With Grace

Tales of the first week of school. Here are some things I saw and heard of from the first week of school 

• Hand sanitizer everywhere

• Kids (in-person) forgetting how to be around other kids

• Teachers adapting

• Kids who literally don’t see another live human being all day

• Kids not getting “let in” to a class all period. *Bonus craziness if it was during block schedule. 

• Some kids and teachers glad to be home and safe.

• Some teachers crying. 

• Some technology failing. 

• Great cleanliness processes 

• Younger kids melting down and having nightmares.

• Older kids being weirdly sweet and nice to their families. 

• Classrooms shut down due to Covid. 

• Schools not letting children bring school-issued computers to class (yes, really!)

• Plexiglass.

• Super-cute face masks.

• Teachers ghosting their jobs. 

• Canvas confusion

• A lot of Tech-Help tickets

• Creative teacher geniusness 

• Kids glad to see other kids 

• Everyone trying to figure out the “new normal” so we can get into routine. 

This “Home Learning Dome” below is a joke. It’s, sadly, not a real thing, otherwise, I would have put two on my credit card. But I wish it was real...

Y’all.Y’ALL!

I know we had to do a hard shift in the spring. And this is a whole ’nother giant adjustment. 

So this week, all I can ask you for is this. 

Grace. 

I ask that you give yourself and others around you grace. 

By grace, I mean goodwill, understanding, and kindness. 

This is not a normal year. So don’t treat it as one. Not at this point, anyway.

• Sure you normally start giving homework -- and grading it -- the second week of school. Show a little grace. Maybe wait another week. Or extend the due dates. 

• Sure, you normally have a certain set of expectations . It’s not “lowering expectations”. It’s giving a little grace when it takes the kids a little longer to learn those expectations. 

• I know you are a perfectionist and you expect yourself to have amazing lessons. But Canvas is new and it's hard to tell what’s going on behind the kids’ masks. And you have to sleep sometimes... Give YOURSELF a little grace. Let it go. Not every lesson can be an A+. It’s okay if this one is only a B. 

• Your administrator set up this wild schedule and it’s not what you wanted. It’s messy and hard to pull off. Show a little grace. They’re doing the best they can, too. 

• The parents are emailing you all the time, even sticking their faces into the screen to see what’s going on. Of course it makes you anxious. It’s so weird! They’re anxious, too. They’re worried if they made the right choice (about online or face to face learning). They’re worried about their kid. They’re trying to be involved (which they know they’re supposed to do). Give the parents a little grace.

• The kids at home have their cameras off.  It’s so hard to teach to a set of initials instead of to a face. But there are a million reasons why you can’t see those beautiful faces, starting with lack of cameras, moving to adolescent embarrassment about peers, and ending with home lives they don’t want others to see. Show grace and allow cameras to be off (although you might do a one-on-one conference with cameras on in the coming weeks and let the kid use a fun background, just so you can get to know their face).

• Your awesome lesson bombed because of technical difficulties. You worked so hard and the internet went down or the computer froze or Canvas acted up. You deserve grace too. S--- happens and you are still a wonderful teacher even when technology doesn’t cooperate. Take a breath. It’ll be okay. 

The only people you do not have to show grace to are the ones who use their anxiety to attack you in some way. If their anxiety turns into blame, bullying, unsafe behavior, or manipulation, then you do not have to show grace in that moment. You can walk away. But you can show grace. It feels good.  

But generally, we are all trying our best right now. Parents, students, staff, administrators, and teachers. We all want what’s best for our kids, with what we have to work with. 

Give yourself and others grace. Assume good intentions. Show understanding and give kindness. 

We will get through these first few weeks and we will figure out how to do this. It will get easier. And someday we will look back and tell people “I taught during the pandemic” and they will say “Holy crap! How did you do that?”

And you will say “We did it with grace” 

Have a better week than last week. 

Let me/us know how we can help. 

-Tracy

Be Seen, Be Heard

 We have been through some STUFF in the past few months, haven’t we? Even if we have done nothing but sit at home and watch Netflix for 6 months -- that is still the definition of going through something. We have run dangerously low on toilet paper. We have struggled to figure out in April & May if masks are useful (hint: they really are) and how to best wear them and not be uncomfortable. We have watched as our neighbors broke quarantine earlier or later than we did -- or not at all. We have missed hugging our friends and family. We have watched our friends and family lose jobs and businesses and income. We have watched people struggle with loneliness. We have held our breath every time someone coughed. Or every time we didn’t feel quite right. 

And then we all watched George Floyd be killed on camera and we held our breath then, too before we cried or yelled in anger and stared in disbelief. And maybe started or continued or re-started reading and learning more about the history and current state of racism in our country. 

Our kids have been through some STUFF, too. They have been lonely -- or not. They have been hungry -- or not. They have had their summers disrupted -- or not. They have had powerful conversations about racism -- or not. They have been worried and have maybe had someone they knew or cared about who has gotten sick or maybe even possibly died -- or maybe it has all been a hoax in their family.

And the difference between kids and adults is that kids have been through a lot of what we have --  but with less control over their lives. They can’t control the TV channels that are on in their houses sometimes. Many of them can’t go apply for a job. They don’t get to determine curfews or living situations or what topics are acceptable or not in their home. They don’t determine the level of Covid-caution in their home (although some kids may rebel). 

And our kids who are learning at home can’t help be lonely. Some are all alone, all day. Some are learning at home quietly while a parent works from home. Some are with a grandparent or neighbor. Some are supervising a younger sibling or cousin. 

But they're not with their friends and peers. 

And our kids in the classroom are going to have a very different experience than they did last year. A masked, socially-distant year with virtual clubs and limited everything (but lots of cleaning!) is not normal. 

So I know you’re doing 100 things at once. You’re trying to figure out simultaneous teaching while you figure out socially distanced collaboration while you figure out sanitizing while you figure out Canvas.... It’s a hot mess and you have more on your plate than ever before. 

I’m sorry you’re in this position and if my Fairy Godmother skills were worth a darn, I would have fixed it for you. I wish I could

But just a reminder to do one not-so-simple-thing that’s really simple. 

See and hear and know every kid. Even the ones not in your room. 

Remember that every kid (and adult) needs to see and be seen, to hear and be heard, to know and be known. They need to really be a part of a community (much, much more than they need assignments and grades and pretty Canvas pages. 

Just like my own kids tried to Zoom-bomb every Teams call I’ve been on from home for the past 6 months, (uh, sorry ‘bout that)  every at-home kid has a deep need to see and be seen, to know and be known. (even when their cameras are off bc they’re embarrassed about their house/room/face/clothes/family members)

And even our in-person kids won’t be seen as usual with their masks on. It makes us all a little more anonymous and a little less seen.

It’s going to be so, so hard while virtual teaching or even harder while simultaneous teaching, but it’s not impossible. 

Here’s a few ideas. 

• Ask kids to turn on their cameras when they can/are comfortable.

• Ask kids to use Flipgrid from home to answer questions or to reflect

• Have kids turn in assignments that include more reflections than usual. 

• Ask a (talkative) student in the classroom to monitor the chat on their computer (or yours, if necessary) and be the voice for online kids

• Try to use Teams Channels for online students to have discussions (your live students can have socially distanced small group discussions or whole-class discussions or can can respond in writing on white boards)

• Use Nearpod! Live kids can see it on your smartboard or screen until the new laptops come in and at-home kids can use it on their own devices. It’s super easy!

• Use surveys and polls like “polling everywhere” (or on Nearpod) for kids to be heard

• Use online games (like Kahoots, Quizzes, Socrative, etc) that everyone can participate in

• Message your students in Canvas frequently (especially the online students)

I know that you are frantically scrambling. I also know that come Monday, you will be amazing. You always are. 

We have been through some stuff and so have our kids. Make sure that they are seen, heard, and known. Ask for help if you need it. 

Remember, we (your district SS team) are here to help in any way we can. Please hit us up any time you need us! 

It’s all crazy, but you are amazing and you have support. 

We can get through this STUFF together! 

-Tracy

So, raise your hand if you are doing great, during the weirdest Teacher Appreciation Week ever.  

Raise your hand if your house is clean, your heart is joyful, your belly is full of healthy foods, you are showered and dressed today, your brain is anxiety-free, you have exercised several days in a row, you are not angry at any politicians, neighbors, or family members, your students are ALL learning what they need to, and you aren’t worried about any of them. 

Yeah me neither. 

These times are hard. We keep saying unprecedented because there is literally. No. Precedent.  Sure, there was the huge Influenza outbreak in 1917-1918, but they didn’t have Zoom back then. Or 24 hour new cycles. Or social media. Or toilet paper (I guess we don’t have as much of that these days either)

This is different. And it’s ok to recognize that life is different. It’s not just “Regular Life: At Home Edition”.

I don’t know about you, but I am struggling with this new life. I have been sick (not COVID, just normal sick). I usually run a busy, active life and I find being at home all the time depressing. My house is a disaster. My kids are so socially isolated from friends, they’re depressed and acting out. Because I am a teacher, I can mitigate the effect that has on their grades and schoolwork, but I can’t imagine not having a Teacher Brain for this.  If I had a Retail Brain. Or an Accountant Brain or Some Other Brain. 

Let’s use my children (because they’re the ones in front of me) to look at kids as a whole.

I have a kindergartner and a 4th grader, but feel free to extrapolate this to middle and high school students who also have MUCH higher stakes (hormones, depression, graduation, etc.). 

My kids can’t see their friends. They are supremely isolated, despite the fact that their entire lives are normally lived communally -- at school, at before-care, at church, at scouts, at sports, at other activities. Kids spend most of their lives in “piles” and “packs” of other kids. 

So they’re withdrawing.  My 4th grader is spending more time on the computer than necessary. And my kindergartner is spending more time playing by himself. I have to drag them to talk and play and do things. 

Getting them to do or finish schoolwork is like pulling teeth despite the fact that there are TWO educated adults in this house working from home -- and ONE OF US IS A TEACHER!!!

They have lost their caring about schoolwork. Why?

Because as we all know, kids don’t work just because it’s “good for them”. They work because of relationships.  

And right now those relationships are a lot harder to see. 

In the regular world, we pull every trick in the book face to face to get kids to learn because learning doesn’t look very high up on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to a kid struggling with food insecurity or safety needs who’s going to get beat up today. 

Guess what? 

Learning looks a whole lot less important when there isn’t even a teacher’s face to cajole them into it. 

When there’s a pandemic going on. When there’s less food in the house than usual. When there’s no contact with other kids. When there’s no adults at school to notice that there’s a problem. When domestic violence is up. When neglect is rising. When depression is increasing exponentially. When kids are lonely and sad

Somehow, that assigned reading with the questions at the end doesn't seem that important to a kid with everything else going on. Especially if there’s no “you” (the teacher) in front of them to use the power of relationship to persuade them to do it. 

Heck, if that were me, I might not not even login. Depression and isolation are powerful forces. 

It is HARD to get motivated in the face of a pandemic. So says the disaster in my family room. So says my kindergartener who cries every time he has to do an assignment that he doesn't like (that doesn’t come with a video of his teacher to help him feel connected). So says my 4th grader who has no idea how to do time management (and neither do most of our middle and high schoolers). So says me, who is used to seeing the faces of my friends and colleagues. 

So says our students who are lonely and isolated. 

As you work through student grades, please be kind. Assume goodwill. Assume hardships that you don’t know about yet, not just in “those” households, but in any household. Please keep this unprecedented event in mind. Please keep the fact that you have no idea what’s happening behind closed doors and unlogged-in accounts.  Please keep in mind that there are bigger events happening than a couple of assignments.

This is not “Tracy-from-the-district” giving you a policy. I don’t make policy. This is Tracy the mom. Tracy the teacher. Tracy who loves kids. Tracy who knows kids who can’t handle all this. Who knows parents who are struggling. Who knows teachers who are struggling. 

And if you’re struggling, (as we ALL are) I hope you can get a chance to listen to the webinar that the amazing Ms. Darlene Rivers from Employee Wellness provided yesterday on Teams. She is so wise and helpful. Some of her advice for us was...

• Keeping perspective
• Finding good in any bad situation 
• Noticing when you are feeling stressed
• Breathing
• Focusing on things within your control
• Asking for help
• Following a schedule
• Making your bed daily
• Showering and putting on different clothes daily
• Sticking to a meal schedule
• Disconnecting from electronics and spend time with family 
• Planning your time
• Staying CALM
• C- Coping skills (give yourself positive messages, engage in enjoyable activities, relaxation techniques)
• A- Be aware but not opposed (stay informed but limit the amount of news)
• L -- Listen to reliable sources of information (CDC, WHO)
• M - Monitor yourself -- eat well, exercise, get enough sleep.

This is still hard, even if we’ve (mostly) figured out Teams. It’s still hard, maybe getting harder despite some stores and beaches opening. It’s still hard for kids, most of whom are still isolated and scared and lonely

Don’t forget to keep that in mind as you continue to keep up your relationships with them (when they log in) and as you work through grades. 

And PLEASE take care of yourself. You are essential workers with the craziest, fastest changes and moving targets. Your job is hard. I know. I see you working crazy hours. 

I appreciate you so, so much. Please appreciate yourself this week by taking care of yourself. Happy (weirdest) Teacher appreciation week!!  Please practice self-care, now, more than ever!!!  

As always, email me any time. I love to hear from you all! newmantr@pcsb.org 

-Tracy

Flying Off a Cliff

My friends, we have been pushed off a cliff into our current digital teaching, haven't we? Not by anyone being unkind, of course. This pandemic and its timeline were not anticipated by educators. But here we are, at our respective homes, in our respective bunny slippers, worrying about our respective students, trying to figure out our respective tech problems. 

But as we have pretty much settled in, I know that most of us have seen some silver linings in digital teaching. 

Other than our bunny slippers and our lack of commutes. 

I have seen some of you SOAR with your digital teaching -- not like the guy falling off the cliff, but like the superhero flying  off the mountain that you all are (even when you don’t feel like it) 

There are things I know you all have discovered that you love in digital teaching. 

• Maybe it’s DBQ Online
• Maybe it’s having kids use the chat to collaborate
• Maybe it’s stepping down the kids’ workloads
• Maybe it’s virtual field trips
• Maybe it’s Canva for student projects
• Maybe it’s letting go of “right there” questions. 
• Maybe it’s Flipgrid for engaged student responses
• Maybe it’s leaning into the social and emotional side of teaching
• Maybe it’s Safari Montage for safe Youtube viewing
• Maybe it’s some cool resource you’ve discovered you can’t live without. 
• Maybe it’s something else entirely! 

Whatever it is, do me two favors. (please)

First, tell me what is your favorite thing about digital teaching (bunny-slippers-wise AND ALSO teaching-wise). Send me email, chat me, or whatever. I’m not going anywhere, either. 

Second, make a digital note for yourself. And start thinking about how you can use that thing you like from the NOW, from digital teaching when you go back in the physical classroom in the fall. How can you use Flipgrid or digital chats or Canva or whatever? 

Let’s start thinking now about the things we are learning to love about digital teaching -- the ways we are all GROWING as teachers from digital teaching -- and how we don’t pack those great teaching moments away with our bunny slippers when August comes around. Let’s bring our great digital teaching “finds” to school with us and keep those things rolling, just like we’ll keep the hand sanitizer rolling. 

Although I don’t think I will pack my bunny slippers away completely. I am in LOVE with my bunny slippers. 

I know some weeks you think you’re drowning. Some weeks your kids think they’re drowning. 

You’re not drowning and you can make yourself “drown less” (if that’s a thing). 

Remember you are only supposed to be giving 2-3 activities per week that are 20-30 minutes long, right? This is not brick-and-morter-school. Life and school are drastically different. This is hard. We aren’t supposed to be stressing out the students which in turn stresses out the parents which stresses out the administrators which stresses out the teachers! The solution to a lot of the stress (but certainly not all of it) is to give kids (and ourselves) less work.

Slow down. You don’t have an exam. Your kids won’t die if they don’t cover a benchmark as thoroughly as they usually do. Make it fun. Keep it fun, so they keep learning for the next month. 

And then, tell me and make a note for yourself about what worked well and what you can take back to your classroom. 

Hang in there, team. It’s almost May!  And this summer, we can all... hang around our houses some more? 

Anyway, email me and let me know what’s working for you about digital teaching! Like you miss your students, I miss my colleagues! Have a great week! 

-Tracy