Half-way through
It has been a challenge getting through the first half of the year. Teaching in-person, online, and simultaneously has been a huge challenge for every teacher I know. With the second half of the year, the models are probably shifting once again. Many teachers I know are at there breaking point. So, I ask here: What keeps you sane and centered in these crazy times?
There are so many things to get stressed about and I think the best I can do is just take it all in stride. For example, normally cheating is something Ill track very closely. Its impossible now, pretty much, so just encourage honesty but dont worry about it.
It's been a challenge. I agree. I think one has to get rid of mid- or long-term goals. Just do what you can accomplish now, holding yourself to lower standards. It would not fair to yourself, because there's so many factors that we don't have any control. So, it's not your fault. You don't serve anyone if you break down. So, scale down as much as you can and deliver only what you really can, not what others tell you.
I survived the fall semester of synchronous online learning...meaning a zoom class session on the days and times an in-class would have happened. With COVID cases on the rise in my county due to peoples' holiday, maskless stupidity, my spring semester is looking to be the same set-up.
It wasn't too bad overall, as I went to campus two half days a week to teach via zoom (as I am not equipped for video at home) and simply went to my office, taught my classes, and went home immediately afterwards. The school was testing us every 2 weeks over the duration of semester, and I have remained negative. (We will be tested again before classes open on January 19th.) My schedule for spring also shifts to a 10:30 am-3:30pm span as opposed to the 8:30 am-12:30pm one I had in the fall.
So, basically, I live lecture from school using 2 monitors so students can see/read the power-points, and answer immediate questions during class sessions, and then I work from home to take care of issues via the "Ask the Professor" non-video chat room for a few hours each non-class day. *THOSE* I conduct in the nude as I have pretty much not bothered to get dressed unless I was going grocery shopping or shoveling snow/mowing the lawn since sometime last March :P
I hope we see the end of the pandemic sooner than later, though I am happy to say that I seem to be lumped into the third pool of folks who will be able to get the vaccine sooner than later as I am both 66 and a teacher/educator. Since the college was doing our testing, rumor has it that they may also arrange for the vaccination clinic to be held on campus. We shall see.
I survived the fall semester of synchronous online learning...meaning a zoom class session on the days and times an in-class would have happened. With COVID cases on the rise in my county due to peoples' holiday, maskless stupidity, my spring semester is looking to be the same set-up.It wasn't too bad overall, as I went to campus two half days a week to teach via zoom (as I am not equipped for video at home) and simply went to my office, taught my classes, and went home immediately afterwards. The school was testing us every 2 weeks over the duration of semester, and I have remained negative. (We will be tested again before classes open on January 19th.) My schedule for spring also shifts to a 10:30 am-3:30pm span as opposed to the 8:30 am-12:30pm one I had in the fall.So, basically, I live lecture from school using 2 monitors so students can see/read the power-points, and answer immediate questions during class sessions, and then I work from home to take care of issues via the "Ask the Professor" non-video chat room for a few hours each non-class day. *THOSE* I conduct in the nude as I have pretty much not bothered to get dressed unless I was going grocery shopping or shoveling snow/mowing the lawn since sometime last March :PI hope we see the end of the pandemic sooner than later, though I am happy to say that I seem to be lumped into the third pool of folks who will be able to get the vaccine sooner than later as I am both 66 and a teacher/educator. Since the college was doing our testing, rumor has it that they may also arrange for the vaccination clinic to be held on campus. We shall see.
Glad to hear is was a success, considering what you and other teachers had to deal with. Our county is experiencing the same things you are in your county. People here continually complain about wearing masks and then don't. Continually complain about large gatherings and not being able to have them, but still do. Our hospitals, 4 in our immediate area, are impacted with Covid cases and these naysayers still don't get it.
I would imagine that most teachers want to return to the classroom but I also think that those that are nudists or became nudists because of Covid, are thinking... hey, maybe I could just stay home and teach and be naked some of the time! Enjoy your time off and continued good luck with the Spring semester! ;D
I have had in person classes mostly--with one online class thrown in. I don't feel too afraid of being back because classes are much smaller in person since about half the student body is totally virtual. But, I know many teachers who have taken leaves or retired because of the slip-shod way the district has structured the process. A few have retired early after one semester because the demands are too high and the rewards too few. With no one actually planning to become educators right now, these losses are hard to replace. My students are great about the whole thing--but it is way beyond "normal" for them as well. I hope the vaccine will help put us all back on the path to "normalcy."
Our classes are hybrid where students are in group A, Group B, or all-virtual Group C. We teach all three groups 4 days a week through Zoom or in-person if they are a hybrid student and they have one day to just get caught up with work and meet for extra help.
It has been an ongoing problem for years before this. Society doesn't seem to place a high value or respect on the profession. One of the big universities near me is closing its College of Education due to declining enrollment. Not really sure what things will look like in a few years.
As a dad and non-teacher, I wish to thank you dedicated teachers for your extraordinary efforts since last March. I realize it's been extremely challenging, and am pleased that my high school sons have stayed engaged and, for practical purposes, have learned the material to prepare them for college. I find it disheartening how parents blame everything on teachers, either their own shortcomings, and this covid era is no different. Whereas I believe that education along with society will never go back to the pre-covid "normal", I can picture my sons in another 25 years telling their kids "Don't you ever say you don't want to go to school. You don't know how fortunate you are to have a school, teachers and friends to go to." Rock on.
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