I took a slightly different approach to this picture. The school lanyard separates two sections of items. On the left you will find what is currently in my purse, and on the right, shows what else would have been included pre-pandemic. I will start with my current items. I have a mask and sanitizer as I am sure most people do in these times. I downgraded to a tiny chap stick and one pen. I have some hair elastics as I have long hair, my keys for my car, and drops as I occasionally get allergies. I also have some medication, pain, and for migraines as I suffer from chronic migraines. I also have a wallet, for all my cards and money and finally my word keys. Lastly, my phone, which is not pictured, as I am using it to take the picture. This is so basic and does not say much about me, hence the decision to add in the pre-pandemic items.

Now that we are in the pandemic I go from home, to work, to home, and that is all. I do not need cream, gum, or floss, as both locations I go to have them. I do not include my silicone straws, as I do not frequent any restaurants. However, pre pandemic, I would use them often, as I try to recycle and reduce my use of plastics. The charger is a must as my regular life has me on the go a lot, and I use my phone for many purposes, such as marking, calling, texting, mapping and reading. I also use my headphones for music and audio books. As I have no place to go, and aren’t waiting anywhere for anything, headphones and a charger have become obsolete in my bag. I also do not bring along highlighters or makers to mark or do school work for that same reason. The headband speaks to a huge part of my life that I have lost - sports. I used to play sports at least 4 times a week, and would always need a headband, so it lived in my bag. Don’t worry, I do wash it. Finally, the tape measure. My husband and I are always doing renos, and having a handy tape when you are finding items is a must.

In short, as my life simplified, so did the contents of my bag. Though simpler is not always happier. Some of the items represent so much joy that is lost in my new pandemic life. The mast represents the weight in which I live and teach under. My pandemic bag does not indicate much engagement in language and communication than my pre pandemic bag. I engage in language through my phone by reading texts, social media, emails, books, calendar, maps, and news. I also engage in oral language through phone conversations, videos, audiobooks, and even speaking to Siri to add reminders to my calendar. My headphones allowed me access to more language in a socially acceptable way as to not disturb others. The highlighters and pens can show engagement through marking students work, but that has not gone away, and now I do more digitally, which is still communication and language engagement. Through all these, I express aural literacy, sport literacy, language literacy, written literacy, technology literacy and more.