Juggling Teaching during Covid

 

Teaching face-to-face and virtually simultaneously while wearing a mask has left me feeling Overwhelmed. Tired. Exhausted. 

However, hearing our students' voices, seeing them understand new concepts, and collaborating (from 6 feet away) is Exciting. Invigorating. Inspiring. 

Educators change the world and make a difference, even when we do not feel like we have it all together. 

When the Zoom poll is a flop, I forget to share my screen, my voice is not heard (because I struggle to stay near the microphone), and I miss the chat, our students are STILL learning. They are learning how to be adaptable, to learn from mistakes, to admit mistakes, to collaborate in a virtual environment, and to extend grace as we all learn together. 

Shifting hands-on, interactive lessons to socially distanced and virtual students requires creativity and time. Thankfully, I have amazing colleagues and teacher friends to help! 

Here are a few of my favorite things: 

1. Nearpod: I am a pre-pandemic fan of Nearpod, but for collaboration and ensuring all students are engaged (or at least answering my question prompts) Nearpod wins! 

2. Flipgrid: Discussion boards make me tired, but seeing my students' ENTIRE faces (without a mask) makes me so happy! Students reply to your prompt via video by clicking a plus sign. Make sure to set a reasonable time limit and/or group students to limit the number of videos you watch. Nobody has 5 minutes to watch one video per student... :-) 

3. Padlet: I love a good jigsaw or carousel activity with paper and markers spread around the room, but Covid. In pops Padlet. I make a sticky with each of my prompts or quotes, and the students work in groups to respond to each sticky note. 

Happy Teaching! We CAN do this! 

Who am I?

The below entry was written in 2013 following a professional development with a man named Lincoln.  He led me to tears and into a place without a title, stripped of my roles.

In a place without a title, where there is nothing I can do to deserve His love, He wraps His arms around me.  Loving me for me, loving all of me, my flaws and imperfections,

What should be a peaceful place was scary.  Who am I without a title, just me?  I know who I am as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, teacher, friend, coworker, encourager, but without those titles just me...who am I?  I am a child of God.  My identity is in Him alone.  How can I find myself and be at peace in that place with just me?

Have you thought about yourself lately.  Just you without your many titles?  I dare you to go to that scary place. When you're there feel God speak to you.  You are perfectly made.  Feel His warm embrace.  Hopefully, this isn't a scary place for you, but for me it was and honestly still is.  I want to be there in my quiet place just me and The Lord.  He loves me.  Let me feel His peace and love and use it to bless those around me and feel His grace and mercy that I try to so freely give.

2017 reflection: I am still a work-in-progress, striving to only find my identity in the Lord.  It is all too easy for the roles I serve to distract me from His mission and purpose.  

Pete the Cat

A Big Thanks to our wonderful Garland County Library for bringing Pete the Cat to school AND the author, Mr. Eric Litwin!  

What a priceless memory for these kiddos to put a face to a real live author...a guitar playing "groovy" author nonetheless!  Allie and Garrison cannot wait to read about his new characters. 

Special thanks to Mrs. Jill and Mrs. Katie for these special memories! 

Creating Life-Long Readers

My hope for my children and students is to help them love to read and become life-long readers.  Well, my heart melted today when I went to check on A and G during "rest time."  Here's what I found:

Allie reading to her friends. 

...and Garrison doing "Writer's Workshop." 

G also did some reading...Curious George, of course.

I am so incredibly thankful to their teachers who are encouraging their love of learning! 

Keep it up my darlings and friends out there...Never underestimate the power of reading a story.... just for fun! 

Boating with Nanny

We loved having nanny come camping with us last night!  :) 

Getting in the boat was quite comical! 

She made it!

Wait!!! 

Snuggle time! 

Addison loves to dance and feel the wind in her hair with her best buddy, Allie. 

"The Best Day Ever"

....and they're off...

The day began with an excited Garrison hopping in bed to wake me up.  He then slurped down his yogurt smoothie and gobbled up his muffins.  Allie was surprisingly the opposite, as she took her time to wake up and get moving.  Since I cried many tears last night (on the eve of Kindergarten), I actually did pretty well at drop off. 

Here Garrison was ready to pose.

Allie did not want to smile, so these are our 'grumpy' faces (not very flattering, but very memorable). 

Garrison's declaration of "the best day ever!" makes for one happy mommy.  Allie was a bit more descriptive about her day and ended by saying, "I have a great teacher!"  Another happy mommy moment. 

Both kiddos were fascinated by the "Choice Box," and proud to proclaim they did not "sign" the box.  I hope this is true... 

...and here's the end of the day photo taken when  I stopped by aftercare...they really wanted nothing to do with me, which means it was a great day! Right???  Garrison did flash a smile, but not so much from Allie....maybe tomorrow, but not today. :) Happy school year!

First Day of Kindergarten 2013

'twas the night before Kindergarten Prayers

'twas the night before kindergarten 
All snug in their beds 

  

Prayers for God's blessings 
Danced in mom's head 

Lunches are packed
Clothes are picked out

Tears will be shed 
without a doubt

The kids are excited
And all filled with glee

Mom's a bit nervous
But pumped for Park IB!

Words cannot express my feelings as I prepare to send my babies to "big" school... 

As a former Kindergarten teacher, you'd think I'd have it all figured out, but these are my babies. My only babies to send to K on the very same day...it's monumental!  

My prayer for all the teachers who are beginning their year is for you to fill the children you teach with a love of learning.  Parents, may we remember to support these teachers who work tirelessly and pour themselves into our precious babies.  For my children, may you be a blessing to everyone you meet, let the joy of The Lord shine from your heart!