While I’m NOT happy about the unique and often tragic circumstances worldwide as a result of the spread of COVID-19, a unexpected feeling has crept up on me: gratitude.
The shift to eLearning changes a LOT of how education operates. I suppose the silver lining is that the dramatic shift in the education landscape draws our attention to the things we might otherwise take for granted. Here are a few things I have developed an extra dose of gratitude for in the last week.
I’m grateful for…The Classroom
We might not always like the cramped furniture, crowded space, or day-after-day gathering. But then again, now that we don’t have it, we can appreciate how important of a tradition it is to physically gather together and engage in learning.
There are so many opportunities being together offers that are just gone once we shift to the virtual setting. Those little chances to say hello, have casual conversation, check in on one another, observe each other’s facial expressions and responses, glance over-the-shoulder at student’s work…these all shift when we take away the physical gathering, and I am grateful for the opportunities we do have when we’re together!
I’m grateful for…My PLN
The moment we don’t know what to do, we turn to others to help guide us. Thankfully there are thousands and thousands of teachers who are embarking on a similar experience. While no single teacher has all the answers, we all at least have one that we can contribute to the greater conversation! I’m grateful for those who have already helped guide me, inspire ideas, and spark creative solutions to our unique circumstances.
I’m grateful for…Resources
I know this isn’t true for everyone, but I am vastly grateful for the abundance of resources available to make what could be a tragic circumstance in education into a rich opportunity. The school I work at has been a 1-to-1 institution for years, and our students and staff are well-acquainted with many of the tech tools we will rely more heavily on in the days ahead.
I also am grateful for the human resources. From our technology staff to our instructional coaches to our teacher leaders. There are so many folks who just step up and stand out in the process, leading and reassuring so many in our school body that “we got this.” Beyond the building, I’m grateful for all the district administrators that pours uncountable hours into their decisions, and the administrators in the buildings who take the larger context and put the traction into making things happen.
I’m grateful for…The Modern World
So you’re telling me we’re not going to gather together at school at all, but learning is still going to happen? Wow! We can literally shut down the school building and still teach our students. I know that online learning, blended classrooms, and tech tools have been in place for a long time, but the fact that we are not physically gathering together really puts a spotlight on the fact that we are living in an era where connectivity and learning can still be facilitated in the digital space.
I’m grateful for…Teachers
Finally, I’m grateful for our teachers. As parents are realizing their children may now be home for hours and hours on end, it is dawning on them how much care, preparation, and attention is poured into our youth each and every day. Who are the first people parents are turning to for information and advice about learning at home? The teachers!
Who knows what to do, how to facilitate learning, how to maintain standards, what is grade-level appropriate, and how to respond to the unique circumstances of the era? Our teachers!
Who is going to continue to work just as hard to make sure that students’ educational needs are met in the best manner possible? Who is going to communicate with families, share tools, resources, lessons, and methods with the community? Our teachers!
Different Circumstances, Same Attitude
I know the circumstances in the world right now are tragic. Global infection, lost family members, economic downturn, panic and uncertainty, shuttered stores, and closed schools.
As educators, we cannot control the circumstances that are impacting the world right now. There is very little we can do at all. But we can take responsibility for what we can control: our attitudes and our teaching. Our students will look to us for support and stability; they always have. Our values and attitudes do not change depending on the circumstances, and as many of us transition to an eLearning platform, it’s important to begin with a little gratitude for the things and people who are working, despite the broader circumstances surrounding us.