Bracing for the next few months…
Educators are you ready? Ready for the next few months of unpredictability and uncertainty? I’m looking on and taking note and trying to use the time to learn, write and create when and what I can. Maintaining the balance is difficult. The temptation to get sucked into the financial frustration and stress and any other number of negative feelings is very much there and it takes serious navigation and effort to stay grateful and focussed on the positive. Here are some thoughts I shared with my Curriculum Team as we prepare for the next phase.
PUT YOUR OXYGEN MASK ON FIRST…
As we know, these are potentially stressful and distressing times. It is important to take time for yourself. You cannot pour from an empty cup!
Everyone is juggling quite a lot. Some people are taking care of families – including young children or older relatives. Some people are managing serious financial challenges. Some people are alone and managing the loneliness and deafening silence. Some of us have anxiety and depression threatening to engulf us. Some people are dealing with things that we can neither name nor imagine. Some people are trying to stay positive and upbeat through it all.
Every one has their struggle and it is important, especially at a time like this, to find an outlet for stress and negative feelings. We must explore and find ways to engage in some #selfcare. It may or may not be what you used to do before. You may have to find other ways because of your new circumstances. Or you may find that what worked before no longer works and you need to explore some new methods of release and relief.
READY OR NOT….DIGITAL LEARNING HERE WE COME!
Here are some tips for you as we move forward!
1. Create a WORKSPACE – As much as possible, have a designated area for your work, preferably out of your bedroom. This will allow you to engage while in the space and more importantly disengage once you leave the space. Put things into the space that make you happy AND productive. Whatever YOU need, get it and keep it in your area – scented candles, your planners/notebooks, stationery, water bottle, chargers, diffuser and essential oils… Don’t forget your laptop and speakers/head set of course.
2. Establish ROUTINES – Create morning and evening routines that you can follow daily. It is important to start on the right foot and we often have a series of steps we can take to ensure that we start on the right foot. Do you need your morning coffee or tea or morning prayer and journal time? Do you need to do some household chores? What do you need in the evening? Is it a special bath time? Afternoon snack with your kiddies or hubby? Is it changing into your PJs? Whatever you need – set t it up and maintain it as best you can to start and end your day.
3. Follow a DAILY SCHEDULE – This is very important. Have an idea of what your day looks like. Put in your meals and breaks as well. Some other things you may want to include are marking time, planning time, phone calls or personal check-in time. It doesn’t all have to be on the same day. This will also ensure that you stay on task. Believe me, I know it is very easy to get sucked into one activity intensely OR get distracted by every activity. If you don’t have an app for that – check out TimeBloc. It is FANTASTIC! Interactive and graphic and allows you to set up your daily routines. It’s similar to most calendar apps – and I do use Google Calendar quite often – but it just has a little something extra – feel free to check it out.
4. Have a WINDING DOWN Routine – Well, let’s chat about this for a minute. If you listen to nothing else on this list, please listen to this. Have a winding down routine. How do you relax your brain and body after a long day? Decide on a few steps you follow that end with the switching off and putting away of your laptop and walking away from your work space.
Seriously guys – find a way to wind down and walk away.
5. Set Your DAILY INTENTIONS – What do you want to accomplish today? What attitude do you need to accomplish those goals? Setting your intentions will let your body, mind and spirit know what’s what for the day. Give yourself a mini-pep talk, write 2 or 3 intentions, have a wonderfully productive day.
6. Dress POSITIVELY – Dress to impress…. yourself.. What makes you feel good? This isn’t school so there isn’t a need for shirts, skirts and pants and shoes but it IS school so there is a need for decency. Don’t just throw it on though, wear the polo, top, shirt or dress in a way that makes you glow. Makeup? Sure. Lips and mascara change your whole face. Do you need to do your brows? Do them… Or are you a natural face, throw on a head wrap and earring kinda teacher? It all works…
You feel good, the kiddies feel good.
We know our energy affect theirs, lets make sure they only get the best stuff from us.
REMEMBER..
Use these tips as a guide and I hope they help but I cannot say this enough – if these aren’t quite your vibe, YOU need to adapt them for YOU. Edit them, tweak them, use what you will and discard the rest. Each of us is dealing with a unique set of circumstances and no one can tell you what’s best for you like you can.
YOU ARE ENOUGH. Remember that and take it one day at a time.
RESOURCES, RESOURCES, RESOURCES
Are you experiencing Resource overload? We sure are. There are hundreds – if not thousands – of possible resources available with more coming out weekly. Do not explore, explore and explore some more till you frustrate yourself. Choose a few – use the ones we’ve already used or choose a few of your own and perfect those. Practise with them and get familiar with them. The trick here is to be as comfortable as possible with any resource that you plan to use before using it in your class.
Included below is the link to the YouTube playlist with videos tutorials, tips and tricks for Digital Learning. The videos are not mine but the content created by some educators I really admire and respect, who share relevant and engaging material. Check it out!
We have to keep on keeping on. This too shall pass and we will emerge on the other side. Take it one day at a time. #stayhome #staysafe #flattenthecurve
How are you coping? What is your current situation? Are you at work? Working from home? How are things going with you? Let me know..
TJP
Tee's Teacher Thoughts, Tidbits and Tips 