By Sarah Nowack, DMS 5th Grade Teacher Anyone who knows me, knows that I like structure and predictability. During the first few weeks of the COVID experience, like most teachers, I was on a roller coaster of emotions. At first, there were all of the concerns about the future - and my students - were they getting enough food and were they in a safe, loving environment? But then I thought, hey- this is nice- finally, a spring break! I am guessing you had similar thoughts! However, the bottom line is that it was hard. It still is at times. Early on, I was looking for a way to connect with my students, so that first week of closure, I wrote a postcard to each student. That was something… but it wasn’t enough (emotionally) for me. I held my first Zoom with students on April 1st (no fooling) and that was a turning point for me. The much needed personal connection for both the students and myself was palpable. Who would have thought that seeing my students via video conferencing was going to make such a difference for my own emotional well being?! I have heard from many parents that Zooming was a lifeline for students, as well. Even though it was on a screen, it filled an emotional hole for all of us. From that moment on, I continued to attempt things outside of my comfort zone while still using the familiar as a foundation. I started using Zoom to hold class discussions, and that eventually led to more. I was a teacher, and pandemic or not, teaching was what I needed to do! So, how was I going to do that?? Here are some examples of how I pivoted: Then something happened that pushed me even further out of my comfort zone. Prior to closure, one of the extension activities available to my students during WIN was to write a letter to military personnel serving overseas. Shortly after closure, my class received a letter from one of those individuals and said she was willing to continue communicating with us. Insert the LIGHT BULB moment for me!!! I asked if she was interested in Zooming with the class and her response was a resounding yes! Then, my mind was on hyper-drive! With nothing to lose and my continued dive into the uncomfortable unknown, I reached out to see who could be an “expert guest speaker” for my students. The response was beyond my wildest dreams.
I was surprised that:
I did not sign up to teach remotely. I repeat…. I did NOT sign up for this. But lemons = lemonade, right? The more engaged I became with my students during closure, the more I felt like I was getting my purpose back. I miss lunch with my colleagues. I miss hugs from my students. When we return, I will soak it all in. For now, I will live in this new normal and find things that are good for my students and good for me. And, as I ask my students to take risks and try new things (things that are hard), I will do the same!
10 Comments
Dana Bockman
5/18/2020 05:37:36 pm
Thanks for making lemonade for your students, Sarah! What great experiences!
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Pam Sullivan
5/18/2020 08:25:36 pm
Way to go Sarah. How fun for the kids to have different guest speakers. The ideas all of you teachers have come with have been amazing.
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Zach Fromm
5/19/2020 03:11:48 am
Thanks, Sarah. This is causing all of us to be uncomfortable for sure. Embracing the struggle is key. What a creative way to engage with your students. My hope is we can all have experiences during this time we will pull into our "normal" professional lives when we get back to that.
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Kathy
5/19/2020 06:48:13 am
Sarah,
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Carole E Sand
5/19/2020 07:10:55 am
This is terrific learning, Sarah! Thanks for sharing your ideas. I'm interested to learn more about how you decided who to reach out to -- did you have contacts already or did you just do a search?? Such great learning -- and teaching!
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Mary Winger
5/19/2020 09:25:58 am
Sarah, I really enjoyed reading about how a teacher in the pandemic turned concerns and problems into inspirational solutions. Great work and thanks for sharing!
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Sue Lansing
5/19/2020 09:31:08 am
I am so impressed!! Everyone has really embraced "thinking outside the box" during this time. I think we can all agree on one thing~we miss the student interactions and I agree will never take that for granted again~even if I have to ask , when's the last time you restarted your computer 1000 more times!
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Julia Benson
5/20/2020 06:49:46 am
Thanks, Sarah! What an uplifting article to spur me on!
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Stephanie Radloff
5/21/2020 09:19:11 am
I loved reading about what all you did for your Zoom meetings and the guest speakers you were able to have. As a para, I had to work to step out of my comfort zone and learn new ways of communicating with my students and connecting with them through Zoom. Reading what you did is an inspiration to all of us that we can get through this and still connect and have those relationships.
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Michaela Seeman
5/22/2020 08:44:11 am
Thank you so much for sharing this Sarah! Such great ideas! I love how you were able to connect students with "expert guest speakers" via Zoom, giving the students a unique and memorable learning experience!
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