What My Life Looks Like Teaching During a Pandemic

In February, we were just getting notified about the coronavirus, but travel had not been affected at that time. By the time we were wheels up for the small island off the coast of Mexico for Spring Break, I was afraid to come home. I was also ready to rent a car and drive back to the United States if I had too. Little did I know that this relaxing vacation on a tiny small remote island would possibly be our last vacation and the last time I would see the inside of my classroom for almost a year. 

When I returned home - we all got the email that we would be taking an “extended Spring Break”, let me tell you that after 15 years of teaching, I had figured what was coming down the pipe and knew the district was needing time to prep. I knew we were going to be teaching online in some sort of way, but I had no idea that it would be the way it was.  

For me, I had already started prepping my students for distance learning so I felt really ahead of the curve and so were my kids. When I had a substitute for the day - I didn’t want them to re-teach my kids some new way and confuse them. 

I am that teacher that would stay after school and record the whole lesson on video as if they were in the classroom, anticipating who was going to have questions, tell certain kids to “pay attention” cause I knew they would like to hear me call out their names. (They are silly like that!) 

When we were notified with our specific times to come to campus and “gather all things you need to teach” I grabbed everything - including the Elmo. It worked great for me cause I just happened to have a projector at my house and had my spare office set up like a classroom. During that time, a coworker informed me that we were about to get notified of a lockdown so we needed to hit the store with what we needed. 

(No, I wasn’t one who hogged up the toilet paper - but I was the one that grabbed cheese, eggs, bread and meat. I probably should have thought about toilet paper to be honest.)

If I am telling the truth, I really enjoyed teaching from home. I loved that my day started an hour later. I had time to actually eat breakfast and enjoy my coffee. My dogs had less accidents in the house and my house was cleaner in general. While I did work later hours, it was ok cause the major takeaway for me - I got to spend time with my boys. Both of my boys got caught locked down at home with us. Cody had to put off moving and Peyton’s senior year became the year nightmares are made of. 

I was blessed to have students that showed up every day for class. It was definitely an adjustment to get used to seeing each other online only but it wasn’t that bad. Kids were engaged and logging in. It was a time when we rallied together to make sure every kid knew they were not forgotten. 

Fast forward to August - I was stir crazy - wanting to see other humans and ready to come back to my classroom. Many teachers did not want to come back on campus and many got to stay home until September 9th -  I personally didn’t care what it took, what I had to wear or forms to fill out - I was done looking at the walls in my house

My student showing up for class in the car!

In the beginning of the year, I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out. My student was new to the United States, limited English and was having to learn how to use Google.

I teach in a self contained special education program for those who need behavioral support, so we were online together 8-9 hours a day. He had to share his screen so I could show him where to go and walk him how to do the work and turn it in. Or I had to share my screen and show him where to find certain things. 

Positive: my spanish is way better than it used to be. 

Once the kids were able to come to campus, I was happy to know that my student was coming. In my class I knew that you can’t always keep a safe social distance. For me, I am aware of that - and I have a job to do. Even if it may put me at risk. Yes, I know that most people feel differently from me - and that’s ok. 

I chose this profession, I chose to remain teaching this school year in a pandemic. If I am needed to help with toileting, then so be it. 

Thankfully, my life teaching looks similar as it did before - I am still working one on one with kiddos, still getting to work at the crack of dawn or making it by the skin of my teeth  and I have a fully stocked cabinet of cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer!

My life socializing with my peers at work and other things I took for granted - now that looks different. No more hallway gatherings, no gathering in one person’s classroom for department meetings, no pot luck lunches, no birthday celebrations, now it’s filling out a “are you sick” forms everyday before I walk in the building, reminding myself to put my mask on after I eat lunch, and taking the long way around the first floor just to get to the bathroom - might I add is a pain! 

On the flip side, no more listening to that one person that talks during a staff meeting cause they are MUTED!!!!!!! Oh man, that’s amazing! I know a few of you can relate. It really has kept the gossiping down to a mild roar also - but not really…..we have KNN radio that tells us what’s going on. (Yes, KNN is a person) 

I am very fortunate to not be in the situation as many of my peers who are hybrid teaching. Technology has taken it’s toll on those that were truly not accustomed to it and for others it’s made teaching easier. 

I know this will not last forever, it’s only a moment in time that will shape our lives. We can chose to let us defeat us or we can roll with the punches. Me, I chose to roll with the punches cause I can’t change it! 

Hugs! 

~N