Leadership

There are lots of lists of the essentials required for success in any classroom. Most of them assume something before they begin enumerating all the elements. That assumption is that there is a dedicated, skilled, caring educator ready, willing and able to help make learning happen regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes we may feel "assumed" as the tidal wave of essentials rolls over us. That seldom stops us from giving it all we've got.

We awoke on the Ides of March to begin teaching in a way that most of us had never experienced except as students in online courses ourselves. We have used every bit of our collective wisdom and knowledge to craft 15 weeks of learning for our students almost literally out of thin air. Few will say it's been fun, but most of us acknowledge that we have been given a challenge and we have met it well. There is some satisfaction in that.

This spring of emergency remote teaching (ERT) has taught us, even as we have taught and supported our students. While there are moments and even days of discouragement amid the differences in this scenario, each of us knows better how we would do it again if we had to; and we may very well get the chance to do just that. We want to recognize that it hasn't been ideal, yet there have been successes we can build on. We want to also make the best of the opportunity to begin again, this time with preparation more designed for the task.

Goal 1: Reflect First

"We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience." Perhaps John Dewey actually said it this way (or not) but as teachers we know there is a lot of truth in that statement. So before we begin exploring ways to move from ERT to true distance learning, we should reflect on these past weeks. Take time to think these things through, to maybe even jot down some details you don't want to forget.

What were the greatest challenges in these areas?

• establishing a learning environment

• maintaining positive relationships with all students

• communicating with students, parents and colleagues

• building routines for assignments, feedback, face-to-face meeting

• delivering or sharing information

• helping students collaborate and socialize in their learning

How successful do you feel you were at overcoming these challenges?

What do you think would help you be more successful teaching from a distance?

Goal 2: Share Success

You have been there. What worked best for you this spring of remote teaching? And many things have worked. We can learn from one another here in SP and pass on the goodness we have gathered in these hours, days and weeks.

So share here. What brought you that smile and glow of satisfaction when your students got it, ran with it, transformed it, owned it? Was it Kahoot live? Did Flipgrid open up new vistas of student agency? Has Pear Deck made Slide presentations become the interactive piece you and your students needed? Did you devise something that unexpectedly scratched the learning itch for kids? Are you a Master of the Meet?

Take a moment to use the form below to share one thing that worked this spring for you. Use the link below the form to view your colleague's successes, and be sure to return to the link later as more people add to the spreadsheet.

Use this link to view the form responses from colleagues: One Thing That Really Worked for Me...

Goal 3: Take care of yourself. You are only as good as you are well.

One of our Covid-19 mantras has been "stay well" or a variation of that sentiment. We all know it is important. Still, it's easy to push a little more and go a little harder until we aren't really well at all. To continue to be that first essential to learning, self-care is imperative.

• 5 Strategies for Teacher Self-care from ASCD

• Self-care Resources from mindfulteachers.org

• Finding Renewal During Distance Learning - John Spencer