This is code for, “Good gravy, Mom, you’re still working?” While I appreciate their diplomacy, I am not ignorant of the issue. That is the first step, right? Admitting you have a problem? While a 12-step program might not exactly be in order, I’ve developed a five-step approach for finding balance during remote learning that is helping me through. Step 1- Acknowledge these are indeed crazy times, and forgive yourself for the imperfect way
Share this:
We Are Teachers, We Rise
We are definitely on rough seas right now. We need to batten down the hatches and be ready to throw one another a lifeline. When the storm has passed, as it is sure to do, will you look back and see the opportunity for growth that you embraced or an opportunity wasted?
