Thoughts on the complications of COVID-19 and Digital Learning

It is funny to me how everyone becomes an expert all of a sudden when situations arise. Everyone can weigh in and make pronouncements that make them sound official and definitive. Social Media has given the confidence to everyone who has an opinion to state that opinion in a way that makes them an Authority and someone will run with their opinions as LAW…

I look around at people making pronouncements about our Digital Learning thrust… 1. Don’t give children any more worksheets 2. Don’t expect them to work at home 3. Let them rest and have free time 4. Home is for family time 5. It was the end of the term anyway. 6. Keep routine the same as school 7. This is the perfect opportunity to offer work we would usually in school 8. Give them more worksheets..The list goes on and on with the directives coming from other educators, education ‘experts’ with no education training, parents,  radio and tv personalities (Why??) And whomever else..

I suppose someone could say the same about me offering my thoughts here (go figure).. but hopefully my thoughts are read as just that… my thoughts about teacher things as its meant to be.

This whole thing is too complex for any ONE pronouncement or piece of advice to fit everyone… our families each have their own unique set of circumstances within which to work and it is my responsibility to try to strike a balance that works for most of the families in my care. I understand that not every educator feels this way and that’s ok. Yuh see this is the crux of the matter. We are all allowed an opinion, a strong one at that.. what should not be allowed is the belittling, scolding and general high handedness that seems to come with expressing that opinion especially in the face of those who may have a different opinion. Accept that none of us can say anything or offer any advice that covers all families in all schools and what we say should not make anyone feel less than they are. We are all enough and we’re doing the best we can.

Looking at the 54 families in my immediate care there are so many things to consider.

🌺 Some parents are still working full time- online even- and cannot devote time to the children. They need worksheets and other work to keep them quiet for certain periods of time. These parents cannot devise plans to keep their children occupied while trying to keep up their own productivity.

🌻 Some parents are at home and craving worksheets and guidance..While they are willing and able to try to implement it is not so easy for them to come up with activities and schedules for their child or even more so their children. This is what we were trained to do not them.

🌸 Still some parents are willing to try the scheduling and choosing of work but need minimal guidance and some direction where work is concerned. They need some structure, some content to use to create their schedules.

🌼Some families have 1 device to share among them and issues with their Internet connection. What if in these families there is also a general lack of knowledge about technology and the ability to troubleshoot?

🌹Some families have children who are advanced, ready to move ahead. They need teacher guidance to facilitate this. What of the struggling students? The ones we show extra love and affection to because we are trained to do so.

⚘Let’s not forget the parents who are feeling a sense of shame and regret. A sense of overwhelming inadequacy because they aren’t able to jump in head first to digital learning and home schooling. They can’t just garden and do craft and partake in every online tour, concert and facility. They don’t have the time to teach the children how to cook and have this illusive family time that everyone says the time is ripe for. They don’t know how to sign into the online platform. They don’t have the time to allocate to their children. They don’t have the resources to buy the device and maintain the internet bill.

There are a host of other considerations.. come on peeps, this is difficult for everyone. There’s no reason to try to exert your superiority over other teachers, parents and guardians alike. Don’t let your frustration at the situation make you become someone you’re not and say things you’ll regret. We’re all in this together.

If I could offer some tips of my own that I’ve accumulated from other educators and my own observations. Teachers, we need to take care of ourselves.. think of this as the Oxygen mask warning on the plane: ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup’. Consider putting some of these or versions of these in place to tend to your own sanity.

❤ Set your hours and stick to them. Write out a schedule.

💚 Include planning time, online time, marking time, break and lunch time, family time, ‘me’ time. Be as specific as you need to be and if you can’t keep yourself accountable here is where your #tribe comes in.

💙 Consider the circumstances of the families in your class. No one knows this better than you do. Don’t let any administrator or pushy parent tell you otherwise. Do what you know is best for your people.

❤ Consistency is key, YES but the children are not at school and neither are you. Adapt and adjust to suit. Do not try to maintain the same rigour, unless you know for sure that you can (and your whole class can) without stressing them and yourself out.

💚 Trust your instincts. Some children will do no work. Some will do all and the parents will pressure you for more. Give what you believe is age appropriate. Do what you think is right and know that you can only do your best.

💙 Plan ahead. Nothing is worse (to me) than being thrust into a world of uncertainty like we’ve been over the past couple weeks. Try to include time to think ahead. How will you structure classes next term or next year? How will you address the children who’ve not had a wonderful time at home and have been craving school? How will you reintroduce your routines? Seems to me that it will never be ‘business as usual’ again.

❤ Lean on your #teachertribe. Ask questions, read, look around, explore, investigate. All the information you need is available to you. All the help and support is there. We are here. Just reach out.

💚 Self care is not to be abandoned. Nor is it meant to be the loose term that just bandied about these days and something to do. Disconnecting from the world and reconnecting with yourself, taking care of your spiritual, psychological, physical needs are never to be forgotten and as teachers, we are good and forgetting ourselves.

🤗 Parents, do your best. You were not trained for this – most of you at least- we were. Use the guidelines we set, do the work we send but if you’re struggling reach out to us. We are here to support you. You may not be perfect but you are enough.

Stay indoors everyone. Follow the guidelines and let’s #flattenthecurve.

Lots of Love,

TJP ❤