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I’m sending some #gratitude your way. Yes, I’m also an educator who is figuring out everything in the age of Distance Learning. I hope my administrators know I am thankful for them… maybe I should send a note. Either way, let me express some sincere thanks for you. I say "us" because we are all educators. But really, I mean you. You PLC members, you colleagues, you folks I’ve never met.
Thank you for sharing.
Your Teachers-Pay-Teachers store is a Godsend. The free resource you’re willing to email to 500 hungry educators is exactly what we need. The un-spell checked, hastily put together choice boards, the letter to parents that you spent three hours (maybe four!) sweating over, the web scavenger hunt for kindergarteners – they are all wonderful. I take comfort in knowing my resources look like your resources, so I must be doing something successfully. And if they don’t, you have shared something that I can borrow for the ultimate success of my students.
Thank you for taking care.
Our kids and families know we care. Our families definitely know we care (or we wouldn’t be talking about this non-stop). Your ability to log off and check in with yourself whenever you’re able is a beautiful trait. It is beautiful, even if your only self check-in time is to eat and sleep. Good job! The fact that you want to be involved with everything new while teaching what you know is perfect for your kids shows passion and nurturing. Whatever “care” means to you, thank you for attending to it.
Thank you for your words.
Your understanding statements of compassion. The way you ask a question and then respond to anyone who replies. Your triple-fact-checked instructions that you have repeated at least three different ways in that email (you know the one!). Thank you for taking the time to use your words in a way that helps, and being kind when we ask that question one more time.
Thank you for sharing your day.
I mean that literally and figuratively. In isolation, it's easy for those of us who are highly sensitive (as musicians and artists tend to be) to withdraw without the stimuli of a busy, loud day. When you post your workout, the awesome craft you did, the cleaning of your home office, and AcapellaApp video that took you hours – I get a boost of energy to keep going. When you spend part of your day on Twitter chats and posting to your Instagram, we share a part of you. Your motivation motivates me.
Thank you for existing.
By existing, you show that anything is possible. You keep on keepin’ on in the brick and mortar classroom daily and roll with the punches when suddenly you’re not able to teach from there. You show up, reach out, and do your best. That is enough. When you show up for our kids, you are enough.
I've been reading a lot of affirmation and inspirational books this school year to keep up with my
personal wellbeing. It's easy to slack lately, as the stress of day-to-day life has changed drastically due to social isolation. Madisyn Taylor's "Daily Om" (2008) has a section on isolation that I particularly identify with:
The longer our isolation lasts, the harder it is to reach out to people. In order to return to a healthy, balance state of being, however, reaching out is exactly what we need to do. Take your time and be gentle with yourself.
Stay well, stay connected, and reach out. For our sake, for our students' sake, for our community's sake.
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