So from one day to the next, we Miami teachers became distance learning teachers.
My first thought? Um, what in the world is going on? As I sat in our emergency faculty meeting processing an overwhelming amount of information, my thoughts ran to keeping everything as normal as possible for my students. Well, that brings me to my first mistake…
Confession Number 1:
I just thought about my students. Not the parents who would be working from home, not the stay-at-home moms who now had multiple children and their needs to deal with. I just thought about keeping the workload the same as I would in my classroom. So I sent home our classwork packet and a writing prompt that I had ready for the next week. Which leads me to my second mistake…
Confession Number 2:
I mean, I have handled 40 students pretty successfully all year long. I really did not want my hard work to be sidetracked by a global pandemic. So, in my head, I had to get them ready for testing… or so I thought. When the word came that our governor decided to suspend testing, I thought to myself, what am I doing? For both the parents and students, I thought I was doing the right thing. But, it turns out, I was not. I bombarded them with too much when they already had so much to process. So then, I thought like a mom or dad who just cares about their child. Combined with my two previous mistakes, I had an epiphany…
Confession Number 3:
I taught my students all the concepts they needed to know! This upcoming quarter was just to be for review for state testing. What they really craved was some normalcy. So, I recorded a quick video of myself teaching a grammar lesson… and you know what, they loved it! They loved the contact, they loved seeing me teaching something. The very next day, we set up virtual conferences just for me to check in on them. They were so happy to see each other. Bottom line: they were HAPPY!
I urge all Miami-Dade teachers to think about not only their students’ academic lives but to think about their mental well-being. We were all thrown into distance learning, but need to learn from each other. Assign them things that are manageable, but that still allow them to be happy!
I love this! I sub during the year in Early Childhood and have two small kids at home, so I thought this extra time at home wasn’t going to be SO bad. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still manageable, but the amount of activities that the teachers have sent to us (although helpful) have me overwhelmed at times. I am the kind of person that wants to get it ALL done, but it’s impossible! Toddler tantrums, regression, and tempers while adjusting are setting in. I really appreciate all that the teachers are doing, but also that you had the ability to take a step back and see the bigger picture. Kudos mama! xoxo
Thank you Stacey! It has definitely been a ride for all of us! Just thought it would great if parents understood the teacher’s perspective:)
Love it Mrs. sharifi! You are an amazing teacher, human being, mother, and colleague. Miss u all!!!
Awww thank
You Mayela!! I miss you!! Hope all is well with you and the family!!
Thanks for sharing honestly! Sounds like you’re a great teacher, my friend!
Thank you Becky! Just trying my best to be as honest as possible and basically just trying my best to teach my students.
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