Coffee, Teach, Repeat

I teach 2nd grade in a K-8, inner city charter school. Sometimes, I wonder why I do it. Most days, I get reminded of why I do it.

[talesofteaching2nd]

this time of year

Yesterday a memory came up on my snapchat from last year at my school’s annual harvest festival. it was of me and some of my team mates dressed in orange, faces painted, stickers on our hands, huge smiles.. because while it was a friday evening spent at school it was honestly a blast. It’s also red ribbon week and while i could take or leave that in particular, each day is themed and the kids dress up and have tons of fun. Also, Friday would have been our halloween party where we would have had a team themed-costume and the kids would get to come in costume and we would watch The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown on the half day because they get dismissed early on Halloween so they don’t have to trick-or-treat at night since our school isn’t in the best area... and I’d send them off with candy or a small toy, and tell them to be safe and that I better see pictures tomorrow.

and then it would be november and we’d be getting ready for conferences, and in class we’d talk about thankfulness. I’d have had 2 full months with them and been really have gotten to know them and we’d be working on longer writing pieces, Thanksgiving crafts, and talking about all the things we’re thankful for. and my team and I would be planning the fast-approaching holiday hallway decorating theme.

and then december would come and december... if you’ve never been inside a school in december as an adult, it is chaotic and loud and bright and absolutely magical. it’s not just christmas, it’s the spirit of the season. call me cheesy but it’s true.  theres a magic in the air... we all feel it. there’s crafts and holidays around the world and hallway decorating and glee club shows and a fake but totally cozy crackling fire on the projector screen as the kids work on their writing pieces and start singing to themselves until the whole class is singing and ... well and now I’m crying.

I thought I knew how much I was going to miss being in the classroom this time of year but, now that it’s here I’m a mess. I’m sad for the times I won’t have with these kids. I’m sad for what I know they aren’t going to get in their own homes...

I know that alot of these are still things I can do virtually. I know this. And I will try to make it happen,and feel magical, the best I can.

That was a ramble and now I’m done and I’ve got to go work on report cards...

I’m just sad. I’m longing for it all.. 

[talesofteaching2nd]

14 Hour Work Day

Today.

Today I worked, like legit was on Zoom teaching and meeting and planning, from 8:00am to 6:40pm.

I got a 3 hour break to ya know, eat dinner and relax a bit. 

And now I’m doing more work. It’s currently 10:20pm. 

Ugh.

[talesofteaching2nd]

This all sucks. My kids are 7 so they really can’t navigate google classroom on their own. They barely know how to use a workbook. They’re tired. They can’t focus. I can’t help them with their writing, not anywhere near the way I’d help them in the classroom.

We got yelled at by a parent the other day. Simply because “this isn’t fair.” I mean are you fucking kidding me?!?!

I can’t hear half my kids because the sound from their microphones is atrocious. Like. PAINFUL. so how am I supposed to hear them read?!!

My school is requiring is to have them use their workbooks, their planners, to do small groups the same way we would in the classroom. In fact, they told us they want “everything to be exactly the same as it would be if we were in the building.” I don’t understand how THEY don’t understand why that’s not entirely possible.

It’s frustrating. It’s disheartening. I feel like I’m failing as a teacher.

It’s week 5 and I’m over it.

(I also feel like it’s necessary to put this disclaimer that NO, I don’t think we’d be safer in the classrooms. I’m merely venting and wishing things were different. Don’t @ me.)

[talesofteaching2nd]

Reminder to myself (and all who might need this):

It’s ok to take a break on your lunch break. It’s okay to sit down, browse your phone, out on music, or just sit in silence, not looking at the work you have to do, and actually eat lunch.

I have a hard time with this constantly.

Today I did it, I needed to. I’m still sitting here thinking about my work but I’m not letting myself look at it. For 40 mins it’s ok to take a real break.

[studentlifeproblems]

[talesofteaching2nd]

I’ve always loved this.

It’s 2am the night before the first day of school and I cannot fall asleep. This is pretty typical for every year, but this year especially. We are fully remote, at least for now. I spent the ENTIRE day and night on my computer, finalizing my google classroom and bitmoji classroom and checking emails and making sure we had all our resources and links ready for 8:30am. I’m so nervous. Here’s to hoping for a good year. Here’s to all teachers everywhere.

[talesofteaching2nd]

I just got into an argument on social media about teachers going back to classrooms. I’m NOT one to ever argue or even pay attention to the things people say, but I’m really fucking OVER IT. this woman’s argument was that teachers should basically quit whining and go back “like everyone else.” That’s bad for sure but worse was that she wants teachers back in the classrooms teaching virtually “so that we don’t have distractions... and their supervisors would be there..... they would be held accountable.” That was it. That broke me. Everyone. Else. Stayed. Home. And. Was. Praised. But teachers stay home and we’re apparently going to target and doing laundry while we’re supposed to be working. WHAT THE ACTUAL WHAT???!! Why are we considered “less than”??? Why do people hate teachers so damn much?!! I’m so tired of hearing “teachers had 6 months off and now they want more time off.” I’m exhausted arguing that we’ve been working HARDER THAN EVER to teach our students and continue to care for them virtually. I just don’t understand the complete disrespect .....

[talesofteaching2nd]

back to work tomorrow

School starts for staff tomorrow. Every year, we get 10 days before the first day of school to: set up our classroom, meet with our team, sit through professional development and training. We start tomorrow to set up our Google Classrooms, and to take part in all the training and team meetings virtually. 

It’s weird and I’m sad. 

It’s always sad to see the summer come to an end, but at the same time, there is always that bit of excitement: getting to see colleagues again, being together as a staff at that very first meeting, trying to figure out if anyone switched grade levels and who our new teachers are, guessing what/where our team building will be this year because it’s always something really cool.. stepping into your classroom with everything you bought over the summer (that you totally absolutely needed...) and immediately taking a “before” picture with everything in boxes and piles and blank walls because you know that you are about to kick ass and totally transform that room in the next few days and you CAN’T WAIT to show it off! 

This year isn’t that. And it sucks and I’m crying. I totally rearranged my living room and bought a bookcase and created a classroom space in my apartment. I even put up bulletin board paper on the wall behind me with a “welcome to 2nd grade” sign. I’ve been working on my Bitmoji Classroom and my Google Classroom and the Welcome Back letter for the students... but it isn’t the same. 

My team and I have been texting, and I’ve talked to my colleagues too.. “I can’t believe summer is over,” “What do you think we have training on this year?” “Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!”

.... Can’t wait to “see” you tomorrow. “See.” On Zoom. 

And it sucks. 

Tomorrow morning I will wake up and head to my living room, turn on my computer, click on the Zoom link, and the 2020-2021 school year will begin. That’s it. And I’m crying. 

And I feel like I have to note: I do not think we should be back in the classrooms. It’s not safe and I’m GRATEFUL that my school decided to start online. But the fact that it’s not safe... sucks. 

[talesofteaching2nd]

Choosing Between Two Christmas Gifts

These kids are raised by wonderful families. Kudos parents 👍😇 Credit: Rob Bliss (goo.gl/syCJxn)

Kids aren’t given enough credit. Look at these babies!!! They are beautiful, compassionate humans. 💕💕

[talesofteaching2nd]

These screenshots are comments in response to a school district announcing they will begin entirely remote in the fall.....

In case anyone was wondering, I spent my entire day trying to rearrange my apartment and started to clear my walls of my home decor to put up bulletin board paper and posters for my “home classroom” for the school year since we’ll be remote teaching. I considered increasing my rent by almost $300 just to have extra space for teaching. Next week, before the year even starts, I’ll be setting up my Bitmoji classroom and Google classroom to get ready for the year. I don’t know how else to explain this: teachers want to be in school with our kids. Remote teaching sucks. We miss our classrooms like crazy. But we are going to make it work. We are still doing our jobs! I get it, parents need to be at work. This is hard for EVERYONE. But this isn’t OUR fault. STOP BASHING TEACHERS.

[talesofteaching2nd]

[teachermisery]

NYC protest @voteinoroutteens https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhltT1HAfe4khXPXRHLIBGMkazrve9cke4Is40/?igshid=deea58dg1n5u

[talesofteaching2nd]

Standing with public school teachers in NYC.

[talesofteaching2nd]

Virtual Teaching

My school announced today that we will be starting the year remote/virtual.

I’m both relieved and incredible anxious.

Relieved for sure. But anxious because... how do you make connections with kids? How do we form those relationships that help us through the year?

It was the right decision. Don’t get me wrong, it was absolutely the right decision. I’m so grateful that our school has our back. We are lucky.

I hope that my fellow teachers are that lucky too. Just because one school did it, doesn’t mean the fight is over. Teachers support teachers, always.

[talesofteaching2nd]

This is a good read.

9 ways America is having the wrong conversation about 'reopening' schools

This will be a devastating decision for our school and civic leaders to make. Suffering is sure to follow any choice, no matter how thoughtf

[talesofteaching2nd]

The 2019-2020 Class

I realized today... you know how most teachers feel that their students will ALWAYS be their students, even when they are grown? Okay so that’s definitely true. My former students come visit me in my classroom, I ask how they’re doing when I see them in the halls..

Anyway, the thing about this year’s group, my 2019-2020 kids.. they will forever hold a VERY special place in my heart. With everything we went through together, and not getting to say goodbye to them in person.. the second I am able to see them in person again I know I’m going to be a sobbing mess of emotions.  It’s July 28th, well in the middle of summer, but my co-teacher and I still keep our ClassDojo active for them, if they just want to say hi or if parents have questions. I posted a picture of my cat today (they ADORE him, so much that we had a day every week where their do-now included him) and they are all so excited to see him! I wouldn’t have done that last year, or the year before. We would have had our last day of school, then summer, then I’d see them in September and wish them good luck in their new class. 

The 2019-2020 class, these 7 & 8 year olds, STEPPED UP and made it work. They worked SO HARD. They were SO understanding, and we were all there for each other. And I will love them in a different way, forever. 

[ladylexile]

Quick questions for back to school prep:

Should I be working on reorganizing my furniture for an online classroom or rewriting my will?

Does DonorsChoose have a "buy a representative in Congress" fund going?

Any local breweries running an "Adopt a Classroom" campaign so I can get on that hand sanitizer stockpile?

Does a three thousand kid school qualify as a convention or a rodeo? I heard we cancel those.

When people refer to teachers as a martyrs, did they have an English teacher who flubbed hyperbole or one that flubbed ethics?

[talesofteaching2nd]

being a teacher right now

I teach 2nd grade. In an inner city school district. My students are my kids, and I love them dearly. Every single one of them. Every year. I was heartbroken when our time together ended so abruptly on March 13th, 2020. I still get teary-eyed just thinking about it. I have never cried so hard on the last day of school as I did this year, when I had to say goodbye to my babies in June via Zoom Video.

I cannot wait until I can be back in the classroom.

But, that does not mean it is safe.

Teachers EVERYWHERE miss being in their classroom with their students. Every teacher has said one way or another that they can’t wait to be back in the classroom, that distance learning is hard, and for me and many other teachers, we know that school is a safe place for so many of our students.

HOWEVER.

We do not want to teach in person when it is not safe to do so. As much as it SUCKS to teach online (at least for me), I would rather do so than risk my kids’ lives, their families, my colleagues, their families, or my own life and the lives of my own family and friends. It is UNACCEPTABLE that we are being seen as:  1. babysitters 2. people who “Signed up for this” 3. someone who should “just do your job, seriously, be thankful you have one. If you’re going to complain so much why don’t you just quit. There are other people who need a job and would gladly take yours.”  (UMMM, okay first of all, do you even know how hard it is to get a teaching certification??. anyway..)

Everyone arguing that the kids need to socialize, they can’t learn this way, they are behind... 1. They’re not going to be socializing in school. There will be no socializing, recess, gym, group projects..because remember, you want us to SOCIAL DISTANCE in the school. 2. They can’t learn by sitting in a desk, in the same room, staring at a board for 7 hours straight any better than they can learn on a laptop. Actually, the laptop is better. 3. Behind what? The ENTIRE COUNTRY’S SCHOOLS went digital in March. There is no “behind” right now. Teachers are going to have to rewrite curriculum and guess what? That’s okay. That’s our JOB. To see where they are and pick up where the kids need us to, not where (insert anyone here) assumes we “should” be

Someone somewhere mentioned that teachers always claim that they would take a bullet for their students in the event of an active shooter, so why can’t teachers just deal with this because isn’t their job to protect their students? -OKAY but no. Because an active shooter would be an unplanned, horrific, terrifying thing (which by the way we DO plan for...try being in a room of 7 year olds practicing an active shooter drill). And yes OF COURSE I would protect my babies. But this IS DIFFERENT! We can literally prevent the tragedy of having students and teachers die by simply NOT forcing people back into school buildings. THIS is what protecting my babies looks like during a pandemic.

And one more thing.. why are so many people not willing to protect the teachers?

I should be enjoying my summer break right now. I won’t even lie, we need our summers to relax and recharge....oh, and to plan for the next school year. But I am really not having a great time sitting and waiting and wondering what’s going to happen this fall. Trying to prepare but not knowing what to prepare for. Wondering why we were heroes 4 months ago and now we are barely humans.

That is all.