Boy has it been a tough one......so challenging for all of us and definitely the most challenging of the pandemic.....I thought that the first March we went home would go down as the hardest.....because we were all building a plane as we were flying it.....not really knowing how to instruct on line and making it up as we went along......and it was challenging but we found our way......then last year was challenging in instructing in a hybrid model and catching kids up and tracking them at home and all of the rest.....but now looking back it was definitely the easiest time for all of us......and then came this year......one we didn't see coming in the ways that maybe we should have....or maybe didn't really want to? Large class sizes, kids carrying the residual effects of the pandemic into our classrooms.....emotional needs, academic needs, physical ones all of it.....and then dodging a virus......an ever present.....ever real virus circulating around all of it.......no subs to be found....short staffed, short on so much of what it requires, and districts scrambling to fill the holes on the ship........and if the beginning of the year felt hard, I think the rest of this school year will be a wild ride......it just will be.......it is already proving to be in the face of Omicron and its surge......I have been teaching from home this week which has been a blessing in the face of my quarantine, and salvaging some days that I don't have to take......and as I was preparing I was feeling like the one deep blessing of this pandemic is that I feel pretty confident doing anything I have to do related to education at any given moment.....knowing I can adjust the sail in a moment's notice and make it work.....even if it is ridiculous and overwhelming.......we have all honed our skills, we can teach anywhere now......we can use tons of new materials and mediums.....we can use new instructional strategies.....we can make whatever situation we are thrown into work......because truth is it is all outside of the box, and has been for quite some time........we are all very used to being wildly uncomfortable and can adjust accordingly........and I know we keep holding our breath waiting for our return to "normal" but I am guessing that ship has sailed......sailing past the horizon....never to be seen again.....and the reality is most of our jobs have changed pretty dramatically......and likely will carry notes of this pandemic forever......never to fully bounce back in the ways we had hoped.......so to that end.......acceptance needs to step forward......understanding that fighting what is is futile.....and instead accepting, adjusting, and moving forward is really a better use of our time and energy.......so that is my plan for the remainder of the school year.....to do whatever I need to to get through it and endure.....and keep my joy and peace in a locked position as much as I can.....and know that all storms run out of rain.....and this one will too:)
jperuso
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