Sprin break officially began in Oregon today. But, I've lost that spring break feeling...
The school calendar marks certain breaks that interrupt the regular monotony of the day in, day out grind. Many teachers and students eagerly anticipate these breaks, namely, winter break, spring break and summer, to name the big three. These natural breaks in the year allow us (students and teachers, alike) to rest, recover, regroup, and prepare ourselves for the demands and rigors of springtime in our schools. For eighth graders, that means loads of state testing, end of the year field trips, wickedly warm classrooms, the long-awaited for departure ceremony, and the highly anticipated 8th grade dance. This year, however, there will be no returning after this week - at least not in the way that we've come to expect.
We know that we will be remotely providing supplemental learning opportunities until the end of April. What we don't know is what that will look like and how that will be coordinated and implemented. State leaders in Kansas and Virginia have already determined that school buildings will remain shuttered until the end of the school year - at least. State leaders in California and New York are discussing the possibility of closing their schools until the end of the year, as well. Not only are we unsure of how we are going to provide learning opportunities for our students for the coming month, we clearly do not know how long we will be asked to provide remote education.
We know the multitude of factors that must be considered when determining how we will possibly reach and teach each individual child from afar. Every student's situation has to be accounted for. We know that every child's environment is different, and every child's learning needs are different. We don't know how to accommodate each student through a computer or paper version of learning.
We know that educators may not have the capacity to provide quality education right now. We don't know the situations every educator is up against, but it can be presumed that there will be some of us who have found themselves with caring for their own children all day, as well as providing distance learning options for their students. We can presume that some of our educators have limited understanding of the technological demands that this type of learning may require. And, in the worst case scenario, there are some educators that will be struck ill with Coronavirus. We don't know how they will be expected to provide distance learning when they can't call in a substitute.
And, of all of this is within the fairly narrow scope of my professional life. Uncertainty abounds. It's surround all of us nearly every hour of the day. There are so many things that we are just unsure about. For some of us, this is an incredibly uncomfortable place to me. I am one of those people. I am the ultimate planner - if you don't believe me - ask my family about their family vacation itineraries I hand out! My days frequently are composed of to-do lists and agenda items. My classroom schedule is much of the same. Plans give me control and a sense of purpose. An unanticipated week off prior to spring break, and now an isolated spring break, and not really knowing what the coming weeks hold has me a little off kilter: lost and anxious.
There are certain strategies I've learned over the years that help me to control such feelings. I write. I read. I talk to the people I love - thank God for my mother! I take baths and drink a lot of water and tea! And, as of last night, I make little videos for my friends on Marco Polo. I have a feeling that the next few weeks are going to have me drawing on every single coping strategy I've ever used to get me through it. I largely recommend all of you do the same.
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