Throughout any given school year, unexpected tasks and roles will always arise. Never to this degree have we seen such a pervasive obstacle. We are in the business of people, working with students who come to us to learn, to be guided, and, most importantly, to be loved. While our efforts to move to e-learning can in no way replace daily, face-to-face interaction, our connectivity with our students will help us to maintain our relationships and show love to our school tribes in the best manner that we can. With this shift to e-learning, it is essential to acknowledge that our ability to instruct has been challenged. But for the time being, this new direction of learning is not optional; it is not an educational trend or fad. E-learning is paramount to continue our students’ education. Continuing forward with some form of learning is necessary to maintain a sense of normalcy in the minds of our young people. Our students are our second family, and we need to continue to find ways to lift them up. As we empower them through encouraging messages and alternative assignments, I believe that we will find greater strength as well.
When moving instruction online, it is important to remember a few key factors. First and foremost, keep instruction simple. Do not reinvent the wheel, and do not start using tools that you have never used before. Just like any traditional lesson, we want to remember our learning targets, consider how students will practice skills, and determine how students will prove that they have made progress. Patience both on the teacher and student end is imperative. Transitions take time and are not devoid of mistakes and growing pains. Students need to remain engaged and continue to move forward in the learning process so that when we can reconvene face-to-face, some growth was made. There will be some setbacks, and some students won’t complete all of their work. We cannot allow these minor frustrations to prevent us from taking “a step. Step again,” and make a choice to just “let it go.”
The tone of our schools, communities, and the greater world is heavy and bleak right now. Uncertain times and the impending fear of the unknown are weighing on us all to varying degrees. Our anxiety and "grief has a gravity," and our feelings have a way of making moments in history, such as now, seem insurmountable. The mood in our hallways last week felt similar to the hallways post 9-11 - ominous and quiet. While we walk "stumbling blindly toward the light," know that there is indeed light at the end of this tunnel.
This week, we have entered uncharted territory - not just in education but in our everyday interactions locally, nationally, and globally. We need to listen to the CDC and to credible sources that are imploring us to practice social distancing (Check out The Washinton Post's "Flatten the Curve" article). As we spend time in our houses away from others, we need to embrace technology to stay connected to one another. Our ability to support one another through any feelings we may have will help us to remain calm and find joy in our present situation. Acknowledging current feelings will also help the negative ones to subside.
Tomorrow is always another day. The challenges of today can and will drive us to move forward and grow as educators, mentors, and people. Being prepared, aware, and ready to embrace anything, I will continue to "do the next right thing" for my students, for my colleagues, and for my family. For now, we must remain vigilant to the advice of medical professionals, we must exhibit empathy toward others, and we must realize that while in some ways practices and protocols may “never be the same again,” we will return to a sense of normalcy. We will get through the woods, and we will emerge stronger than before. The next right thing is to demonstrate resilience and move forward. We can do this!
*If anyone needs help or support with e-learning, here are a few resources that I have created. I am happy to share ANYTHING I have! Remember, that while it seems that “nothing will ever be the same again," some things - like the strength of our community - never change.
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