Ok. So I want to start off with this- I'm not happy about the "Remote Learning" that we are doing. I miss my students desparately! I miss interacting with them, monitoring their progress closely, being able to have a "feel of the room" of how the lesson is going. I miss celebrating their successes with them and I miss consoling them through the power of "failure". I miss eating lunch with my colleagues and sharing a laugh or sentiment as I pass them in the hall. I miss seeing parents in the hallwary or workroom, so anxious to help out at our school. I miss the feel of energy that is EVERYWHERE in an Elementary School (the library, the playgroud, the classrooms, the hallway, everywhere!!!)
However, it is now time for me to practice what I preach. I tell my students that I am a life-long learner and that is my hope for them as well I remind that there are opportunities for learning in every situtation.
So, what am I learning? I am learning new skills. I have taken several webinar PD classes over the last few weeks and I'm learning new ways to deliver lessons. I'm tweaking my technical skills every moment of every day! I'm learning new ways to connect with my students online. We have fun on Zoom, we comment giggles over posted jokes, and they brighten my day with every comment on my video read aloud. In fact, on that note, I have learned to overcome a lot of self- insecurites to post a video of myself reading a chapter (with permission from the publisher) on Seesaw. I have also learned that I really enjoy an evening walk with my husband.
What are my students learning? I hope that they are learning that their education is essential! When almost everything else has shut down, the value of them continuing to learn has pushed us all to be innovative and find ways to teach them. I hope that they are learning some independence and owenership in their learning- that is so powerful! I hope that they are also learning some ways to enjoy time with their families.
What are our students' parents learning? I hope that they are learning how exciting it is to watch a child grow and learn. I hope they are learning that their teachers are working as hard as they can to provide well thought and engaging lessons in this brand new format. I hope they are enjoying this extra time with their children and making memories to last a lifetime.
What are our educational leaders learning? I hope they are learning that teachers will work diligently, even when there is no standardized test in sight. I hope they are learning new ways to support teachers, students and parents in this challenging situation. I wonder if they are learning that we don't have to "cancel' school for a day when there is hazardous weather? I wonder if they are learing that maybe someday we could save lots of energy if we had school in the building 4 days a week and one day at home? I feel like one day a week of Remote Learning would be ideal- just my opinion! It would be the best of all worlds for me!
I have full confidence that we are all learning. I am hopeful that we are learning things that will help us become better future teachers in all situations, better students and better educational leaders.
I'm sure that you have thought of so much more that we are learning... I'd love for you to share your thoughts!
