Next week is Week 11 of Distance Learning and I know what you’re thinking…11 weeks is a lot and IT IS! Although it was an adjustment and a learning process for EVERYONE, if I had the opportunity to rub a magic genie lamp and go back to my first week, I’d do so and tell myself the following!
Here we go!
Note to self #1: Your assignments for Distance Learning are NOT a priority for your students.
This was a HARD pill to swallow. You mean…my precious assignments are not IMPORTANT?!?!! Similar to you, I had to create new assignments for my students, and for them to not complete them, was a strike to the heart! HOWEVER, if I could go back to Week 1, I would mentally prepare myself for this and take PERSPECTIVE into consideration. I know that during this pandemic, MY well-being and the well-being of my family comes before my job, therefore, the well-being of my students and their families comes before my Google classroom assignments.
Note to self #2: Don’t take it personally when your students don’t come to a Google Meet.
Another hard pill to swallow was that my students weren’t attending my Google Meet sessions. My students didn’t want to see me?!?!?! Ugh, I must not be cool enough for them I guess…..MAN, if I could go back to Week 1 I would tell myself that my students not attending Google meet sessions is NOT a personal attack against me. Some of my students don’t have proper devices and many of them have to share devices with their siblings. The important thing I could do is to continue showing up for your students and appreciate time with the ones who are there.
Note to self #3: No matter how clear you make instructions or video explanations, your students are STILL not going to read or watch them
Oh my god, this is the WORST and cue MAJOR frustration!!! I’m sure being a teacher, you can relate to this! Many times, I spent extra time re-wording directions to make them clear, and/or making screen-recorded videos to demonstrate how to navigate new platforms…& you know what!? I STILL RECEIVED QUESTIONS that were OF COURSE answered in the directions and/or videos. Therefore, if I could go back to Week 1 and warn myself about this, I would have been able to change some annoyance into a I-knew-this-was-going-to-happen laugh!
Note to self #4: Kahoot is a time-saver!
If you watch my insta stories you’ve seen me express my love for Kahoot! I actually didn’t know how to use Kahoot at the beginning of Distance Learning, therefore, I wish I could go back to Week 1 and tell myself, USE KAHOOT!, because it would have saved myself time.
Note go self #5: Your students aren’t going to learn much in the middle of a pandemic, however that doesn’t define your worth as a teacher
Can you say MIC DROP?! This would have helped me at the beginning of Distance Learning because I was struggling with not feeling like a good teacher. We know that as teachers, we thrive on educating our students and watching them learn. However, with distance learning this is extremely difficult, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t making a difference. Week 1 me would have appreciated this advice!
What about you? What is something you would go back and tell yourself?
Thank you SO MUCH for reading!
XOXO,
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