Simple Yet (Hopefully) Effective

Something I've always done as a teacher - for 20 years now - has been to greet my students at the door as they come in for class. Additionally, I have always stood in the hallway before first hour and during each passing time throughout the day. It's a great way to have a positive interaction with kids; remind them that you know their name; maybe ask a question about their day/weekend/previous day/game last night, etc. More than anything, what I hope it does is help kids feel welcome.

It's been a little different this year. Students are more spaced out in the halls. For much of the year, only half of the students have been here at a time. There can be a sense of emptiness and even loneliness when you're sitting outside your class waiting for some traffic to come by! Plenty of times over the years I've laughed to myself thinking I'm like Kramer from Seinfeld when he set a mock front porch.

 

Maybe it's generational, but I really enjoy seeing and talking to people in the hallway as they go by - students, fellow teachers, custodians - anyone. It's great to share laughs/jokes with the kids, and razz the older ones you had in previous years. 

It's been hard to get that same feel this year with masks and more distance. Couple that with the fact that kids have spent more time away from people than with others for the past 13 months and it's easy to understand how many are a bit "rusty" with some of the interpersonal skills. Eye contact, the knowing head nod, saying hello, etc. More days than not I am met with more awkward silence, stunted hellos, and short answers than I'd care to admit, but I am sticking with it! Serenity Now...

More than anything, this time has reinforced to me just how much I thrive on communicating, collaborating, and working with others - live and in person as much as possible! No matter what lines of work I find myself in, I know that this is something I'll need. Until next time neighbor...

Rumbling, Stumbling, and Bumbling...Into Learning

 This is really less about my students (at least the stumbling/bumbling part) and more about me and my experience these last months. As someone who began teaching by using a blackboard (at least a little...my student teaching experience in college featured a little bit of this -> the chalk using kind, not the LMS platform!), it's pretty crazy to think about how important, essential, and downright ubiquitous technology has become in this line of work. I understand that isn't a unique statement...this is pretty much how things are in most areas of life right now. No doubt that will only increase each and every year. 

Cue the bumbling and stumbling! I've always prided myself on being up-to-date with best practices, and not just tech integration. In fact, I would say one of my favorite things about being a professional educator is that you're always learning, always growing, always developing new skills. It's pretty integral if you want to be effective (along with a ton of other things...but that's a whole other post). 

This past year has brought more than its share of roadblocks and frustrations. Just when you think you might have things figured out, there's a setback, change of schedule, back to hybrid-back to distance-etc. that you just have to work through. As a result, I KNOW I have stumbled, bumbled, and failed more than a few times.

BUT!... But I've learned. I've grown. I've been able to reflect and decide what has worked well and what hasn't. I have had to adapt, try new techniques, build up aspects of my self that weren't necessarily strengths, and lean into my strengths more than ever before. For all of this, I am better.

This leads me to my students, and this fascinating concept of "learning loss" that gets tossed around quite frequently these days. 

-Have there been parts of 'usual content' that may have been missed over this past year? Yes

-Have students missed out on 'seat time' compared to every other year? No doubt!

-Have students experience more and varied difficulties now than ever before? 100%

Here's the thing...they have LEARNED so much. They've been thrown into the fire, for better or worse. They have had to adapt, try new techniques, developed new skills, and build up some of their own weaknesses that they otherwise (maybe) never would have been forced to develop. Knowledge will now always be at their fingertips through phones, computers, etc. Skills, intelligence, wisdom, and learning should always be happening and developing outside our classroom walls -- even in a "good/normal" year. Part of what I've realized is that a new responsibility on my end is to help foster and facilitate these opportunities for kids whenever I can; to create chances to learn, build, collaborate, and reflect at a high rate in my class; to not go back to any 'usual' things from before that weren't effective and implement as much as possible from this past year that came out of the darkness. 

I love the kids being back in school as much as possible for all the obvious reasons - socialization, mental and emotional health, a connected school community, etc. These have been the tragic parts of the past year. Maybe now we will all recognize just how important all of that is...and not just the potential "learning loss" identified through standardized tests.

...the Mother of All Invention

Last week I shared a simple thought via Twitter and LinkedIn: even though it is pretty tough to quantify, I can't help but feel as though many of my students are experience a type of learning and growth they would have never fully realized without experiencing our current situation. Thankfully, I received some positive feedback, along with a common addition: tell me more about that - what are you seeing?

So, after thinking about it a little more over the weekend while watching the Vikings fritter away another road game, here are some skills and/or areas I have seen kids grow, learn, and overall rise to the occasion:

Self-Advocacy

I can tell you as a 6th-grade teacher one of the most crucial skills for middle-level students to learn is the art of self-advocacy. Every year, it is one of main growth goals for our students, one of the main talking points with parents at the beginning of the year and at conferences, and one of the universal, transcendent skills all of us educators are looking to foster. In some ways this year is just like any other...some students are further along than others; some students need more support than others; some students will continue to struggle and grow in this area all year and beyond. But what's different this year is more students are developing this skill - growing & learning - at a more rapid pace.

Flexible Thinking

With so in life being tossed upside-down and all around, students are forced to become more flexible, pliable, dynamic thinkers and problem-solvers. Now, they're not alone. Parents are doing more and being challenged in more ways than ever before; juggling work, raising kids, being support staff at home, and managing their own lives! Teachers are adapting, honing, changing, modifying, and updating what we deliver and how we deliver it every day. What's impressed so much about so many of my students is how they have absolutely risen to up to meet the moment. While I do still have a handful of students I worry about and know need support, it's been so incredibly energizing to see the resiliency of so many young people. 

Problem Solving

This is connected with the first two categories. There are so many ways in which my students are demonstrating efficient and effective problem-solving strategies. Organizing their daily schedules to know when each class starts, along with Google Meet information. Working with partners and groups for school work and still completing assignments at a high level of return and quality. Communicating with teachers with any issues/questions/concerns they may have during the day. Navigating digital platforms to find and interact with content. Yes, teachers and staff have put in a ton of work to help with all of these things. Administration and district-level technology and media have done exemplary work as well (ours are amazing!). As stated above, parents have been unbelievable partners throughout everything. That said, I truly need to tip the cap to my students in this area!

Collaboration & Communication

Most kids love to talk. Middle school students are especially gifted at this...especially in loud voices! But meaningful, productive communication can sometimes be hard to come by when we're talking eleven to fourteen year-olds. These past eight to nine months have really forced students to become better email writers, more purposeful speakers in class, and more efficient with their time when working with others. It has challenged me as their teacher to develop more opportunities to not only leverage these skills, but to also practice and build up these skills. It has been very enjoyable to watch students grow in their communication. In some ways it might be unfair they've had to 'grow up so fast' with some of these things, but I know that they will be way ahead of the game down the road. In terms of collaboration, students are constantly working with others, even when it may not seem like it: waiting to speak in a virtual class, listening intently to others so they can add something meaningful to the conversation, understanding the purpose and Why of different roles within groups. 

There is much more I could add. There are also students who are struggling with (very real) issues around mental health, isolation, and barriers around language, unstable home situations, and inequity. For this post, however, I wanted to take a minute and share some sincere appreciation for all the hard work, growth, and real learning so many students are experiencing in the midst of all this madness.

Thoughts & Reflections Approaching Winter Break

Part of the problem with taking a break from consistent writing is it ends up feeling as though I'm trying to time my jump into a fast spinning revolving door. Each separate door frame-sized pane of glass representing a large area of life, current happenings professionally, and/or one of the myriad crazy things going on in the world on a daily basis.

 

Sometimes I think transitioning back into cogent thoughts will be smooth, and other times it seems predestined for slow, awkward, epic failure. Even though that (often times) debilitating line of thinking has kept me from reflection, I know - and personally value - the importance of looking inward and collecting thoughts on a regular basis. 

But it's more than that. This fall, there has been the ever-present feeling of "so much." So much noise; so many variables; so much distraction; so many obstacles. While I fully understand and acknowledge I write this reflection from a point of privilege and being blessed - health of self and family good, steady job, etc. - it is also valid to say the last handful of months have been a bit much. A grind. And when I think about all of it, it can be easy to let the "so much" become all-consuming. Sometimes it just feels good to put your head down, be productive, and get the job done. The problem is, there can be so much 'cargo' that you end being the one taken for a ride, wondering just how the view became so altered, so quickly.

With that said, it feels appropriate to focus on some of the positives from this first semester so far...obviously the craziest, weirdest, most challenging, and (in some ways) the most rewarding four months of a twenty-year teaching career. 

• Students are amazing. Like really, truly incredible. Is this some of the best "work" I've seen out of kids thus far? Not necessarily. Have I been pleasantly surprised and inspired on many occasions? Absolutely. My Advisory (homeroom) kids show up every day, most of them eager to talk, share, exchange stories and jokes, and encourage each other. All of my other classes typically have 97-100% attendance; work is done just as much as before. In short - the kids are alright.
• That said, my biggest worry is their mental health. Are they feeling connected enough? Do they know many adults are caring for them and invested in them every day? I know it's my #1 goal this year...creating the environment and culture where they can just come and "be," if nothing else. The work will get done, and they always end up learning. I fully believe they learn just as much by observing me - my attitude, my commitment to them, the grace I offer, the patience I show, and the enthusiasm I bring on a daily basis. 
• While it has been different to not have the usual amount of interaction with parents - especially in person - to a person they have been amazingly supportive of me and their child. I have no doubt this makes an invaluable difference. There are many roadblocks this year, but this support has worth more than I could have imagined. 
• I really miss seeing and working with colleagues in-person. This isn't really a "positive," other than it speaks to the talented, dedicated, amazing staff at my school. 
  
• The administration at my school is fantastic. Enough said.
• In some ways, this fall has been the most rewarding stretch of my teaching career. Learning new ways to instruct, connect, assess, and plan have helped me grow as an educator. 

There are more things on my mind - serious and lighthearted - from the experience of these last nine months. More posts and more reflections for other days. For now, it was important to get back in the rhythm, think about how things have gone, and take stock of all the positives going on in a world of chaos. 

(Extremely) Cautiously Optimistic

I should almost type this with one set of fingers crossed behind my back. Perhaps knock on the nearest piece of wood firmly and sharply. Frankly, any superstition used will work for me! Why? Because at this point, things are going almost as smoothly as can be. 

Now being in the second week of the new school year with students, I find myself very, very cautiously optimistic. It has been so fantastic being able to meet the kids, see how excited they are to be back, and to witness firsthand all of the incredibly hard work being put in by my teaching colleagues, administration, media specialist, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, security personnel, etc. Beyond my own school, our district technology & media people have been incredible (maybe an understatement) and the support from families and the community has been huge. More than ever, this crazy school year and these crazy times have shown shown how great of a place this is to work.

Yes, talking and teaching all day with a mask is a bit weird and in some ways gets tiring. Yes, the kids having to be spaced out during lunch is a bit zany, and you miss seeing the kids smile behind their masks. But...

We are here; kids get to experience middle school, see friends, and interact; most fall activities and sports are underway; and with each new passing day we gain a little momentum and hopefully get closer and closer to the day when we are ALL back here together & learning.

Strangest. Professional Development Weeks. Ever.

 Understatement of the week would be to say it's been "a little different around here." This is year 20 as a teacher, and while there are many different ways I could feel about it, my overriding thought is:

Thank God I have 19 years to draw on for this!

I have no doubt that countless 1st-year teachers will grow, exceed, and blossom through this pandemic-teaching experience. Surely this is the type of environment that sharpens a lot of skills, reinforces the passion for teaching, and delivers life-long lessons. 

That said, I am still very thankful to have countless experiences to draw from and reflect on moving forward. I also know that whenever I do look back on the year that's about to happen, there will be soooo many more lessons learned.

For this two-week stretch of Professional Development/Workshop, here are some of the things that stick out:

The Good 

-seeing friendly, familiar faces...even from a distance and behind masks

-working with colleagues to plan, solve problems, and build learning environments for students to succeed

-knowing you have the support of fellow teachers, your admin, an amazing custodial staff, etc.

-seeing all of the work other district people have put in to help make any of this happen: media & technology, transportation, athletics/activities, etc.

The Tough

-many meetings spent alone at your desk via Google Meet...doable, just not the same

-potential mental overload, figuring out balancing in-person hybrid students with distance learning students; new technology tools; a different pacing of curriculum & content

The Best

-meeting my Advisory students for a masked-up, physically distanced tour of the school last week. So awesome to see their excitement!!

Controlling What I Can

In what is shocking news to absolutely nobody, there are many variables, what-ifs, hypotheticals, and general unknowns going into this next school year. Distance Learning? Hybrid? In-person learning? What about sports, activities, etc.? Will I be able to count on all students being able to access content and curriculum? What steps will be followed to ensure my safety and students' safety? Assuming some students and families would choose to learn at home full-time - even with a hybrid system - what are the implications for me as their teacher? How about the steps put in place for when somebody tests positive, which I also assume is basically bound to happen...

Here's the thing: I could sit here and think of and type questions all. Day. Long. To me, that can be instructive and helpful - as it can guide purposeful planning - but it can also be distracting and draining. Because at the end of the day, there are SO MANY things outside of my (read: our) control. So instead, I am choosing to spend most of my energy over these next few weeks planning and thinking about all of the things I can control or influence.

Off the top of my head, here's a quick starter list of what I seek to be purposeful about this fall and beyond, in terms of striving to control:

-Creating, building, and maintaining a classroom environment (both digital and physical) that keeps everyone connected and feeling welcome, encouraged, valued, and sustained.

-Building space for my students to be able to tell their stories -- what they've been going through, how they've been affected by all that's gone on in the world, their individual hopes and dreams, where they want their story to go.

-Supporting my students and help to increase their capacity for critical thinking, purposeful writing, and reading comprehension needed for multiple text and content types.

-Actively and purposefully checking in with students on a regular basis, and also creating a schedule that encourages them to be self-advocates and curious learners.

-Working closely with colleagues to make this the best possible experience for kids while also aiming to be as available to and supporting of my fellow teachers.

Throughout the year, it might be healthy to consistently check in with myself and ask questions like "what's most important right now?," "how does this best serve students?," and "how can we make this better for all kids?"