day two with students

Day 2 with students. After school every day, everything goes in the wash. Lanyard, too. Fell asleep around 8pm, woke at 11pm, didn’t get back to sleep until later. Appointment set with eye doctor to get contacts to avoid foggy glasses and ear irritation. Projecting voice and energy through a mask is challenging. A few tips for those who are returning to hybrid model: If your school allows it, and you are using Zoom, consider appointing an in person student as co-host to field remote learner questions, waiting room (if they get knocked out), and any tech issues. Assign students jobs according to room location: windows, AC, sanitation distribution. Wear a shield for your larger classes (mine is 16) and hall duty, even if you feel like an idiot. Prop doors open to avoid using handles. Remember how we used to tell kids to use the bathroom between classes? Now they should only use it during class to avoid traffic in halls. Make sure the passes you use are laminated and cleaned after handling. No tornado or active shooter drills. Remind the kids: if they want to come to school, we have to take care of each other. Remind your friends to follow the procedures. Parents and community can say what they want, but it’s always been the kids and the teachers in the classrooms figuring it out. I know this is new territory. I know you are anxious about how to reach your students in this truly unchartered water. Put your tips into the world and help each other. Sending love and light to each of you, but this is not a light burden.

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