Teaching in person, teaching virtually, teaching a hybrid of the options, every teacher is bending over backwards during this pandemic to make things work. Students are distracted and disengaged. Admin are pressuring teachers and constantly changing the plan. Why? Because honestly there is no plan. Vaccines are around the corner but just out of reach as teachers get sick. Teachers aren't just tired, they are exhausted.
I haven't been teaching very long, if I'm honest. If you don't include my student teaching, and count just my career, I have been teaching longer in a pandemic than out. I haven't taught in a classroom like I always dreamed of for the majority of my career. I feel isolated. I miss seeing my students' faces. I miss laughing with my coworkers. And I am so fucking tired of staring at a computer screen all day.
It started in March, as we all know. I was told not to come in the next day, we were starting our two week spring break early. I was excited. I went to the craft store and bought some things to craft in my two week quarantine that we would all do together. I never saw my students in person again.
We scrambled to provide education to our students. We were a low income school. Quite a few of our students were without internet or computers or anything else. At the end of the day, I ended up calling my students once a week to see if they were reading and doing some activities we provided as a school.
Most of my students just got an extended spring break that went all the way to summer break. My students had no interest in doing the random busy work we were required to create. They all knew it wasn't actually helpful. We all did. The learning had stopped.
Summer came. Summer went. I did nothing that I wanted to do. Quarantined and bored, I hoped things would improve so school looked more normal. I was told we'd be in person. I was excited to see my students. But the numbers never got any better. My school didn't open its door.
This time though, we were more prepared. Hot-spots for our students without internet and we became 1:1 student and laptops. Which means we could actually teach. Teaching virtually ended up being way harder than I thought. I noticed the disengagement of my students. My students were tired too. This was hard on them too. They complained of eyestrain. They missed their friends. There weren't any clubs or sports. Just staring at a screen and doing work.
Five months pass. We are switching to hybrid. In the morning, a couple students sit at their desks in my classroom while I still teach them through a computer screen since half of my students are still online anyway. My students stopped showing up in person. They, rightfully so, didn't see the point of coming in if I was still teaching them through a computer. I don't know what my students look like. They log in and walk away. They stop showing up all together. They don't want to do this anymore. I don't either.
I think the worst part about this is that there is no end in sight. This is my reality until May at least. But probably longer, based off what I have been hearing. This indefinite suffering makes everything feel harder and even more stressful. Who knows what August would look like? Absolutely not me. All I know is that I am exhausted. All I know is that I wish I could get back to my life in the classroom like I have wanted for so long.
The Exhausted Teacher deals with a lot. We are asked to bend backwards and forwards and everything in between. We have at least 3 different lesson plans for any given day, because it's always so unpredictable. We are asked to do this for an indefinite about a time, with empty promises of help or relief.
If you are a student, send an email to your teacher that you appreciate what they're doing. If you are a teacher, know that we are all with you and that we will make it through this, even if this goes on longer that we though. Hang in there.
I am exhausted. My coworkers are exhausted. Teachers in my Facebook groups are exhausted. Teachers around the world are just exhausted. The 2020-2021 school year will be know as the year of The Exhausted Teacher.
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By Micah Raskin5 days ago in Education
The Colors of Learning
The sun was warm that morning, and the school walls glowed with bright colors, reflecting the laughter and chatter of children and parents on the narrow village paths. But in the midst of all this noise, Maryam’s heart carried a calm determination, a spark for knowledge that seemed to shine brighter than the sun. She was young, but her spirit was fearless. Every morning, she walked to school with a single thought in mind: one day, she would bring the light of education not just to herself, but to every child in her village. Maryam’s journey to school was long. The paths were lined with flowers and the occasional fluttering bird, yet she paid little attention to them; her focus was unwavering. As she entered the school gates, her face lit up with a smile. Mr. Anwar, her class teacher, greeted each student warmly, patiently guiding them through lessons, always encouraging curiosity. Maryam was known among her peers for her sharp mind and her ability to understand solutions where others struggled. But Maryam’s dream extended far beyond her own learning. She wished to create opportunities for other children in her village, to fill their lives with the colors of knowledge. The village, however, was not an easy place for education. The school library was sparse, there were no computers, and modern teaching resources were practically nonexistent. Parents were often busy with daily work and could not fully grasp how education could brighten their children’s future. Undeterred, Maryam began to devise a plan. She decided to start a small reading club at her school. Every morning, she gathered her classmates in the little library and shared stories from the few books available, encouraging discussions and curiosity. It was not an easy task. Books were limited, electricity was unreliable, and many children had chores that kept them busy at home. But Maryam’s determination never wavered. She patiently organized reading sessions, helped students with lessons, and inspired them to dream beyond their immediate surroundings. One day, Maryam took her plan a step further. She requested a meeting with the local school board. She explained the challenges her school faced and asked for support. “If we provide children with the resources they need,” she told them, “their hearts and minds will light up with learning, and their futures will shine brighter than ever.” The board members were impressed by Maryam’s courage and clarity. They agreed to provide books, computers, and other resources to help her vision take shape. The day the library reopened was unforgettable. Children explored colorful books, their eyes wide with excitement. The computers brought a new wave of learning, allowing them to explore technology for the first time. Maryam’s heart swelled with pride and hope. She realized that with courage, dedication, and passion, even the greatest challenges could be overcome. Her reading club soon became a hub of creativity. Maryam helped her classmates with homework, extra lessons, and new skills. She organized storytelling sessions, science projects, and activities that motivated even the shyest students. Slowly, parents began to notice the transformation. They saw their children excited to learn, eager to attend school, and willing to embrace new knowledge. As weeks turned into months, the small library became a beacon of hope. Maryam’s efforts inspired not only her peers but also the entire community. Villagers, once indifferent to education, started valuing it, realizing it was the key to a brighter future. The children learned that education was not just a subject in textbooks but a tool that could empower them, open doors to new opportunities, and allow them to dream bigger than the village boundaries. Maryam herself grew through this journey. She learned leadership, empathy, and the true meaning of perseverance. She discovered that one person’s determination could spark change in an entire community. The joy of seeing other children learn, explore, and succeed became her greatest reward. By the end of the year, the school had transformed. The library was thriving, classes were full of energy, and Maryam’s vision was no longer just a dream—it was a living reality. Her village had begun to embrace education as the path to progress, and Maryam had become a symbol of hope for every child who dared to dream. In the end, Maryam realized that the colors of learning were not just in books or computers—they were in the hearts of those who chose to embrace knowledge, curiosity, and the courage to dream. And she knew that as long as there were children willing to learn, the light of education would never fade from her village.
By Abubakar khan 5 days ago in Education
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