A surprise two weeks off under any other circumstances would have brought so much joy to teachers and students everywhere…
Times have changed, not only in education… but in the world as we know it!
Yesterday, we got the word, that we, along with schools, businesses, cities, and towns all over the world, that we are closing our school for two weeks due to the Corona Virus. Teachers were given instructions to turn the careers they know and love- a career that prides itself with interaction, into one that is quite impersonal and exclusively online.
I sat with the other supervisor yesterday as we attempted to figure out how to assist our teachers in creating lessons that were both stimulating and rigorous, thorough, and engaging, all on a platform that until now- has been an accessory that simply accompanied teaching.
In a few short weeks so much has changed.
Yesterday’s 5 minute podcast was devoted to reasons to be grateful in this otherwise dark time. I felt the need to remind people that there truly is so much we can learn from and be grateful for during this crazy time.
Though the circumstances are far from ideal, this experience will most certainly change the face of teaching forever. I can see a new hybrid type learning environment being born. Gone will be the conventional days of teachers teaching and students sitting in a class absorbing all that they can from the words that are spoken and the lessons delivered. Now, I imagine, we will share space with a computer- that will deliver videos, allow the children to “virtually” go anywhere and do things a mere teacher simply could not.
However, there are some things that teachers do that not even COVD-19 can change.
We, as educators, at all levels, are still the ones who give the hugs, wipe the tears, encourage them to try, laugh at their jokes, know their families, listen to their stories, help them with their daily battles and drama, and too much more to list in a simple blog.
The job of a teacher is far more valuable and more significant than most even consider. It is not only our students that will feel the tremendous loss by this surprise time out of school, but also those of us who enter the building each day.
It is my belief that though this time will be difficult, it will make us grow as educators. I have been in touch with, received help from, and joined forces with more educators and more educational programs and agencies in the past week than ever before. That has been the small gift…the reason for gratitude in this otherwise dark time.
I have seen first hand teachers working together and dedicating themselves to maintain the environment (the home) they have created for their students- by attempting to put all of that hard work and love onto an online program. It always amazes me how resilient we educators are and how able we are to accommodate anything thrown our way.
Yes, this is a truly difficult time and yes, things are changing. Please remember to take care of yourself. Teachers are needed now more than ever to provide what they always do…love, nurture, and feelings of safety and security. With all that in mind- I want teachers to remember to do all of those things for themselves as well!
Take care of yourself, relax, recharge, ask for help when you need it. Do not go through this crazy time alone. There are so many groups offering so many services from education to self help. Please utilize all that you need to in order to care for yourself. Check in on each other, help each other, and know that despite it all… we will over come this and as always, be stronger for it.
As you console your students and perhaps your own children who, if anything like mine, are scared and angry that they are losing sports, and dances, and the second “home” they have come to love (and hate), and love.
We are all in this together. We have to figure it out as we go…This is an unprecedented time and the world seems very different. Remember, it is not. No matter what we face, how difficult it may be, we are human beings. We need love, to feel safe, and to take care of each other.
Each day take the time to be grateful for all that we will learn, how much we will grow, and how important the work we do is to so many of our students, colleagues, and communities. Take care of yourselves these two weeks.