Talk Less, Smile More

In the musical Hamilton, the fictional version of Aaron Burr tries to convince fast-talking, say-whatever-you-think Alexander Hamilton to “talk less, smile more”. What Burr really means is to keep people guessing so they won’t have a reason to dislike him. 

But it’s not a terrible way to think about online & hybrid teaching. 

No, not the “keep em guessing“ part. But the teacher-talking-less part is good advice for all of us. And the keep ‘em bonding part is pretty good, too

Teaching is SO WEIRD right now, right? The online part is definitely one of the weirder parts. For most of us, there are a handful of kids who answer questions and participate. 

And then there are the silent icons. Silent initials.  

Are they listening? Are they learning? Thinking? I have no idea. A bunch of them turn in work. Some of them are just weird lurking icons. They turned off their mics and cameras. Did they turn off the incoming sound and video so they could just watch TV, too?

Their silence unnerves us. As does the repetitive nature of those same four kids who participate. 

And so in our awkwardness and discomfort with the silence, we-the-teachers talk into the abyss. 

And some days, we talk and talk and talk and talk...

It’s a teacher-talkapalooza. And it makes time slow down and class kind of boring. Even those teachers who are natural-born storytellers (and god help the kids who have teachers like me who aren’t). 

Why is this not our best idea? 

First, I think of those poor kids who spend 7 periods a day listening to teachers talk all day. Whew. That’s a whole new kind of tired. I also know that as a teacher, it is exhausting to talk all day - and even more exhausting to talk ON SCREEN. All those studies on Zoom Fatigue are real. It’s reason #815 why you’re so tired. It makes the day go soooo sloooowwww....

But there's one thing I do know about learning 

That the “person doing the talking (about content) is doing the thinking (about content). 

So if the teacher is doing all the talking (about content), the teacher is doing all the thinking (about content). 

If the same four kids are doing the talking, THEY are doing the learning and the thinking.

What are the other kids thinking about? 

Who knows? Pizza? Minecraft? Romantic interests? What are they going to eat tonight? Grandpa’s health? Fave tv shows? Tiktok dances? All of those? 

But probably not content. They don’t need to. The teacher is doing all the work. So they can kick back and daydream about Kid Thoughts that don’t involve content. 

Hey, teacher! Like Aaron Burr says, “talk less”. Maybe have those same four kids talk less, too. 

You might ask what else to do instead of talking. These are weird times in which to teach and we can all use some new thoughts.  

Here are some ideas:

1. Chunk your class (with timers!): Use a timer for yourself to only talk for 5 or 8 minutes. Use a timer for how long kids should go watch that video you dropped in the chat. Use timers for how long they should take on bellwork, quickwrites, readings, discussions, or anything else you give them to do. Keep. Class. Hopping! Keep it moving to keep kids engaged. 

2. Use wait time differently: If you want to talk less, it’s only logical that ALL the kids should talk more. But what if they won’t? Wait time hits differently when everyone is silent and unseen. Suddenly, everyone thinks class is over? Or the internet went out? Or the sound stopped working? You can’t just be silent like you could in your all-live class. Nor is it fair to let the only-in-person kids be the only ones to talk. It’s time to use music, a ticking kitchen timer, the Jeopardy tune, or a countdown clock to let them know that you’re waiting -- but that the internet hasn’t actually crashed (not this time, anyway)

3. Call On Kids: It helps to tell them this ahead of time and not spring it on them like a wacky surprise, but let them know that you are going to call on all of them. And maybe if they answer, it will be for a point somewhere that you have built into participation or something or maybe they get a school “buck” or maybe they can earn a free homework pass or something. But call on every kid. Give them all the opportunity to answer (even if it’s in the chat if they don’t have a mic) You can spin to choose who will answer with Wheeldecide or SuperteachertoolsSpinner OR you can use the RandomNameGenerator Or RandomNamePicker Or any of those tools.But don’t let them off the hook just because they don’t raise their hands. I know, because I have heard from the online kids in the Hybrid class that it is hard, even for the outgoing ones. It’s hard 

4. Make it Fast: Make it a race. For your in-person kids, give them 30 seconds to write a quick response to what you just read/said/wrote/viewed on their desks with dry-erase markers (everyone is cleaning all the time anyway, right? Might as well wipe down desks again. For your online kids, give them the same 30 seconds to put something in the chat (emojis and gifs count ONLY IF they are a response to the thing you just  read/said/wrote/viewed). Then, have kids share out their answers if they like. 

5. Walk Away: Give kids a specific SHORT amount of time to do THE THING you just asked them to do. Like, “You all have 5 minutes to read the first paragraph (or two) and underline/highlight any words you don’t know.” or “Please answer the first two questions on your one paper and we will come back together in 8 minutes (at 11:15) and talk about it.” I am HERE at my desk and in the chat if you have questions”. Then, let them do their thing. 

6. Process, Process, Process: Kids need to process content and information. They need time to “chew” it up. There are 100 ways to do that but some are

1. Draw something they learned

2. Talk about it to a partner

3. Connect it to something they know

4. Agree/disagree with a statement about the content

5. Summarize

6. Address misconceptions

7. Compare/contrast the content

8. Examine it from multiple perspectives

9. Ask questions about what they learned

It’s okay to talk less, even into the silent abyss. But smile more and find ways to make class move at that “lively pace” that you used to have. Make it fun and quick and the kids will learn more. 

And guess what -- I promise, that if you end up talking less during your day, you will be LESS TIRED. (I really DO want you to feel better, work less, be less exhausted, and enjoy your job more. One small baby step at a time. 

I want to make your day easier. I also want to make it easier (and more successful) for your kids. Hopefully, there are one or two ideas here that will work for you AND for them :) 

You got this. Let’s pump up the Pumpkin Spice Lattes and pep up our classes so we can be less tired! 

Let me know if I can help! As always, I love to hear from you! 

-Tracy

Be Excellent To Each Other, Sleepless

 I see you and I hear you, my colleagues. This is a wild year and things are ... unusual to say the least. As Bill and Ted used to say, “Strange things are afoot at the Circle K. And ... everywhere.”

Which of these Pandemic Professional-educator Profiles are you? 

(PS: I put Pinellas geography in these teachers' pseudonyms merely  for the alliteration of it. I am not referring to any actual person by their location because you are multitude. I could not possibly refer to a single teacher if I wanted to. There are too many of you and anyway, that would be insensitive and rude of me. And for every profile below, there are a dozen or two people who probably fit the description)

Sleepless in St Pete (or anywhere): Trying desperately to keep up with the Most Amazing Lessons Ever (!!), even though they are teaching simultaneously all day and still figuring out Canvas, these teachers are still bringing their A+ game. Since Simultaneous Teaching has been described by many teachers as having “two very different preps at the exact same time” (especially when the Online kids don’t have your in-class materials and your in-class kids don’t have or aren’t allowed to bring devices), Sleepless in St Pete (and her brother, Sleepless in Safety Harbor) are literally working around the clock, working harder and longer hours than they did in the BC times (Before Covid) and are therefore not sleeping. Or eating. Or going for runs. Or hanging out with their friends or families. Or watching TV. They are neglecting everything including their own physical and mental health chasing down the perfect simultaneous lesson for next week. These folks are in danger of burning out by Halloween. 

Lonely at Lake Seminole (or anywhere): Some of our colleagues are working from home. OR some of our colleagues come to school each day only to lock themselves in their classrooms (or their closets?) and not see another live human all day. This is hard to do. And lonely. And weird. To know that some of us are feeling like the students are too close and too many and others really miss those loud, smelly germ factories. And are feeling lonely and forgotten and lost and like an afterthought. It’s hard to collaborate from your living room. And it’s hard to be a part of things when you’re literally apart. 

Digitally Drowning Downtown (or anywhere): Some of us can barely keep up with the tech. Just when we got Teams down in the Spring, they sprung Canvas on us. It’s all we can do to get the calendar set up. To heck with the rest, amirite? Except ... It’s the fourth week of school and everybody is expecting all this cool stuff from my Online classes and I am LOST. I don’t know half of what they’re talking about, let alone how to DO what they’re talking about! Canvas is not easy and I think I still have all that Latin stuff that came on there. And I know it makes my life more complicated. If I just knew how to make things easier on myself, well, things would be easier. Uggghhh. Can’t we just go back to a projector?

North County Newbies (or anywhere) These folks might be new to teaching or new to your school. Everytime they turn around, there’s a new THING they didn’t know about -- a new procedure, a new acronym, a new tradition, a new meeting, a new part of things they didn’t know about -- ON TOP OF learning Canvas and teaching in a pandemic and all the things we are ALL learning together. A lot of veteran teachers say they feel like they’re first year teachers again this year -- but these folks are ACTUALLY NEW. And exhausted. And overwhelmed. 

Loner in Largo (or anywhere): Some of us don’t have time for anyone else. Some of us just need to close our door, take our Teams “off the hook” and get stuff done. There’s a lot to do. Online live teaching is new, simultaneous teaching is a hot mess, and it all takes focused time. We just don’t have time to deal with all these extra people if we are going to get stuff done. If I ask for help, it will take too long. And I’m sure they would do it differently than I want to anyway. Plus, I might look dumb. I’m sure they’re all fine. I’m fine too. I just. Need. To. Get. This. Thing. Done. Can we get a raincheck on this conversation? Cute mask! Bye!

Panicking in Pinellas Park and Palm Harbor (or anywhere): It’s so hard to know where to start. Do I plan for my virtual class first or my face-to-face one? Or do I clean my classroom, again? Do I focus on my standards or the social-emotional learning first? Should I give a traditional assessment or something more project-based ... or just, nah? Can I open a window in here or is it going to rain again? Should I figure out how to have kids collaborate even though the face to face kids can’t get near each other and a bunch of the online kids don’t have cameras or mics? How do I do that? Especially at the same time? Arrgh!!! What materials can I use that my face to face can use Analog and my Online kids can use digitally that doesn’t have me reinventing the wheel every period of every day? And what do I do when schedule changes make me restart all my classruum culture stuff? AAAAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!! Can I take a day off yet? What if I get Covid and need the days off? 

This is a friendly reminder that 1) the best “dumb” movie in the world is Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (and no, I haven’t seen the new one, but I will) and 2) Bill and Ted have exactly one piece of wisdom. 

“Be excellent to each other.” 

There is absolutely NO reason to do everything yourself. There is no reason to be lonely. There is no reason to panic alone. There is no reason to go through the Newbie Learning Curve alone. There is no reason to be digitally drowning. 

You have colleagues and they are awesome. (I actually know almost all of the middle school social studies teachers and a whole lot of the high school social studies teachers and I can say that with confidence and authority). Let me say that again. 

You have colleagues. Your colleagues are awesome. (truth)

Please go find your colleagues (either masked and socially distant OR via Teams meeting) and be excellent to each other. Help each other out. 

Don’t have a meeting that is useless. Each of you can bring a problem you need help with. And then... help each other. Many hands make light burdens.  

• If one of you is Sleepless in St Pete (or Safety Harbor), one of you knows a great resource or shortcut to help sleepless work a little less.

• If one of you is Lonely in Lake Seminole, talk to that person while you plan. Bounce your ideas off them. It will make your lesson plans better and will do wonders for the person who doesn't’ see humans all day.   

• If one of you is Digitally Drowning Downtown, one of you knows how to do some of that. Help that person. One trick or process or application at a time. 

• Please find that North County Newbie and help that person. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if you have time or not. Remember when you were new and remember the colleagues who had time for you and the colleagues who didn’t. Some people make a difference in the lives of their colleagues too. 

• The Loner in Largo thinks they can do it all by themselves but honestly, their lives would be a whole lot easier with a “divide and conquer” strategy, too. Fine them and divide some work. You take this task and you take that task and everyone has less to do and our stress levels decrease. And maybe we take a deeper breath tonight and relax more. 

• And our colleague who is Panicking in Pinellas Park and Palm Harbor also needs ... a friend/colleague to talk it out with. Because who can better help you prioritize than someone making the same decisions. Who may have figured out one of the problems. Who may have a good idea. Or who can talk it out with you. 

Be excellent to each other. It’s a little harder now with social distancing and masks and teachers working from home and Teams meetings. But it’s crucial for OUR OWN mental health and professional well-being to find our colleagues and work together, safely. 

In Bill and Ted, Socrates told them “The only true wisdom is knowing that you know nothing”. Bill and Ted replied “That’s us, dude!”. Of course you don’t know nothing, but recognize that you have things to learn from a colleague.  

Find your colleagues and work together. Find the ones you like and the ones you need specific skills from and the ones who need something from you. Socially distant or virtually, but don’t let this slide. It is so important to your stress levels and to your overall wholeness. 

And ... you can always call us here at the district SS office if you need us. We are happy to help with the panic, digital needs, overachievers, newbies, and EVERYONE! 

This is hard. Don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t. Make it easier on yourself by letting many hands make light work. And then, enjoy a virtual happy hour to celebrate actually having some free time when that happens (hey, it will!)

As always, I love to hear from you! Email me at newmantr@pcsb.org

-Tracy