(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?"

"Waiting by the Phone!"

That old song started playing in my head this morning. It's just the nature of things these days. Seems as though that's what so many us are doing - parents, students, teachers...everyone!!

Turns out we will be receiving at least some information this Thursday - July 30 - when the governor will announce state recommendations and directives around the start of the 2020-2021 school year. As a teacher whose wife is also a teacher in the district we live in, we are pretty consistently asked some version of the question "So, what do you guys know about school this fall?" The thing is - and this is the frustrating/stressing/beguiling/liberating part of it all - we don't know any more than any other neighborhood resident. Let's be honest: almost nobody does. Right now, all any of us can do is go about our business, starting thinking and planning mentally (and probably emotionally) for any scenario, and be ready to respond and act to directives handed down.

My hope and goal is to take this specific situation being dealt and turn it on itself...to make this an opportunity to grow, learn, and develop new skills as an educator. Surely new methods, skills, problem-solving, and collaboration will be needed over this next school year. Some of the lessons from this past spring will prove to be quite valuable. Things thought to be true and self-evident from the initial go-around with distance learning may prove to be false or misleading within the context of a larger time period. Students and families will need more (and sometimes quite unique) assistance and resources than during a 'typical' school year. Many students will come into this school year with a new/updated/altered world view, shaped by the pandemic, a new civil rights push, and families no doubt impacted in many different ways within the last six months.

So, right now it's hurry up and wait. Wait to see what we have to work with and within. Many around me are eager and anxious to hear what's next. I'm going to relish a couple more days of the quiet, before we all spring into action for the year to come.

We got this; we will get through this; we will be better on the other end of this.

Acceptane then Perseverance

Late last week, we were hit with the hard yet unsurprising news that the school year would be finished via Distance Learning. Most people figured it was coming; some folks were thinking that by May 4th - the initial "push to" date - we'd be able to work our way back into the buildings and get back with our students and colleagues. I fell directly in the camp of "not surprised, but definitely gutted."

Here's the thing...most of us really, really miss being with our students and collaborating with colleagues in person.While I continue to be impressed by all the work being put in from all levels - admin, technology integration specialists, teachers, paras, students and parents - there are just some elements of the job that can't necessarily be replicated in this current reality.

So, after those moments of feeling bad, feeling sorry for oneself, and being mad/upset in general, you just have to buckle in and say "alright, let's do this." The fact of the matter is there are so many variables out of our control, the best way to go is absolutely zero in on those things we can influence and make better.

With that said, we're going to make the absolute best out of these last few weeks. Lots of face time with students; fun and (hopefully) engaging activities; learning that can connect kids to each other (remotely), their family (when applicable), and the outdoors (essential!).

We'll make it work; we'll make it good; we'll take the best of this learning to the best of current practices and be better off in the long run.

Balance

Been thinking a lot about this concept lately, especially this week. Where I am, it's the middle of week 4 in the Distance Learning journey. We have made it through the initial transition period, most students, staff, and parents have - to varying degrees - figured out how to function within this new reality.

Now, I seem to be constantly thinking about just how much I'm pushing students (or not) in our academic areas. There are two sides to this precipice...the vital importance of each and every students' mental, emotional, and physical well-being. As I wrote over a month ago, a big worry I carried centered around my students who struggle with mental health, executive functioning and organization, and who greatly benefited from personal attention with myself and/or paraprofessionals. Beyond that, many 11- and 12-year olds dealing with this type of adjustment can be tough! On the other hand, there still exists the other responsibility of what we do --> teaching our students the content and guiding them through their learning. Finding that perfect balance between massaging student needs and expected learning, rigor, and pace is a constant battle.

Even though this is a source of angst and discomfort at times, I'm doing my best to lean into the reality that what we're doing isn't one specific "thing" or "type" of learning. Rather, it seems to have parts to a lot of things --> 'home schooling,' 'online learning,' 'distance learning,' etc. For a silver lining, these moments of introspection, the planning with finesse, the responsiveness developed to coordinate with colleagues, students, and families have all led to growth. Growth as an educator, growth as a parent, growth as a person.

I have come to appreciate (even more than usual) the countless moments of input/output feedback that happens all the time in the classroom. It cannot be replicated. At least not yet...that's another thought experiment for another day. I'd be curious to know how others feel about this idea of 'balance' these days...have any of your "cracked the case," so to speak? Any insights? Frustrations?

Crystal Ball...

I don't have one of those. At all. Right now, trying to think about or guess as to what changes may or may not come within education from the pandemic crisis is a bit of folly. What does seem apparent is how many holes have been punched into our "systems" (no matter the industry) and how things are usually done. For every strength that's been exposed, there have also been weaknesses and gaps brought to light.

When I think about next year and beyond, some of the things I wonder about include:

-Increased choice and flexibility...will more students realize they enjoy the remote learning and schedule that comes along with it? Will schools and districts even give that type of option, especially for middle and high school students?

-While there had been some push lately for increased focus and support toward mental health for students (and to an extent, staff), will this serve as a springboard for even more commitment toward these goals?

-State standardized tests. Seems like life will continue to go on, even without students taking those this year. Don't get me wrong - I think there is incredible value in measuring student growth and progress. Perhaps there will be more of a move toward 'in-district' testing and the development of student portfolios showcasing growth and attainment of state standard mastery...?

-Sports and activities. No idea here, other than I really, really hope students can get back to experiencing the thrill and fulfillment that comes from being part of a team, choir, band, orchestra, theater ensemble, speech/debate team, etc. Will things have to be arranged differently?

-Smaller teams and units within even larger schools, providing a more close-knit and connected experience for kids?

-Increased relationships and partnerships between schools, their community, businesses, etc.? Maybe an increased emphasis around volunteerism and problem- or project-based learning?

There are so many more that are yet to come; just very interesting to think about.