To Cope with Virtual and Hybrid Teaching Struggles [S1 E25]
Before we jump into our three coping strategies for this difficult season (Fall 2020) of our teaching lives, we’d like to start by giving everyone here permission: permission to feel what you feel and not apologize for feeling it.
Marie and I have talked at length about our anger, nervousness, excitement, frustration, worry, and you-name-it every other kind of emotion that has been swirling around our professional lives and personal lives as a result of the many decisions being made for us. These decisions around our working conditions (hybrid 1/3 model, all virtual, virtual academy, back to hybrid when we think it’s cool) are made a a moment’s notice and have thrown us, two experienced, (mostly) level-headed teachers, on extreme waves of doom and gloom. So, if you’re new or a vet, if you’re tech-savvy or tech-freaked the heck out, take a deep breath and let it out. There’s no need to apologize about how your feeling, try to find a silver lining, or cover up your panic with a sorta funny meme. Lean on your teacher bestie. Talk to them and lay it all out on the table. Then, listen to this episode and let’s help you find ways to cope.
ONE: PUT YOURSELF FIRST
And we mean it. In my case (Amanda), virtual teaching shifted to hybrid in just five days time. I decided early on that I couldn’t possibly train myself in everything I need to know about hybrid teaching, recreate lesson plans to accommodate a brand new schedule and flip everything in that short of a time span. I decided to keep all of my plans the same as how they were planned for virtual teaching — to stay the course. The 3-4 students I’m seeing in person are getting check-ins on grades, social-emotional connection and support, and face-to-face instruction of the same materials posted online. That’s all I can do right now, and THAT’S OKAY. That’s enough. Whatever your situation might be, figure out what you need to stay afloat. Then, work backwards from there. Decide what matters the most. Prioritize that.
TWO: ROUTINE IS STILL YOUR BFF
The season of summer is over in so many ways — the back to school season is hitting us HARD and we feel it in our daily routines of our personal and professional lives as soon as things start back up again in the classroom. Take some time this weekend to reset those routines you need to help you function (like, you should try doing laundry again! And maybe prep some meals on the weekend!). Also, consider lesson planning using a template mindset: what types of lessons do you want to be using week by week? In an average week, do you want to have one day for assessment (formative or otherwise), and a dedicated day for small group work? That takes care of two days worth of plans every single time you sit down to get your week ready. The decision is made for you — all you need to do is fill in the details.
THREE: FIND MOMENTS OF JOY
Giggling with your four year old and having moments of genuine connection with students are the things that will keep us moving right now, so don’t forget to seek these out (especially when you’re in one of those doom and gloom headspaces). Check out this episode from The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast that discusses recording these connection moments, join Amanda’s email series for Hispanic Heritage Month and watch students be exposed to new voices, and before you go to bed, you better do something that resembles the gut-wrenching laughter of a Schitt’s Creek episode, not scrolling through social media that makes you miserable and angry. Maybe throw some money at a fancy new reading light/sound machine/alarm clock — this Hatch looks like something I might put on my list of things to try.
We thank you so much again for joining us for another episode of Brave New Teaching. We’d love to hear your thoughts and to see your reviews on iTunes! We are here for you. We get it. This is hard and sometimes that’s just all there is to say. But we will, together, find the best ways to reach kids and find the joy in the work that we do — lean on us, that’s what we’re here for.