Each month of this year I have been choosing a new ONE WORD. Instead of one word to try and fit the whole year, I wanted to be constantly reflecting on where I am and where I am going.
And who knew back in January when I started this that 2020 would be the year that each month would require it's own word.
Seriously. Each month of the year has actually required a word.
It's only been 4 months. 4 months.
Wow.
Listening to educators and parents express their frustration and stress over the emergency distance prompted me to share the following on my personal FaceBook page. And in writing it I determined my word for May.
Grace.
Teachers are doing their very best with what amounts to emergency distance learning.
This is not e-learning, this is not planned, this is not normal.
Good pedagogy involves establishing a relationship with your students, talking with them, observing them work, observing them struggle, observing them master a skill.
Almost none of these things can be done through a screen.
Teachers are trying their very best. In many cases they have learned more new things in the past 4-6 weeks than many of us who have dedicated time to innovating and trying new tech have in years.
Will some activities take too long? Yes.
Will some activities need a lot of adult help? Yes.
Will some activities be too short or too easy? Yes.
Will it involve YouTube videos? Clicking many links? Downloading docs and slides and PDFs and jpgs and and and? Yes.
Is it learning? Maybe.
Some families are demanding teachers send more work. Some are complaining to their friends that it’s too much. Some are complaining loudly and to whoever will listen that we don’t deserve to be paid.
And I believe that all of those parents are overwhelmed, scared, stressed and worried.
I also believe that most teachers are working longer hours and feel that they aren’t making any difference. They know this is the best learning situation for your children... for their students.
They know.
There is still no end in sight to this.
So as we move into May and end another week of emergency distance learning let’s all live with a little grace.
Give yourself and your children permission to not do the work for a day, or two... or a week. It’s ok.
Give yourself grace to recognize that you can’t do your job and teach your kids at home.
We get it. We can’t do it either.
We get it. We can’t do it either.
Give your children grace and time to read, time to play games and time to laugh. They will still learn.
If we get through this with happy and healthy children, we win.
If we get through this with children who have learned the value of standing strong with their community, we win.
If we get through this with children who have learned cooking and laundry and cleaning and other life skills, we win.
Wake up tomorrow and give yourself grace.
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