March 11th was the last day I saw my students before I left for a two day conference. Surprise! I was back on the 13th to my students' surprise. To make sure they had what they needed for a month apart. We emptied lockers, returned books to our class library. Everything we would usually do before a "long break" - like Winter Break. None of us thought it would be the rest of the year.
Before I continue I'm very thankful that our governor called things off as quickly as she did. When friends, family, and acquaintances were "shocked" by schools closing for a month (then more) - I was not. Saddened, yes. But not surprised. Considering my classroom had been hit hard by sickness all year (for example, we had 5 perfect attendance days in the first 2.5 months of 2020.) When you have to remind students to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, and stop touching their face who knows how many times a day... I completely understand the need for us to STAY HOME.
What's this mean? It's been a month and 10 days since I've seen my students. No, that's a lie. I did see one student while I was out on a walk and had to back away from a running hug. That about broke my heart. Their family and I kept our distance while we chatted before continuing on our separate paths. That was a wonderful break from my personal quarantine.
So you might ask... If you're so techy, do I like this way of teaching? Not really. Yes, I like being able to create lessons and activities and share them with my class through Seesaw (thank goodness for Seesaw.) Thank goodness for an supportive team of 2nd grade teachers because without them it would be so much harder.
But I smile when I see the notification number on my screen bypass 5 at any given time. I have 27 students.
Do I like seeing the assignments my students return with their handwriting and creative color choices? Yes.
Hearing their recorded voices explaining their work? Makes my heart happy.
But right now I'm reaching half, if that, of my students this way. Equity of resources is not the same district wide, let alone state wide, etc. That's something that I hope this pandemic will bring to the forefront with the people who make decisions in education. Maybe it will be a wakeup call for them. Yes, paper resources are available, but I don't know how many of my remaining students are using them. Providing the resources is only part of the big picture. I can't control their learning environment like I can in my classroom. The physical environment that teachers spend weeks preparing is currently empty of any life. The classroom community that you spend the first month of school creating isn't there to support them. I can only provide the academic resources.
That is so much less than teachers are used to providing.
This is not how educators wanted to end their school year. Everything that I love to do with my students at the end of 2nd grade isn't going to happen in the same way, if at all. These moments can't be regained. The next time I see them they'll be 3rd graders. And that's a hard thing to wrap your mind around.
But while all these thoughts are spiraling around in my head here are the thoughts I'm trying to think of most:
Most of all I hope that they are safe. That they are happy. That someone is still giving them fist bumps and hugs. That they are able to spend quality time with their families during our time apart as a class family. While my time with them in room 405 has ended in person and moved to a virtual platform... they will always be my Hundt Hawks.
Before I continue I'm very thankful that our governor called things off as quickly as she did. When friends, family, and acquaintances were "shocked" by schools closing for a month (then more) - I was not. Saddened, yes. But not surprised. Considering my classroom had been hit hard by sickness all year (for example, we had 5 perfect attendance days in the first 2.5 months of 2020.) When you have to remind students to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, and stop touching their face who knows how many times a day... I completely understand the need for us to STAY HOME.
What's this mean? It's been a month and 10 days since I've seen my students. No, that's a lie. I did see one student while I was out on a walk and had to back away from a running hug. That about broke my heart. Their family and I kept our distance while we chatted before continuing on our separate paths. That was a wonderful break from my personal quarantine.
So you might ask... If you're so techy, do I like this way of teaching? Not really. Yes, I like being able to create lessons and activities and share them with my class through Seesaw (thank goodness for Seesaw.) Thank goodness for an supportive team of 2nd grade teachers because without them it would be so much harder.
But I smile when I see the notification number on my screen bypass 5 at any given time. I have 27 students.
Do I like seeing the assignments my students return with their handwriting and creative color choices? Yes.
Hearing their recorded voices explaining their work? Makes my heart happy.
But right now I'm reaching half, if that, of my students this way. Equity of resources is not the same district wide, let alone state wide, etc. That's something that I hope this pandemic will bring to the forefront with the people who make decisions in education. Maybe it will be a wakeup call for them. Yes, paper resources are available, but I don't know how many of my remaining students are using them. Providing the resources is only part of the big picture. I can't control their learning environment like I can in my classroom. The physical environment that teachers spend weeks preparing is currently empty of any life. The classroom community that you spend the first month of school creating isn't there to support them. I can only provide the academic resources.
That is so much less than teachers are used to providing.
This is not how educators wanted to end their school year. Everything that I love to do with my students at the end of 2nd grade isn't going to happen in the same way, if at all. These moments can't be regained. The next time I see them they'll be 3rd graders. And that's a hard thing to wrap your mind around.
But while all these thoughts are spiraling around in my head here are the thoughts I'm trying to think of most:
Most of all I hope that they are safe. That they are happy. That someone is still giving them fist bumps and hugs. That they are able to spend quality time with their families during our time apart as a class family. While my time with them in room 405 has ended in person and moved to a virtual platform... they will always be my Hundt Hawks.