So it is Friday afternoon after one full week (and a half) of online teaching and I am whacked. Every part of me aches. My brain is swollen, my eyes are blurry and my head is thrumming. The sheer weight of extended concentration periods (at a screen) has been sapping. I have continued to work late hours, giving feedback and preparing resources, as per normal school. However my backside knows that this at home gig is characterised by much longer blocks of extended, intense focus.
I am worried about my absent Level 1 students and frustrated with my Year 10 students who are simply taking an extended holiday by not engaging with anything remotely school related. Not really future student leadership material there.
But what I really want to end my week thinking about are the gorgeous young people who have connected with me in so many different ways. So polite, funny, endearing, honest, hopeful and uplifting. Many of them are not strong English students but they are plugging away at tasks, adding a little more to their assignments. I don't underestimate the resolve it takes them to be organised and committed to getting some more school work done. No friend sitting beside them to quickly check in with; no teacher roaming to help them stay on task; no external bell structure to guide them from break time to thinking time. These young people are doing brilliantly.
And the manners! Pleases and thank yous and apologies. These definitely go a long way in a busy email inbox.
I am worried about my absent Level 1 students and frustrated with my Year 10 students who are simply taking an extended holiday by not engaging with anything remotely school related. Not really future student leadership material there.
But what I really want to end my week thinking about are the gorgeous young people who have connected with me in so many different ways. So polite, funny, endearing, honest, hopeful and uplifting. Many of them are not strong English students but they are plugging away at tasks, adding a little more to their assignments. I don't underestimate the resolve it takes them to be organised and committed to getting some more school work done. No friend sitting beside them to quickly check in with; no teacher roaming to help them stay on task; no external bell structure to guide them from break time to thinking time. These young people are doing brilliantly.
And the manners! Pleases and thank yous and apologies. These definitely go a long way in a busy email inbox.