Finding the Calm in the Chaos
My eight-year-old daughter asked me the other day, what “this” time is like in terms of other times in my life. It was difficult to explain to her that it is unlike anything I’ve experienced in my lifetime or her grandparents have experienced in theirs. These are truly new and can be for some, scary times.
Teachers are moving to remote or distance learning. Parents are moving to work from home models. Students are navigating a whole new world of learning without the proximity of their teachers and friends. And all of us are coping with the physical separation from loved ones and friends. It certainly makes for a stressful situation for all.
But we are teachers and we are flexible! How many times have you had to pivot a lesson because it didn’t go as planned? Well, think of this as the Guinness Book of World Records record holder for a pivot! And here are some tips so help you handle that pivot like an NBA star:
1.) Set up hours. We don’t teach twenty-four hours a day – why do we think that we need to be logged in/creating/doing for that amount of time? Personally, I’m trying to create realistic hours and stick to them. Once I clock out, I take walks with my family, crochet, or try to do something to help me recharge my batteries. As the saying goes, “put on your oxygen mask first”. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we risk burning out during this new endeavor.
2.) Be gentle with students, be gentle with yourself. This is new to EVERYONE! In my district, students and many teachers are learning a new platform during this chaotic time. We are frantically trying to deploy devices and get everyone on board. But, like I tell teachers – we are all in this together! Be patient with students and their families who are just as worried as we are. Be patient with colleagues that reach out to you for help. And most of all, be patient with yourself. This certainly isn’t where any of us planned to be in the school year, but we can’t change it, only deal with it.
3.) Enjoy the change of pace. I don’t know if you’re like me, but I am usually rushing out the door after getting my daughter on the bus, coffee in my travel mug, and praying that there is no traffic! All of a sudden, most of our commutes have been DRASTICALLY shortened. Enjoy the coffee in a real mug! Sit with your kids, dog, or even a good book at breakfast. Maybe even use that extra time in the morning to get some exercise in (#wired2run anyone???)
4.) Enjoy the change of scenery. In addition to having a change to the pace of our day, the scenery sure has changed too! I never taught a library class looking out my front window as neighbors strolled by. I never did a read aloud from my deck. And I certainly never had the joy of my dog’s company as I taught. Enjoy the fact that work truly has all the comforts of home for the time being!
5.) Don’t forget to laugh. I am a big fan of Jimmy Buffet and there is a line in one of his songs, “If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.” If there was ever a time where this is applicable, this is it! Enjoy a meme, an episode of your favorite sitcom, or a cheesy joke with a friend. One from my son to get you started (full disclosure – 13-year-old boy joke): What is the German word for constipation? Far-from-poopen!
I know that the uncertainty of this time makes us all uneasy. But I am a firm believer in trying to find the good in the situation. Try to find those moments of calm or laughter as you go throughout your day. And don’t forget that we are all in this together!
Be safe, be well, you’ve got this!
Theresa Welch
[convertkit form=1190516]
Dr. Kris Felicello has been in the field of education for over 25 years as a Teacher, Coach, Athletic Director, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and he is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services in the North Rockland Central School District in Rockland County, New York.
Pat Adkins is the Superintendent of the Port Clinton City Schools in Port Clinton, Ohio. Port Clinton Schools have been recognized as a National Forum School to Watch and selected as a Model School by the International Center for Leadership. Pat’s thirty years in education include roles as a high school teacher, director of technology, coach, building principal, and Superintendent. He has not only survived but has thrived as Superintendent in Port Clinton for 15 years. He is an adjunct professor for Ashland University where he teaches administrative leadership courses. Pat has spoken at schools and conferences across the country about building dynamic school culture and was a featured speaker at the What Great Educators Do Differently conference in Houston, Texas this past October. 
Christy Whittlesey, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) has been an educator in settings ranging from PreK-higher education for the past 17 years, and is currently a PreK-12 Fine and Performing Arts Administrator and a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Arts Ambassador in Massachusetts. In addition to her work in the arts, Dr. Whittlesey regularly collaborates with school districts and organizations to update policy and lead professional development to create gender-friendly schools where all students can thrive, regardless of gender.
Stephanie Castle is a good friend of mine and a fellow Apple Distinguished Educator. I’ve had the good pleasure to travel with her to different parts of the world through the Apple Distinguished Educator Program. She’s a wonderful human and an incredible teacher. She is the first person from whom I ever heard
In my introduction, I salute our first responders and essential workers during this time of crisis, and I offer some insight and direction on how you can apply the practice of mindfulness to your life.
I am so proud of educators around the world helping their students, community, and colleagues. Like you, I have been working extra hours with teachers in and outside my district with remote learning and instruction. Like you, I have been helping my family and community in this time of uncertainty and hardship. Like you, I am concerned about our students and what is coming next. This episode is more than just a check-in. It’s more than just an episode on remote learning. This episode attempts to connect all of us together and make some sense of what is going on and offer a little insight on how to prepare.
Dr. Moats has been a teacher, psychologist, researcher, graduate school faculty member, and author of many influential scientific journal articles, books, and policy papers on the topics of reading, spelling, language, and teacher preparation. After a first job as a neuropsychology technician, she became a teacher of students with learning and reading difficulties, earning her Master’s degree at Peabody College of Vanderbilt. Later, after realizing how little she understood about teaching reading, she earned a doctorate in Reading and Human Development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Moats spent the next fifteen years in private practice as a licensed psychologist in Vermont, specializing in evaluation and consultation with individuals of all ages and walks of life who experienced reading, writing, and language difficulties. At that time, she trained psychology interns in the Dartmouth Medical School Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Moats spent one year as the resident expert for the California Reading Initiative; four years as site director of the NICHD Early Interventions Project in Washington, DC; and ten years as research advisor and consultant with Sopris Learning, obtaining two Small Business Innovation Research grants from the NICHD.