September
The teacher becomes the student...
We’ve been talking about how families are navigating the transition to school at home, but not so much about the people on the other side of the screen…the teachers. So I reached out to one of my favorite teachers to ask him how he's making this new normal work for his students. Dr. Yardan Shabazz, a veteran English teacher, offered 3 tips for teachers embarking upon the uncharted adventure that this week is:
Tip #1: Use the World Wide Web as your resource: There are so many free resources out there. Never pay if you don’t have to. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
Tip #2: Stick to your classroom formula: Just because our classes are online, that doesn't mean you lose the opportunity to use differentiated learning. Remember that your students don’t just want to hear a lecture in or out of the classroom.
Tip #3: Students will be understanding if the entire system shuts down on everybody: Relax. This is new for all of us. You’re never going to know all the things. The student will respond the same way that you do. What are they observing?
If you missed my Psych Alive blogspot that discusses how caretakers can get through the [home] school year and keep their sanity, click here to read it. If you know a teacher who may need a little inspiration, please pass this along. Remember the challenges you’ve overcome. Always tap into your strengths, and speak to yourself with the same compassion you would to your students.
Dig Deeper
While sitting at the beach, I watched a grandfather engaging with his grandson who must’ve been about 2 years old. The little boy walked up to his grandad with two shovels and motioned for him to help him start digging. Not sure of what they were creating, I was interested in the final product. As time went on, more grandsons came to assist in the effort. I wasn’t able to stay long enough to see what they achieved, but with each additional child who stopped to work, I witnessed how much easier it was for them to achieve their goal.
This reminded me of our fight to dismantle the systems and structures we’re battling right now. We may not clearly see the ‘end’ result in sight, but each one of us possesses a unique gift and skill that is needed to effect the change we’re so desperately in need of. So:
Even if you can’t measure the ‘success’ of your work, just know that each seed planted has a tremendous potential to flourish.
Don’t worry about not knowing what to do...just be prepared to act when the time comes...even if you might feel apprehensive about ‘getting it wrong’.
Remember that no man is an island, you don’t have to do this alone, and be purposeful about connecting with others for objectivity, support, feedback, and encouragement.
What we’re a part of now might not even be realized in our lifetime. But what we do know is that every extra person, committed to doing their part and digging deeper will get us closer to our collective goal. Dig. Dig Deeper. Rest. Reset. Repeat.
Put on Your Mask First
If you’ve ever flown, you know the directive to put your mask on first is part of the inflight passenger announcement that we receive before takeoff. And now we find ourselves in the midst of a global and racial pandemic, needing to follow this directive, on ground, literally and figuratively. We have become quite familiar with putting on our [literal] masks each day. But what does ‘putting on your [figurative] mask look like for you? For some it means self-care, self-compassion, and boundary-setting. For others it means escaping to the bathroom to hide from your kids for a few minutes, reading a good book on the beach, having a date night, or enjoying brunch with friends. The quickest way to burn out is not knowing the answer to this question.
Psychiatrists Holmes and Rahe (1967) published a scale to measure the relationship between stress and illness. They defined stress as a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that “demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.” When we’re stressed, we feel out of control. It’s important to understand that long term, additional ‘stressors’ will only create a snowball effect if we’re not acknowledging their impact, and coping by fitting ourselves with our [figurative] masks first. To learn more about the impact that stressful life events could have on your health, click here to take the short assessment.
This month:
National Suicide Awareness - Check on your friends. If you or someone you know needs emergency assistance, contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Find more help at www.nami.org/Find-Support.
Line Dance Week [14th - 19th] - Created from African American dance traditions, many other groups have created their own adaptations. Even if outside isn’t quite open, you can always inject a little bit of joy into your week by loading YouTube and learning / and or reminiscing in the comfort of your space!
EARLY VOTING - State Laws Governing Early Voting are here.
