Notes from public school - special edition

Teaching in a time of pandemic

It’s 7:45 A.M. on Tuesday March 17, 2020.

Normally on St. Patrick’s Day in public school, I joke with my students about wearing green. We read a “how to” article about finding four leaf clovers. We go outside and comb the school grounds for the Irish symbol of good luck. We write about our adventure. We connect it to our study of plants. It brings a lot of eureka moments. It’s a lot of fun.

But these are not normal times.

I’m sitting at my teaching table, looking out over an empty classroom.

My students are home for at least the next 10 school days.

We’re practicing ‘social distancing,’ a practice we’re implementing deeply and widely as we try to ‘flatten the curve’ and keep the weakest and most vulnerable among us from getting sick with Covid 19.

My school and I have been working hard to get eLearning plans and school supplies together so our kids can learn while they are away from us.

We care about their education.

We want them to be prepared for their next grade.

We want them to do the best work they can do and be the best people they can be so they can become all that they want to become.

I’m thankful we have the resources to help them while schools are closed.

Here’s the thing, though.

Not only do we care about their education.

We care about them.

On a normal school morning, A.M. at 7:45, my students line up at my classroom door and give me a hand shake, high five, fist bump or hug to begin their day.

In those moments, I can look into their faces and listen to their voices and know deep in my teacher heart how they are doing.

Does Jeremiah have a tear in his eye and a frown on his face? If he does, what’s wrong? How can I help?

Did Aiyana have breakfast before she came to school? Is she hungry? I can send her to the cafeteria for some food.

Emily is silent this morning. Is she being her shy self, or is their something weighing on her mind and heart.

Why is Daniel smiling so big and brightly? How can I celebrate with him?

A Chromebook and an eLearning plan can’t do that.

So I close my eyes and see the faces of all of the children and all of the teachers and all of the staff who bring life to our schools and make them a more human place to be.

I whisper a prayer of thanks for those whom are staying healthy and well by staying home from school.

And I whisper a blessing for those whom school keeps fed and safe.