Notes from the Apocalypse - The Educator's Episode

 

So here is a scene from one of the virtual-classrooms I used during summer school, hence me in shorts and a t-shirt. Yup, Mr. S keeps it casual during the summer. Let me catch y'all up on the haps.

• I spent the summer teaching myself how to use technology to teach students remotely. This remote learning was never a part of my coursework when I did my teaching certification. I am grateful that this older dog was able to learn some new tricks. 
• My district started the school-year with us doing remote teaching for the first 10 weeks. This decision by the Board pissed off the superintendent...She then tried to lay a guilt trip on the Board by saying parents need "childcare" in order to go to work 😠 and if we didn't go back parents would start home schooling their kids 😂 and the cherry on her whack sundae was her saying if the teacher really did love their students they would come back🖕. She is not ready for prime-time. 
• BTW, the Board voted for remote teaching because the buildings were not ready with PPE and not fully compliant with CDC and OSHA guidelines. Yay for safety first!
• My K-3 students are adapting to our interactive Meets session. The first few days they were intrigued with seeing themselves on the computer screen, therefore I was entertained while seeing the kiddos make all kinds of funny faces. Ya gotta love 'em.
• I had to remind a few parents that when their child is off of mute, the other students and I can hear their private conversations and the use of profanity in the home. So this week I learned that Mrs. So-and-So thinks her older son's girlfriend is a "lazy bitch." LMAO.
• I hope when these 10 weeks are up we have the green light to go back into our buildings...remote teaching is double the work, and some of my students need the in-class teaching. Learning remotly aint for everybody.

The Ying and Yang of Teaching 10

I had a very interesting summer. I taught in a program that services children with multiple and/or severe disabilities. Most of my students, ages 7-15, were non-verbal and are at a Pre-K level in terms of academics.

It was very challenging and required me to be creative at finding ways to reach each child.

I was humbled when after a full-days work a student would suddenly produce results at that moment, however, the next day that child would have no recall and I was starting from square one.

Often, a big smile would spread across my face when the students with autism were able to produce work that revealed they are learning and aware of the world around them. It was also very special when they would make eye contact with me. I felt they were acknowledging me.

A family member had asked me, "Why are these kids in school?" I responded by saying, "They deserve an education. We never know what content will click in these children's brains or their potential if we don't try."

I also talked about the fact the kids responded to the affection and attention we gave them, and it made them very happy. And, that in working with them I learned to give of myself to others on another level.

So, next week I return to work,and my K-4 students. I am looking forward to seeing them again. I miss them.

The Ying and Yang of Teaching: 1

For the past several weeks, I've been working at a new high school. It's a very different environment from the high school I've been at during the past four years. This school is very small, and has a rather relaxed attitude towards managing the student body.

What remains the same is that I still get immediately invested in seeing my students do well. There is also a wide-range of academic ability and interest among the students.

There are four students that I absolutely enjoy working with, because they are in a headspace that makes them available for learning.

Today, I had to spend the entire school day with one student that has written off the whole learning thing. In fact, when we first met in January, and I brought class assignments, he looked at me with a smirk and said, "Didn't they tell you that I don't do work?" To which I said, "Oh really, well that's not going to work with me."

He has been fighting me all along, and it's been a struggle. Today, while he was confined to one room, due to an in-school suspension, I made that boy work. He showed a level of ability and potential. I acknowledged this to him and encouraged him to keep trying to get back into his studies.

The fantasy in my head is that our day together will become a turning point for him. Then, I snapped myself out of Oprah mode, and realized I need to be ready to see him roaming the hallways and cutting class on Monday.

What I do know for sure, is that when I see him I will urge him to go to class, and I will always have a stack of class assignments ready to engage his mind. I will not be another adult that threw their hands up in surrender when it came to him.