Who would have thought that we would have started our year this way? Moving into such new and unfamiliar territory. It is worrying times for teachers in Australia as we are still teaching in a dual role. That role is still ever changing. I am more than happy to help the community in times of need, but I would like to think that my safety is also of concern. Right now, it is hard to keep a classroom of students at a safe distance. It is also extremely challenging doing so without any protective gear. Another new challenge presenting is finding a balanced remote learning program. So many challenges in such a short time frame! However I have full faith that if any group will rise to the occasion and meet these challenges, it will be teachers.
Teachers certainly have a unique way of adapting to setbacks and problem solving on the go. We just need the community to be patient and work with us. So I am beginning to think of how I can address some of these issues and face what is coming. I started by looking at things that I can control and manage. This helped shift my mindset and I hope that you can make a coffee, sit back and do the same.
Every person has a story in this situation. What strikes me is the magnitude of people who lives have been changed because of this. Life as we know it, has shifted for a while and people have been impacted on so many levels. Some more than others. Teachers will have a vital role to play as this situation develops. Whoever you are and wherever you are, stay safe and I hope that you find some peace in your day. #education #teachers #twocreativeteachers
Teachers certainly have a unique way of adapting to setbacks and problem solving on the go. We just need the community to be patient and work with us. So I am beginning to think of how I can address some of these issues and face what is coming. I started by looking at things that I can control and manage. This helped shift my mindset and I hope that you can make a coffee, sit back and do the same.
- Be grateful that I have a job: it broke my heart driving to work some days watching hoards of people desperate for support. The lines at local support agencies were immense and it reminded me of how much worse my situation could be. Today, I am thankful that I have a job.
- Remind yourself of what you have, not what you don’t: when this first happened, I must admit, I felt a little panic. The unknown, the uncertainty, the fear, my health and safety risk. I have a respiratory condition that makes me higher risk. Like so many others, my first thought was a little bit of fear. The what if’s certainly had a field day! But when things calmed, reason and logic kicked in again. I worked hard to remind myself every day what I do have. I do have a roof over my head, I do have access to help and medicine and I am not in this alone.
- Give yourself time to adjust: it takes a while to adjust to any change. This is no different. It will take a little while to adjust but I feel like I can manage it if I just allow myself time to breathe and adjust to a new way of doing things.
- Be kind to yourself: it is a stressful time for all. You will make mistakes and some of them may be bad mistakes. Keep asking what you would say to another person in your situation. You would reassure them and be kind to them. Treat yourself the same way.
- Allow yourself time to switch off: I have put all devices away, turned the TV off and gone back to reading and writing to unwind. I have also been trying to walk outdoors as much as possible while I can. Try to find a time where you are just focussed on something else.
- Don’t worry about what other people say: at first, some of the comments made on social media got under my skin. Teachers were made to seem ungrateful or complainers for wanting support with protecting themselves. It really annoyed me some of the ill informed comments made and I found myself dwelling on it. Eventually, I just become so tired of it, I stopped reading and it was the best thing that I did,
- Stop comparing your role or school to others: Every country, every situation and everyone’s circumstances are different. At first I fell into the trap of looking at what other countries do but as time went on, I realised that we are all unique. Before we judge, keep in mind that every school situation is unique and there is no one size fits all solution
- You will not please everyone: I am sure that as remote learning continues there will be people screaming it’s too much, not enough, too hard or too easy. One thing I do know for certain is that no one has ever faced this situation before. Schools have not had a challenge like this. Children, like adults, need time to process, adjust and have a break. My personal belief is that connection will be the most important thing for our kids. All students are in the same boat where their schooling is effected. It may be a great time for some life skill development!
Every person has a story in this situation. What strikes me is the magnitude of people who lives have been changed because of this. Life as we know it, has shifted for a while and people have been impacted on so many levels. Some more than others. Teachers will have a vital role to play as this situation develops. Whoever you are and wherever you are, stay safe and I hope that you find some peace in your day. #education #teachers #twocreativeteachers
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