Teaching During a Pandemic....

[@charlesperez9976]

Know this: there are legions of us out there, who admire and respect the great work that you do! Set up a Amazon wish list! I among others, would be happy to help supply your classroom. I personally got 200 bux burning a hole in my pocket,ha! It’s yours for the taking, you deserve it. You are a hero.

[@IlnurMiftakhov]

I'm an educator in Russia. Quit teaching several years ago and switched to change management in educational systems. Watching you guys teaching in these unprecedented times and wishing you all the best!

[@seydicifuentes526]

“I may cry a little but bring it on” this is 100% how i feel💕

[@trishaspiess9977]

You are not alone! Everything that you listed as a challenge I am 100% feeling. Your idea of a perfect day made me cry. I've been teaching first grade remote since August and I am right where you are emotionally.

[@JRCM328]

I have been a public school teacher for 23 years. When people have asked how remote learning is going, this has been the most difficult thing that I have ever experienced in my career and life. Thank you so much for creating this Safe Space for teachers to listen and learn from one another. You were honest, positive, and articulated your points in a professional manner while also showing how you feel. Your students are extremely lucky to have you! To all teachers out there, no matter what, showing your emotions is a sign of strength. If you need to cry, scream, or laugh....go for it! You are NOT alone! 👍🏻

[@charlesperez9976]

My heart goes out to you. My niece is also a teacher, and expresses exactly the same concerns! You are on the front line of, well, the new way of teaching! History will honor your pioneer spirit!❤️

[@gabbyparr6099]

I NEEDED to see this video today. Truly. I am a student teacher through a college in Ohio that offers a full-year fellowship that I was fortunate enough to get into. Right now, that’s looking like student teaching 3rd grade pretty much all day 3 days a week... Wednesdays we have back-to-back IEP meetings, a faculty meeting, and then 2-4 hours of PD. Then Thursdays there are extra PDs specifically for members of the fellowship. Fridays we have a seminar half of the day... plus we still have 3 classes outside of student teaching. And I’m trying to work. And see my parents. And sleep. LOL I feel like I’m supposed to be handling this so much better than I am. Every time I start really enjoying it, especially now that I’ve taken over a good chunk of the teaching day, I realize I’m behind in 5 other things. I’ve never been so tired and felt like such a failure... even when I know I’m doing my best. This is something totally crazy and abnormal. I have to keep reminding myself of that! And enjoying the 1 minute commute to school and I walk from my bedroom to my basement 😂

[@tarasteele8765]

It’s my very first year teaching with my own class. I graduated in January and was a leave replacement for two months before everything went remote. There were so many things that you absolutely hit spot on. I absolutely love my job, team members, and what I do. But I can definitely agree that I feel like a presenter and I cannot tell if all this work im putting in for my students is even paying off. I teach half online and half in person throughout my day. Neither classroom is as gratifying as a pre pandemic class. It makes me sad, but I’m also glad that I can be apart of a students “normalcy” throughout their day.

[@chloe_3787]

As a student (high school senior), we are doing a complicated, remote, in person, hybrid, cyber Monday, half day, cohort model in western PA. All of the remote learning that we are doing is completely asynchronous. A lot of parents had complaints that teachers aren’t live-streaming lessons from their classrooms (while they also have half the students in person). However, our admin had concerns with FERPA as well as many other things. At the end of the day, I don’t think there’s a way to please everyone.

[@alyssahun6320]

I’m currently in my last semester of college before my student teaching and I took a break for a year while I had my son so being back in school has been tough with a young baby... One of my professors found ur videos and used one in an assignment from when you were a second year teacher and literally you gave me inspiration to get excited about teaching again! I’m so excited to go into the classroom. And I’ve been binging your videos! I love you ! And you’re doing great with the cards you’ve been dealt!

[@frenchwithmadameg1116]

I'm currently doing some hybrid classes, some live-streamed classes (half of the kids are online while the other half are in the classroom) AND one fully virtual class. I've been teaching for 23 years and this is the hardest year of my teaching career. Hybrid will be a whole different animal for you. I honestly prefer the live-streamed classes. The hardest part of me is that I, like you am a very engaging teacher that loves to do hands-on activities, movement activities etc. Now I am limited to activities that can be done alone at the desk because students are not allowed to be in groups or move around the room. It's so HARD teaching like this! Thank you for your channel. It's so nice to have this community where we are all going through the same thing and it's comforting knowing that I am not alone.

[@abbey.mierzejewski]

ahh im a grade 12 student and I just applied to university to start my journey of becoming an elementary school teacher!! im so excited ! you have been a big inspiration to me the last few years! I cant wait to be half as an amazing teacher as you in the future!!! 💜💜💜

[@mr.kylecohen]

Nobody else I'd rather have part of this conversation. Grateful for you and this community! 🥰

[@EarlyEDventures]

Thank you for starting this TAG and creating a safe space to have these conversations! :)

[@charlesperez9976]

Right on Mr.Cohen! Keep up the GREAT work!!

[@andreachurchill9054]

Girl I feel for you! I have 3 kids learning from home right now. It👏is👏chaos👏! My son has ADHD (diagnosed by me as of right now) and nothing has made it more apparent than trying to get him to focus on a computer screen from 8:45 - 3 daily! As for the proactivity, my daughter was so far behind last year, we really got ahold of it this year. We got her a tutor and initiated a 504 and she’s now on grade level when she started 2 grades below grade lever with reading and mathmatics

[@cindyschroyer326]

I clicked on your video because I'm a retired teacher and I'm in the middle of a couple of afternoon reading intervention groups for second grade at my old school. I have some familiarity with Zoom and I've subbed for a few of my friends during distance learning. My problem is behavior management. There are so many things I can't control!

[@karrinasimpson6166]

Watching you express your perfect day of teaching was absolutely everything that teaching should be about. Your passion literally slapped every goosebump I have and I loved it. I am on my journey (started late in life) to being a teacher. I have worked at a school for several years and am so overcome with excitement that I am finally on my way. You are wonderful and YOU are what a teacher is. Perfectly imperfect and popping with passion! My students are my "children" and seeing them go through this is heartbreaking. Thank you for your dedication and I am so ready to be what you are to your students, to my own.

[@dianaguzman7556]

Shelley, I am doing both remote and in person and it is mentally exhausting. I feel like this model is a disservice to the kids and it is so incredibly hard to differentiate. I totally agree with you about not knowing your students as learners. And we did take so much for granted before the pandemic. I want this all to be over

[@nicolaelliott7064]

I am a teacher in New Zealand teaching in person with no Covid restrictions (full school assemblies, shared materials, no distancing, no masks etc.) at this time. I feel for your struggles and am in awe of how teachers in the States cope with all that is asked of them and the ever evolving situation. You have such an honest open and optimistic attitude. Keep up your amazing hard work!

[@Oliveyourmoney]

I miss the face to face convection and the hugs. It breaks my heart that they are at home some in a toxic place and some alone. I have loved the online grading platform, because not having papers everywhere is nice. It doesn’t look like we are going back to face anytime someone.

[@kamijeter6737]

I 1,000% agree with all of the above. You are not alone in this at all. I am a virtual teacher in TN. I feel like prepandemic times, I was unable to get in specific time to focus on getting to know my students as individuals because we were forced to get x, y, and z in during our scheduled times. One thing I am thankful for in this pandemic is the flexibility to make sure I have that time getting to know my students interests and just what is important to them. I hope and pray that this will transition over to our traditional setting whenever we actually get to transition. Thank you for creating a safe space to talk about what we are going through. It’s such a difficult time in our lives and in our careers, but I fully believe we have all learned something from this time that will change us as individuals and as teachers. 🥰❤️

[@eliseanderson7201]

Every time I watch your videos I can’t help but feel so sad for the situation that you and teachers in America are going through. I live in Western Australia which right now is possibly the best state in Australia to be in (except for a few others). We are back and have been back to 100% normal classroom teaching since about mid to end of July (school years are very different here). The only different thing that we have is cleaners come around at recess and lunch cleaning all the high touch surfaces and while the kids are in the classroom they clean the play equipment and outside seating. That’s it! Everything is back to normal. The only difference is in the holidays we can’t travel anywhere outside Western Australia, but I can live with that 🤣 I am also a relief (substitute) teacher and I am getting normal/regular days as well, I can’t even begin to think what I would be like if I was a relief teacher in America 😥 I am hoping and praying that the situation in America changes and you can be blessed with having all your kids in the classroom and can go back to “normal”.

[@cherylhickey3956]

You are so spot on and I enjoy watching your inspiring videos. If I had to redo my student teacher experience and could select a classroom to student teach in, I would like to choose yours. Thank for sharing with your colleagues!

[@traciwillis4477]

You just brighten my day! I love love your teaching philosophy! I am in Missouri and we are in full session (rural America) , but each day is a crap shoot. We were in a week and out two. I am sure to make the most of every day and get to know my students and their individual learning needs. I know being out will probably hit again and that truly bothers me. I understand how you are feeling! Some days are emotionally better than others. I have allowed my kids to work in pairs, groups, and we are interacting safely. Face shield or mask when we do those things. We try to also maintain a safe distance or at least give the other students their own bubbles. I hope our new normal hits soon. I know life will never be exactly the same.

[@Alex-ic6tq]

Wow, you are blessed to have such high parent engagement. Out of twenty one students, I have five families invested. Yes, I have communicated and tried everything I can think of. Also, just because we are teachers and we figure it out, doesn't mean it's okay for admin to continually add to our plates. I struggle with this because it means they expect us to work for free. There is no way I can get everything done during contract hours. I am a second year teacher and I don't know I can continue in this career. I LOVE teaching, but I can't continue with the high level of stress and anxiety.

[@debrafilipowicz2832]

I understand how you feel. I have had some much "homework" this year, it has been ridiculous to the point of chronic loss of sleep.

[@LorraineinPNW]

I agree with you on every question! I miss using my Positive Behavior Support System! I involve students in choosing of the Prize Box items, so my student "buy in" is huge. Even our Behavior Program kiddos like coming to my class. Positive...During Distance Learning, I get to see students' "real lives" at home.

[@isabel5986]

First year teacher. What a time to join! 😂 I live in Texas. Everything changes next week as we move to “hybrid” some kids in person and some still online. schedule changes & class rosters changes. To say it’s going to be a crazy few weeks is an understatement but yes, crazy it will be. But man I love my job and it’s been my dream since i was a kid to be a teacher so here i am!

[@ashleyv.]

I’m just a crazy kinder mom who appreciates getting insight from within and hearing your perspective! 😁 My child is doing DL in CA as well. Our district is looking at a hybrid reopening plan and I’m so torn. We love the teacher and school, however we’ve been considering homeschool til there is a more complete plan. Eek!. ...Truly amazed by you and all the teachers working their tails off! 💗

[@EarlyEDventures]

Homeschool is no joke!! You'll make the best decision for your baby and your family :) Best of luck!!!

[@ashleyv.]

Early EDventures Thank you! Yes, not taking it lightly! All the best to you as well! 😊

[@missyc9385]

Be encouraged! I can tell you are a great teacher! I used to teach in a private school. My husband has taught in public schools for almost 22 years. Public education changes as the politics do. 🤪 He always mentors teachers to not teach the test. If you just teach them, they will do well on the test. He never follows current trends in education and no matter the level, general/IB he usually has the highest scores in his department. You can do this! 😉

[@MaestraMsGabby]

I share the feeling, I am experiencing the same frustrations, and see the same silver lightnings. I teach 4th graders in a 50/50 Dual immersion program in rural San Diego. Distance learning has been beyond challenging. Starting tomorrow, we move into hybrid: Mondays will be independiente learning for students and prep day for teachers... prep will be one of the many things we will be able to miraculously accomplish. The other 4 days will be in person instructions for half the students (group A T/Th and group B W/F). There is a long list of don'ts so we can keep everyone as safe as possible, but there are many, many things we'll be able to do in person. I can't wait to get to know my students and, like you say, get to know them as learners. I am eager for the in person aha! moments. Ps. Im very proud of my classroom decor this year. You got me into spray painting and 💚💙 color scheme.

[@Sunnyside810]

I am so so grateful to be back in school. We have been face to face since August and it’s going so well! Hope you can open up soon!

[@katieburgess6839]

I am teaching fully in person with 28 students in my Gr. 4 class. It's good to be back in the classroom, even with the masks and the lack of group work and hands on activities. I have been teaching in a very old-school way because we can't do collaborative or any kind of sharing. At first I was a bit surprised at how well the kids have been doing with it, but then I thought about how classes were when I was a kid, and also when I started teaching (in the 90s). And in the end, I think the most important thing isn't the teaching methodology, but the community in the classroom. We are all so glad to be back, we don't miss the centres and group work as much as I thought we would. I hope we can stay with in person all year. (I'm in Ontario).

[@pkpurposefulplay]

Oh how I miss being with the kids and getting to know them, REALLY know them!!! Thank you for your honesty through this time. I have enjoyed watching you prepare for this school year and see how you are teaching and handling it.

[@suecathcart4687]

I have shared this with a couple of UK teachers - sending all of you hope and gratitude for carrying on with your amazing job of teaching our future

[@mariedemonteverde7993]

I'm full-on distance teaching in Las Vegas and I'm surprised how well things are going. Obviously the kids are not learning as much but they all seem to put a lot of effort and are really engaged during class. The families, for the most part, have been very supportive and have positive attitudes.

[@mariedemonteverde7993]

@Jesseca Lockie There's a lot of teacher backlash here too. I'm just trying to be positive.

[@mariedemonteverde7993]

@Jesseca Lockie exactly!

[@brandiashley8828]

I’m a first year 2nd grade teacher and am in person, with our district offering a “virtual academy” for those that would rather stay virtual. The first 3 weeks were NTI for everyone and it was all asynchronous instruction. After that, we were going 5 days a week, but are getting switched to having every Wednesday off as NTI to be able to clean the school. I am definitely stressed and overwhelmed, but I am lucky that I have a very small class in a public school which is virtually unheard of, but I still feel the same as you do with struggling to figure out how they learn best. Hoping it will become easier as I try to figure out how to do small groups while social distancing. Thank you for your channel! It definitely helps me feel less alone!

[@kerryelliott2256]

I feel you! These challenges are very much the same,,I take great pride in knowing my students learning styles and interests and I feel this is just extremely pulling me apart I am not sure if they are learning and progressing OR if they are just following me and watching and mimicing me! This remote learning is terrible in NC! I do enjoy talking with my students in just idle conversation and maing me laugh! :)

[@kristikblank]

I know there are huge challenges to online teaching, but I hope teachers who are able to remote teach are counting their blessings that they're in a safe environment. We're in person and every day is so stressful wondering if that's the day we'll catch the virus and bring it home to our loved ones. We have a teacher in the hospital fighting for his life for 3+ weeks now and he may not make it. I hope we can go to remote teaching soon. The stress is unreal.

[@annabrown3337]

Yes and Amen! I appreciate everything you said 🥰🤗 in uk we have a group of educators to make those decisions locally and nationally... i am lucky enough to work in a SEN school so we are still in school with precautions in place, hard but a blessing.... feel for you all not seeing your kids x

[@ms.miller9167]

Thank you for being real! This is exactly how I am feeling! I want to be int he same room as my babies! I feel like i have become a slide maker, forms creator and completion checker. I actually said- "i hate my job" the other day. i have been doing this for 25 years. I have never felt that way!

[@zay2959]

American 2nd grade teacher in the Middle East..... our schedule is Sunday-Thursday 3:00pm-6:30pm with 9/30 min lessons and two 10 minutes breaks. Exhausted yet? 9 English, 4 math, and 4 science lessons per week Bull dozing presentations down their throat to collect “data” and giving the kids 9 flipped videos to watch, and 6 assignments to do per week.

[@brittanyamyx1574]

Keep being amazing! thank you for teaching and loving everything about it!

[@mitchellbuell5911]

I definitely agree where I am feel I am getting to know my students as people but not as learners. I also think the data is so unreliable this year. I just really appreciate your openness with us on here. You are truly an inspiration to others in the profession.

[@alaylaende6937]

Assessment is so hard! I have started calling on each student once every two days to answer a question and keeping a little check plus, check, check minus. That is the only way I feel like I can have any idea.

[@Stevo_Drums]

100% with you on standardized testing! 🙌🏼 I’m in Monterey County, and the past 7 months have been truly exhausting. I know you get it. I feel safe saying that my parents... Not. On. Board.

[@nicolefrohnapfel8279]

Yes! Yes! And YES!!! If you find ways for collaboration and inquiry please share with us!

[@monicaokungbowa4246]

I had parent conferences this week. I was surprised that parents were just content with where their kids were in school. My aunt and I feel like parents are just so overwhelmed this year.

[@jennyr549]

I am a teacher in New York and I could not agree with the things you said!! Stay safe everyone and we will get through this!

[@tidyteacher662]

Hi! Great to have an honest vlog about the challenges teachers are facing. I love the comment about building the plane while flying it!👏 It feels just like that. X

[@annak1402]

Loved this video! I’m in the UK and we are teaching in person. I’m a High School English teacher and I would normally have my own classroom with the students moving rooms but that hasn’t been able to happen so now teachers have to move classrooms each period. It’s incredibly stressful and you don’t realise how many behaviour strategies you have that rely on you welcoming students into your class on your own terms and settling them to a task, or being able to walk around the classroom, or students just having a break between periods to chat to their friends. We aren’t able to walk round the classroom to check work or talk to students who might be struggling- we have a yellow tape line that we can’t cross for any reason, we have to wear masks in all communal spaces and sanitise our hands before and after putting on or removing masks. It’s a LOT to deal with (on top of an additional role) but we are all getting through it. It’s been tough especially when class “bubbles” have been sent home for two weeks to self isolate and we have to teach through Google Classroom as well as in person but as you say, we are teachers and we are inherently flexible. I definitely could not do what you’re doing! 👍🏻

[@Heyu7her3]

I actually would rather have students stay in one room. We've been having to walk with them to take them to their next class in order to make sure they physically distance. At that point, why be in the school building?

[@annak1402]

Heyu7her3 wow that’s so difficult! And it’s so interesting to see how different schools have tried to implement social distancing rules. Is your system working in terms of low levels of transmission?

[@AnimeAngelAzume]

I'm in my last semester of student teaching and my Kindergarten class is completely virtual in a Zoom meeting from 8:30am to 1:00pm with an hour break for lunch. It can be TOUGH, but if I want to stay on the positive side: I don't have to drive the 1hr 20 min drive to my placement school, I get to take as many bathroom breaks as I want, we do finish a little early, and I get to teach in my PJ pants! On the down side, I COMPLETELY agree with you about not quite knowing my students. There are so many things that we can't do that I would love to incorporate into a Kindergarten in-person, pandemic-free classroom. Keeping Kindergarteners engaged while they're staring at a screen for 4+ hours is close to impossible. There's a disconnect, and it can be hard to feel like I'm really teaching to the best of my ability (and also it's so hard to keep track of learning when I can't see their work as their doing it OR stop their parents from helping them/giving them answers). All that and I'm terrified of what it will look like when I get my first classroom. Will we still be online? If we're in-person will I be ready after I've had most of my experience online? The list goes on... I guess I just have to take one day at a time and trust that everything will be alright!

[@lisam.3310]

Thank you for your videos! Such a help 😊💕

[@lizhostetler3170]

Hi! I am a para in El Dorado County. Our district opened in August with an AM PM hybrid....crazy times! Love your videos!

[@rarahmorris]

My state in Australia is going back to face to face teaching tomorrow. I'm so excited! Distance learning has been rough for everyone and my kids are over it. So glad we can go back to some kind of normal.

[@ReadingwithMrsInlow]

I am very glad we went back to full school. The kids do better with the masks than we do. Love seeing the kids each day. My grandson says "hi Mammy" every time he goes by my door and then his little friends say hi miss mammy. It makes my day.

[@Alexaaaax0]

In definitely going to make a video doing this tag. You’re amazing 💗

[@alidathebooks806]

I'm going to school to be a teacher. I love your videos! I am only about a year away from having my bachelors in teaching. I completly agree on teaching to the test, I hope that it stops and Education is more centered towards the students and not on the test.

[@jenniferfreytag7632]

Love this video. I watch your channel due in part that my mother was an elementary teacher for 38 years. And she was one of the best out there. It was not uncommon for her to have several siblings from the same family or parents to specifically request my mother. Shelly, you remind me of my mother. She absolutely LOVED teaching. And if she was well, she would still be teaching. And my hope for you is that you have a career as long and successful as hers, And with standardized test, my mother HATED them and always mentioned teaching to them. And virtual teaching would have blown her mind. She would have hated it for the same reasons that you mentioned. ❤️

[@mzzzzzzday]

I also hate the presenting. i hate the attention always being on me in the Zoom. It's tiring. It's only a few hours, but wow I never want to do it every morning. I feel like I have to be ON those few hours, like the entire time and it's wearing on me. I don't know what they know, and I don't think it's right to assess them from home. Everyone's home isn't built for assessment. Some kids have kids hollering in the back, some kids have nice quiet desks.

[@nubiacardenas9698]

Yes! I've become a master entertainer and multi-tasker.

[@gaellegoutain1286]

Same sentiment about being the center of the attention and the MC for 45 minutes each period (4 periods back to back in the morning)

[@MARIAFLORES-yo9dz]

I'm full distance teaching in New Jersey and I am a first year- first grade teacher. I took a leave replacement last year as a Kindergarten teacher a week before the pandemic so I can say that I am familiar with distance learning/teaching. However, I will be honest it has been hard. My district has for the most part continue to operate under a "normal" situation, which is good in one way and hard on another, as I feel that the expectations keep growing and there is not enough time. We have been distance learning for six weeks and I spent the last two and half assessing my students-so we haven't been learning much as it is. Although, we have created a community online, I do yearn for normalcy in these crazy times, and for the focus to be on learning and having fun while learning-which is something I think we are missing at this moment. As of now we will be remote learning until the end of the first marking period and will be hybrid afterwards. I hope that the last couple of weeks are filled with fun and engaging learning and I look forward to seeing my kids in person and continue to create a classroom community with all of them. We got this and like many of you have said, " we are in this together!".

[@aaronlanier]

GASPS, YES, I was thinking about ya today! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 I love you! 🥰 HUGS! ❤️Aaron

[@sarahowens3752]

On the topic of not know what kids are actually learning- I 100% agree. I have had big problems with parents giving too much support on assessments, so I’m not seeing what the student knows. I teach second grade, and all assessments are adapted to be online. Asking a second grader to type their ELA paragraph is hard... we have to conquer computer stills before we can work on sentence structure. BUT some of my students will be back in the classroom on Oct. 19, and I will not be teaching virtually anymore. It will be very interesting to see where each of my kiddos really are. It will be a different kind of chaos, but like you said I may cry a little but I’ll figure it out!

[@jeannelle_]

Your greatest challenge is definitely relatable! Right now my CT and I are teaching one way on how to do things, but when it comes to turning things in via Seesaw we have the students either draw, type, audio record, write in a journal take a picture of it when done during activities because we have no idea how they learn best and these options let us kind of know their preferences. ALSO WITH ASSESSMENTS, we haven't done assessments yet, we are currently using their last assessments in math and reading from spring. Our school district is still trying to figure out how to assess students. This distance learning is difficult!!

[@MelissaAllenTeachReadPlay]

I love this video! This has definitely given me some inspiration for my next videos, thanks!

[@virginiajohnston9463]

So we are back face to face spread apart and in masks. I so agree with you that this isn’t how I teach best and that was my struggle and frustration with distance learning... I didn’t feel like they were learning and I didn’t know them as learners 100% agree. I do have to say I enjoyed the mute button and waiting room haha!! But I’m so ready to get back to how it’s supposed to be. I’m extremely concerned about the gap this year will create and being a lower grade teacher who teaches kiddos to read, this keeps me up at night! But it’s a moment in time... a blip in their life journey so hopefully we’ll never forget each other or take for granted the good ole days as they say! Thanks for all your videos and info and ideas they keep me going!

[@ameliaojingwa3157]

omg hi! its me amelia ojingwaa from 3rd grade! glad to see you again! i cant believe im in 5th grade now!

[@samanthaendsley3889]

I'm guilty of not being more involved. I am so thankful for all the teachers out there

[@andrewpettola6097]

My district was in hybrid (just as you described) since August. Starting next week, we go back to 4 days a week in full learning with Wednesdays remaining remote.

[@kristinchyzyk706]

With a young child at home, when do you do your planning for school? And when do you workout? I guess what’s your daily schedule beyond school hours?

[@marysmemoriesinmotion8537]

Your video quality is wonderful

[@slbyrd100]

I am a Special Ed Paraeducator for my school district. I am in a multi- handicap room. Distance learning is complicated more with the kids we serve. I agree that standardized test are not good. It should be teachers meeting the educational need for each child.

[@ginam1631]

I am probably an outlier but we are doing 100% virtual because are numbers remain high and are rising. I'm honestly so thankful to have a safe option. We're both teachers with a new kindergartener & 10m twins and without her being able to be with her grandparents for online school, which won't be safe once we go back hybrid, we'd be in a really hard place with childcare. I definitely miss my kids and my classroom, but I'm okay with waiting until I know its safe.

[@sofiasanchez3593]

I teach Science to primary kids, and in my country, we have done distance learning during the whole School year. I still cannot believe how we (teachers and students) survived”

[@bobp1016]

I think most teachers feel like you when it comes to standardized testing. I also feel they need to reduce the state standards that have to be taught each year. Students need time to master a lesson and learn concepts. With so many standards, teachers don’t have the time to allow students to master each concept.

[@kcuyar]

I teach second grade in AZ. Currently my school still sits in a red zone which means virtual learning. I'm looking forward to the day we get to go full hybrid schedule. When we do get there, I am planning on teaching the kids that I have in my room first and get them going into individual stations with my classroom aide roaming in case anyone needs help, so I can teach the kids at home for the day over the computer.

[@FRES7126]

I’m just finishing student teaching and accepted a 4th grade short term position in Northern California.

[@lluviag1119]

I’m kinda glad we’re virtual cuz admin went to work in person and someone got sick sooo with over 6,000 kids in school it’s safe to say were not going back anytime soon !

[@rachyweber8335]

As a 25+ year 3rd grade teacher, I hate ZOOM SCHOOL! But I'm too scared to go back into the classroom. Even with my kiddos behind plexiglas and in masks. I honestly feel the children need a classroom to inspire and motivate them. I'm on less hours, but exhausted when I complete the ZOOM SCHOOL day.

[@lluviag1119]

Rachy Weber I hate zoom as well. I teach high school and I’ve had kids take over my screen and draw a penis and write f*** you and it’s frustrating. But we’d be crammed in a room with 40 kids :/

[@ItsKatKool]

I am completely in person (I live in Canada). One of my biggest struggles is helping the students that are not performing well. Normally I would pull them aside and do one on one. But now with our restrictions, the students must sit in their desks and cannot really leave them. If I were to pull them aside it would have to be 6 ft apart so kind of hard. I have no idea what to do now when a student isnt doing their work or I need to pull them aside. Ahh!

[@4thaluvofeverything]

Thank you for this video! My board in Ontario 🇨🇦 is going hybrid but not a group situation that rotates; teachers will have to teach remote students and in class students at the same time after 6 weeks of being in class ... this also means students will be shuffled around from the classes they were previously in .... it’s All very confusing and I feel for all teaching staff, administrators, parents and students ..... pray for us 😩

[@HeyTeacherhood]

Agreed on your views about standardized testing!

[@daanbester4961]

Hii i love your classroom setups and u inspire me everyday...and u have learn me alot about becoming a teacher

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

I definitely want to do this tag :). What a fun idea !!

[@christinelee2229]

Please do...I've missed you!

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

Christine Lee aww , thank you. I had a flood the other day so I’ve been crazy busy but this makes me super happy to hear !

[@aboorortravels]

Highest respect to all teachers new subscriber

[@sj53097]

student teacher in socal and oh.my.god. it's been real rough. I feel like this isn't even school for them like how are they learning anything? I can see the frustration on their little faces and all I want to do is tell them that it'll be okay. I've heard my country is hoping to go back in January and man I hope so, they are phasing in sped students at the end of the month.

[@kacyphelps]

What does deep cleaning do on Wednesday’s if the A group comes Monand B comes Tues? We have to do A group Mon/Tues and B group comes Thurs/Fridays so that we can keep the germs separate. I’m kinder in WA but I don’t know how the hell Im going to keep them sitting most of the day and keep sane! Haha

[@kacyphelps]

And I HATE ONLINE TEACHING WITH KINDER! It sucks so bad.

[@kacyphelps]

I also love letting the kids play together and learn together and make it fun for them. But there is NO doing this when they HAVE to be 6 ft apart and all facing the same direction. They can share 0 materials. 😭😭😭

[@Kat-es7wh]

I feel all of these things so much! All of my favorite aspects of teaching just aren’t possible virtually. :(

[@ministeranthonymoore5150]

Good video this was amazing

[@lisam.3310]

I explain my job to people like this now: someone threw a dung pile at me and said make a cake that everyone likes! 😷😱 I'm a second grade teacher who started as remote and am now hybrid. It's overwhelming! God help us all 🙏🏻❤️✝️

[@mearlita1653]

I teach 2nd grade in Texas and Tuesday was their first day in school, for the the ones that chose in person. Currently I am the only English 2nd grade teacher, so I have 27 students. 9 in person and 18 virtual. The inconsistency of virtual students drives me insane. I post the schedule daily, I post the assignments list daily......you’re at home and you can’t turn in one single assignment???? What are you doing?? I was extremely overwhelmed Tuesday just trying to do both in person and virtual. It’s too much. It’s a lot. I feel like Im also doing both 2nd grade and kindergarten. These kids have a huge learning gap. Trying to modify their assignments, etc. wheeewwwwww I’m exhausted!

[@mrs.m6305]

Hello, we live in Sacramento county aswell what school do you teach at. You should do a meet and greet after covid-19 love to meet you.

[@victoriaLL345]

Yes. Your challenges are my challenges. Too many glitches w using Breakouts for small groups.

[@primroseeverhart4848]

Great video! All teachers ROCK! I love how you said, " Bring it!.." in 544-547 minutes. You Got This!!! I remember maybe a year or so ago you were getting your Master's degree I think. Are you still getting you Master's degree? And how do you balance being a teacher and a mom? Do you grade and plan lessons at school or at home? Have a wonderful day. God Bless!

[@EarlyEDventures]

I am done with my masters! I grade and plan at school. I also make sure I leave school at a decent time and when I leave school I am no longer a teacher....I am a mom. That's how I balance! I had to learn to let go of certain things.

[@dralbertpakin8895]

I am doing both in person and virtual it's very hard and not easy to do.

[@lindsaygriffin1888]

I teach in Ontario Canada. We are fully in class but have 1 million protocols. No group work, no sharing of resources or materials, no singing, they must look int the same direction, they cannot sit on a carpet, they cannot move around, no field trips, no assemblies and many more.

[@Player_D]

In other words, no classroom community; kids are being held hostage in closed environments, and you are the "warden." 😟

[@katieburgess6839]

@@Player_D I thought it would be like that. I"m teaching in Ontario, too. I'm happy to say that the kids are doing really well with it. They appreciate being together even with the restrictions, and they can still talk and share ideas and we can still have fun in class even if we aren't doing group work and hands-on activities. I haven't heard any of my 4th or 6th grade kids complain much about the restrictions or the old-school style of learning we are doing. They are showing a lot of resilience.

[@aliciagrist51]

I’m being surplussed to virtual in 2 weeks. I won’t know what grade until a few days before. I am teaching language, math, science, social studies, health, music, visual arts and drama. 300 minutes of instruction daily with 225 of those minutes synchronous. I also still have to do student supervision at breaks for the in person students who are attending and write the report cards for the students I am losing. Send help. 😭

[@dorothyg7483]

I agree with you about standardized tests. Sometimes I wonder what testing has actually accomplished. In the 80s and 90s we were told, “American students are behind the rest of the world in their test scores.” Fast forward to the present day...has all of the testing helped or is our country still behind? I haven’t heard any current NATIONAL stats on this in years. If anyone has them, please share. If we are still behind, why are we so focused on testing? Shouldn’t we be exploring new avenues and extra time to educate instead of being forced to “teach to a test”? Just wondering.

[@chloe_3787]

You know, I’m a senior in high school and I have never once met a teacher who is a proponent for standardized testing. Not one. I’ve had close to 40 general-ed teachers in my life and none of them like state (or national: SAT, ACT, AP, etc.) testing.

[@meghanchoate2398]

Pop off with the camera quality!!

[@caileyhowser1340]

Crazy good!

[@k.miller5733]

How do you handle assessing students when you can see parents actually doing the work instead of the child? 🤔

[@meghanwood246]

Hey! So I have been doing hybrid teaching for about a week. Here are some suggestions if you are switching from virtual to hybrid. 1. Prepare yourself that it is going to be WAY more difficult than virtual. I feel like I underestimated hybrid because I had finally figured out how to do virtual well. It hit me hard when the day was so much more stressful than I anticipated. 2. Do a practice teaching in person/zoom with other teachers before class to figure out your setup. I was having many technical issues during class and with virtual students yelling they couldn't see, while I had a classroom full of students. My main problems were the students couldn't see what I was writing on the board and the extension cord wasn't long enough to move the computer closer. Then when I did move the computer close enough to see, it was blocking the students who were there in person. Also my SmartBoard was too bright for the Zoom kids to see. So they couldn't see any video clips or Smartboard games no matter how dark I made it or made the room dark. I had to set up my laptop so I could do ShareScreen every time I need to show something on the SmartBoard. It took a lot of trial and error and I wish I had been able to resolve these problems before class. Instead I was furiously trying to make it work when I was alone... with a classroom of Kindergarteners... who couldn't go near each other.

[@monamarty2603]

Any teachers here can give me advice on what things to put in place to feel safer? I have bad anxiety and depression and if i go back i want to know what i can do to put me at ease! Thank you!