They all came back to day.
Like many other schools, ours has been gradually getting rid of cohort groups and bringing all students back four days a week. Today was the middle school’s turn. Other than a handful of students who will continue to be fully remote, all 7th and 8th graders returned, swelling our learning spaces and our hearts. There was more than a little bit of magic in our rooms and hallways as we welcomed friends not seen in person all year. Our students have been learning in homeroom groupings that don’t change, while teachers travel, so they’ve developed a tightness not seen in other years. We’re like a family and today the family was finally together.
From the boy seen live for the first time all year who’s way taller than he appears on zoom, to the girl who’s much chattier in person than in breakout rooms, today reminded me to be grateful. And there have been things to be grateful in this pandemic, lots of them. I actively look for them because there’s been so much in the past twelve months that’s been challenging in a way none of us could ever have anticipated. And focusing on what’s working, sometimes really small moments, helps. I get to come to work each day to a group of young people who love to share their lives with each other and me. We laugh, we solve problems, we support each other.
So here, in the spirit of David Letterman, is my top ten list of things I’m grateful for right now in my teaching world.
10. A supportive administrator who skulks about my room during Writing Workshop because ‘it makes her feel good’...and she really wants to hear my students’ stories.
9. The incredible custodial staff who work tirelessly, cleaning our building, refilling our hand sanitizer stations, and smiling throughout (I can tell by their crinkly eyes above their masks).
8. My teaching team. Walks, convos, memes, group chats, YouTube videos, Netflix recommendations, chocolate…’nough said.
7. My fantastic teaching assistant who is like a grandfather to all of the students in my room and gifts us with the stories of his full and incredible life.
6. Our Special Ed teacher who goes above and beyond to love, support, and find the possibilities in the students we share.
5. My school friends, who are also real life friends. They share, support, bolster, encourage, laugh...laugh...laugh.
4. Zoom. I know. It’s a love/hate relationship, but it has allowed me to keep eyes on kids all year and given some truly vulnerable kiddos a lifeline.
3. Yoga with Adrienne. Ok, she’s technically not in my school, but my teaching life would be in trouble without her. I kid you not. Twenty minutes on the mat in the morning can change your life. Find her on YouTube.
2. My own family. My husband and children. While they don’t go to school with me, they have gone to school with me every year since I’ve started teaching. You don’t just turn it off once you leave the school building. Plus, this year, they’ve had ringside seats to my classes during those long slogs of full remote teaching.
1. My students. They try their best most days, a best that can change from day to day. They show up. Many have felt safe enough and supported enough to be vulnerable with me and our class, sharing big truths about themselves and who they are. They’re not afraid to have real conversations about what’s right in the world and what’s wrong. They’re learning that speaking up is a scary act of bravery, and really, really necessary. They shine collectively and individually. Ava brings riddles to class each day, Blake keeps us posted on the weather, Rayne always has a story - a long, fantastical, story - to share and make us laugh... We’ve become a family, tested and tried, and we’re coming along, together.
Like many other schools, ours has been gradually getting rid of cohort groups and bringing all students back four days a week. Today was the middle school’s turn. Other than a handful of students who will continue to be fully remote, all 7th and 8th graders returned, swelling our learning spaces and our hearts. There was more than a little bit of magic in our rooms and hallways as we welcomed friends not seen in person all year. Our students have been learning in homeroom groupings that don’t change, while teachers travel, so they’ve developed a tightness not seen in other years. We’re like a family and today the family was finally together.
From the boy seen live for the first time all year who’s way taller than he appears on zoom, to the girl who’s much chattier in person than in breakout rooms, today reminded me to be grateful. And there have been things to be grateful in this pandemic, lots of them. I actively look for them because there’s been so much in the past twelve months that’s been challenging in a way none of us could ever have anticipated. And focusing on what’s working, sometimes really small moments, helps. I get to come to work each day to a group of young people who love to share their lives with each other and me. We laugh, we solve problems, we support each other.
So here, in the spirit of David Letterman, is my top ten list of things I’m grateful for right now in my teaching world.
10. A supportive administrator who skulks about my room during Writing Workshop because ‘it makes her feel good’...and she really wants to hear my students’ stories.
9. The incredible custodial staff who work tirelessly, cleaning our building, refilling our hand sanitizer stations, and smiling throughout (I can tell by their crinkly eyes above their masks).
8. My teaching team. Walks, convos, memes, group chats, YouTube videos, Netflix recommendations, chocolate…’nough said.
7. My fantastic teaching assistant who is like a grandfather to all of the students in my room and gifts us with the stories of his full and incredible life.
6. Our Special Ed teacher who goes above and beyond to love, support, and find the possibilities in the students we share.
5. My school friends, who are also real life friends. They share, support, bolster, encourage, laugh...laugh...laugh.
4. Zoom. I know. It’s a love/hate relationship, but it has allowed me to keep eyes on kids all year and given some truly vulnerable kiddos a lifeline.
3. Yoga with Adrienne. Ok, she’s technically not in my school, but my teaching life would be in trouble without her. I kid you not. Twenty minutes on the mat in the morning can change your life. Find her on YouTube.
2. My own family. My husband and children. While they don’t go to school with me, they have gone to school with me every year since I’ve started teaching. You don’t just turn it off once you leave the school building. Plus, this year, they’ve had ringside seats to my classes during those long slogs of full remote teaching.
1. My students. They try their best most days, a best that can change from day to day. They show up. Many have felt safe enough and supported enough to be vulnerable with me and our class, sharing big truths about themselves and who they are. They’re not afraid to have real conversations about what’s right in the world and what’s wrong. They’re learning that speaking up is a scary act of bravery, and really, really necessary. They shine collectively and individually. Ava brings riddles to class each day, Blake keeps us posted on the weather, Rayne always has a story - a long, fantastical, story - to share and make us laugh... We’ve become a family, tested and tried, and we’re coming along, together.