Chickens Come Home to Roost
I was raised in a rural area, and the phrase "The chickens come home to roost" was used often. I didn't understand what that meant for a long time. Idioms are tough - you have to have the background knowledge to understand the intent in the saying (but there's a whole other blog post, right?).
Our world is upside down, topsy-turvy, chaotic, and unpredictable. And I say this with all my heart behind it - some of our students live that way all the time. This is just one more thing, one more obstacle, one more issue, that's been placed in their path. But that's a different topic, and not today's.
The chickens come home to roost - the relationships I have built with my students are now showing. The time and energy I've invested in these kids is showing. I'm the first to say that while I try to build a strong working relationship with each of my students, I don't. Some of us don't mesh. We're respectful to each other, but I'm not the teacher they "need" at school - they have someone else to go to when they need something. But for others - I am that person. And if I'm not that person, I'm at least someone they've counted on and felt safe with.
As my district moved into virtual learning this week (we were on spring break when our state announced a shift in delivery methods and then we took a week to plan), I was concerned about my lack of understanding some of the platforms I'd need to use now. I'd never used Screencastify, and I was barely familiar with Flipgrid. I'd never even heard of Zoom. My learning curve was steep, and for this old dog, sometimes new tricks are difficult (I'm full of idioms today, yeah?). But this was my new normal, and I needed to embrace it. So I learned.
I spent a couple days, as the district requested, reaching out to my students. I asked questions much like our class would start. What's your least favorite pop? A couple days later, it got a different mood: What obstacles do you think you'll face during virtual/distance learning? I was able to talk to my students about my Master's program, which I did online. I learned that I had to set specific times to work. For me, that meant getting up early on Saturdays when the house was quiet. I learned I had to create a specific space so my brain new this was "work" time. I told them my obstacles - learning new platforms, self-discipline on time. The answers I got were invaluable. I was able to provide some advice. I even reached out to our counselors on a couple issues regarding shared devices.
Yesterday's, though, was the one where I learned. How's virtual learning going for you? I asked them. The answers I got back . . . simply blew me away. The student who told me that the stay-at-home order is making him feel trapped and like he can't breathe. The student who is struggling at math. The student who is concerned because her Internet is laggy and she can't participate in Zoom meetings. I responded to each one. I sent some counselor referrals; I contacted people doing distribution of Chromebooks; I learned about where our town's hot spots are if a student can get there to use that Internet.
But most of all, I learned about them. They shared concerns with me because we'd already established a solid relationship. These weren't questions from a teacher because admin asked the staff to check on the students. These kids are already used to me asking these kinds of questions because it's what I've been doing all along with them - from Day 1. You ok? You need anything? How can I help?
My favorite was the student who responded: "I'm excited about virtual learning. I'm figuring out new ways to do things. I'm learning about new ways to communicate with others. I'm learning what my strengths are when it comes to working at home." I was blown away. I replied back telling him I loved his positive attitude and outlook. His response then humbled me. "I learned a lot of that from you. It's how you're looking at this, too, or so you're telling us."
The chickens come home to roost. The relationships I've worked so hard to establish all year are paying dividends because my kids know it's still safe to let me know their concerns and worries. They know it's ok to tell me what they aren't getting in another class but are afraid to reach out to that teacher (so I contacted the department head and just mentioned what several students had said). They tell me they miss them as much as I say I miss them.
#ReachBeforeTeach. It's simple. This week, it was about reaching them. Making sure they know I'm still here; I'm still me. That isn't going to change. When I had to do the Flipgrid four times because I kept messing up, the fourth started with me laughing and telling them what had happened (I didn't mention the wine bottle I had to move that caused me to restart once . . . ). That's just me - sharing who I am and the things that happen.
As we all navigate this time of uncertainty, I wish you the best. I also wish you empathy and understanding. I wish you a judicious sense of what your kids need as opposed to all you still think needs to be taught. Most of all, I wish you peace.
Our world is upside down, topsy-turvy, chaotic, and unpredictable. And I say this with all my heart behind it - some of our students live that way all the time. This is just one more thing, one more obstacle, one more issue, that's been placed in their path. But that's a different topic, and not today's.
The chickens come home to roost - the relationships I have built with my students are now showing. The time and energy I've invested in these kids is showing. I'm the first to say that while I try to build a strong working relationship with each of my students, I don't. Some of us don't mesh. We're respectful to each other, but I'm not the teacher they "need" at school - they have someone else to go to when they need something. But for others - I am that person. And if I'm not that person, I'm at least someone they've counted on and felt safe with.
As my district moved into virtual learning this week (we were on spring break when our state announced a shift in delivery methods and then we took a week to plan), I was concerned about my lack of understanding some of the platforms I'd need to use now. I'd never used Screencastify, and I was barely familiar with Flipgrid. I'd never even heard of Zoom. My learning curve was steep, and for this old dog, sometimes new tricks are difficult (I'm full of idioms today, yeah?). But this was my new normal, and I needed to embrace it. So I learned.
I spent a couple days, as the district requested, reaching out to my students. I asked questions much like our class would start. What's your least favorite pop? A couple days later, it got a different mood: What obstacles do you think you'll face during virtual/distance learning? I was able to talk to my students about my Master's program, which I did online. I learned that I had to set specific times to work. For me, that meant getting up early on Saturdays when the house was quiet. I learned I had to create a specific space so my brain new this was "work" time. I told them my obstacles - learning new platforms, self-discipline on time. The answers I got were invaluable. I was able to provide some advice. I even reached out to our counselors on a couple issues regarding shared devices.
Yesterday's, though, was the one where I learned. How's virtual learning going for you? I asked them. The answers I got back . . . simply blew me away. The student who told me that the stay-at-home order is making him feel trapped and like he can't breathe. The student who is struggling at math. The student who is concerned because her Internet is laggy and she can't participate in Zoom meetings. I responded to each one. I sent some counselor referrals; I contacted people doing distribution of Chromebooks; I learned about where our town's hot spots are if a student can get there to use that Internet.
But most of all, I learned about them. They shared concerns with me because we'd already established a solid relationship. These weren't questions from a teacher because admin asked the staff to check on the students. These kids are already used to me asking these kinds of questions because it's what I've been doing all along with them - from Day 1. You ok? You need anything? How can I help?
My favorite was the student who responded: "I'm excited about virtual learning. I'm figuring out new ways to do things. I'm learning about new ways to communicate with others. I'm learning what my strengths are when it comes to working at home." I was blown away. I replied back telling him I loved his positive attitude and outlook. His response then humbled me. "I learned a lot of that from you. It's how you're looking at this, too, or so you're telling us."
The chickens come home to roost. The relationships I've worked so hard to establish all year are paying dividends because my kids know it's still safe to let me know their concerns and worries. They know it's ok to tell me what they aren't getting in another class but are afraid to reach out to that teacher (so I contacted the department head and just mentioned what several students had said). They tell me they miss them as much as I say I miss them.
#ReachBeforeTeach. It's simple. This week, it was about reaching them. Making sure they know I'm still here; I'm still me. That isn't going to change. When I had to do the Flipgrid four times because I kept messing up, the fourth started with me laughing and telling them what had happened (I didn't mention the wine bottle I had to move that caused me to restart once . . . ). That's just me - sharing who I am and the things that happen.
As we all navigate this time of uncertainty, I wish you the best. I also wish you empathy and understanding. I wish you a judicious sense of what your kids need as opposed to all you still think needs to be taught. Most of all, I wish you peace.
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