It has been a verrrrrryyyy long two weeks. I have behind me one week of four half days and one full week of online teaching. I teach third grade.
My take-aways from these two weeks are:
- Doing what is best for the students and myself (even if it may not be exactly what administration is telling you to do) is sometimes the right move.
- Surprise Dutch Brothers drinks delivered by a friend on your first Friday remote teaching are amazing.
- I love my students already and I have not even seen them in person.
- My students’ families are incredibly supportive and appreciate honest, humor infused communication.
- Wine is nice in the evening.
- No matter how the day goes, my pets and family are always there to make me feel better.
- Even as technology crashed and burned all around me, a total dumpster on fire moment, acting calm and rolling with is all one can really do.
- Did I mention how amazing my students are? Really, truly they are fabulous.
- I stare at a computer way too much and have no desire to blog. I hope this will change.
Shoes On The Wrong Feet 
I have to admit that pic of you after the others was an eye opener. 😉
I’m sure there will be lots of bugs… hey, they’re even on your wall… but remote learning is the safest path forward right now, for you and your students.
Great pet pics. Makes me miss mine.
Rivergirl – I like your new profile pic, although I will miss your Polish chicken’s topknot.
I agree that remote learning is the best option right now and we are making the best of it. I am thrilled that Cody and Carter are doing so well with it (the top two pictures are their new learning spaces in our dining room). The pets are most happy about this pandemic as we are always home and ready to cater to their every need.
I try to change chickens every month, but have been slacking lately.
Oh you wonderful, hardworking teachers!! Bless you! 😊
It is very rewarding, but this year it is more difficult that other years.
Yes, I imagine so. Having to do everything you could do in a classroom at home must be very difficult if not impossible.
I’m currently getting ready for remote teaching as well! I completely relate with all of this. 💕✨
Good luck! You’ve got this! I have found that having a second screen, in my case a second laptop, is a game changer. I also have my document camera set up and use it pretty much everyday.
Yeah, I think that is going to have to happen. The more devices the better. Lol good luck to you as well!
Bless you, I am sure you are doing a fantastic job! you are surrounded by the love of your students, family and pets, and that s what really matters! good luck with this new experience!
I feel so supported and that makes all the difference in the world!
Thank you for that fabulous visual journey. (I esp liked the cats, natch.) Your take-aways are amazing, esp that a friend brought you beverages. That friend is a keeper. That you love your students so much is a great sign that you’re in the correct profession!
Thank you! The weeks are so long, but I do love my kiddos. Having James lying around for me to snuggle on and take pictures of, is a great help.
Ugh, there you go flaunting your fabulous orange fluffy snuggly cat in my face again. 😉
I WANT one of those! I wish there was a way to find out in advance if an orange kitten will become a living feline scarf when it grows up. Like genetic testing or something…?
That would be nice. James’ Feline Scarf Gene is dominate and quite strong. The verb, to scarf, no longer means eating food quickly, but instead means having an orange cat wrapped around or across your neck.
Example: James scarfed me at 1:30 this morning for hours so that I found it difficult to get back to sleep.
You should teach this new meaning to your students. That form of scarfing at that time of morning sounds far less appealing than, say, at 6:00 p.m.
If it’s a dominant gene, please send me one of James’ kittens!
P.S. Please make it an orange one. I will pay for postage. 🙂
Way to go, Shoes! Pets, coffee, and wine really do help. The fact that you already have connected with students and parents is amazing. You got this!
I am so big on building those relationships, especially when we are remote like we are. The rest will fall into place, but if you don’t start with the foundation of simply knowing and caring about one another, than what’s the point.
Hear, hear!
I’m glad you like the students and their parents. Seems like that’s the most important thing!
It truly is!