Starting a School Year in the Classroom During a Pandemic
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Who could have ever predicted that we would be starting the 2020-21 school year with a majority of schools operating completely virtually? Who could have anticipated the various new regulations and mandates that educators are required to follow in order to provide a safe environment for our students? Never before have we felt such a seismic shift in education in such a short time. The entire landscape has changed, and we have to rethink everything we do in and out of the classroom. It is overwhelming to say the least.
As I write this article I feel compelled to explain that this is not meant to be a political post, nor is it my intention to add to the wide-spread negativity in regards to education during the time of a pandemic. My intention with this article is to share my professional ideas with fellow educators who are going back to school in-person to teach (while supporting you as you make your voice heard on other platforms).
That being said, educators around the world are asking: How do we even begin to plan for the coming school year? Personally, I find myself feeling lost. My impulses to browse Pinterest for new classroom decor have seemed pointless. My usual summer time spent planning has been replaced with a proverbial head-banging against the wall. Somehow, I feel like I will never reach a level of adequate understanding of what next year is going to look like. It’s possible that I will not feel the same sense of preparedness and confidence that I typically seek as I ramp up to a new school year. But, I can’t focus on that. Yes, I acknowledge that those feelings and worries are there, but I choose not to dwell on them. Why? Because the issues I find that are giving me angst are simply out of my control. So why would I give a lot of attention to something that I can’t fix or change anyway? Instead, I will have to focus on the things I CAN control.
Of course, my focus will continue to be on ensuring my students exhibit high levels of learning in my classroom, just like every year. How will I make this happen in the midst of the shifting sands of COVID precautions and requirements? Here are 3 things I CAN control and I CAN make happen:
My Mindset - This is a critical component because I always have a say about my mindset. It’s such a vital principle that can be applied to pretty much everything in life, which is why I also teach the importance of positive mindset to my students. Having a growth mindset means that challenges are seen as opportunities to grow. This is a challenge, if I ever saw one, and I know this season of teaching will cause me to grow in many ways. It will stretch me and require a lot of creativity and problem solving. But I know I am capable and I can do that. I can do hard things, and so can my students.
My Attitude - This goes hand-in-hand with my mindset as thoughts set the tone for feelings and attitude. I decide how I am going to walk into school every day. Am I going to be negative and find fault in everything I am confronted with? Or am I going to remain positive, and see opportunities instead of obstacles. Will I be joyful with my students and still have fun with them? Or will I stress out over all the little things that I need to worry about now? I decide, and I choose my attitude every day. And my attitude has a HUGE influence on the attitudes of the students in my classroom and their families every day as well.
My Teaching Skills - I have been teaching for 15 years and I have gained a myriad of skills over the years. Each new class provides new opportunities for me to learn and grow, and that will always be happening regardless of a pandemic or not. But I also have confidence in my skills as a teacher. I can control my ability to teach. Even though classrooms will look different and teaching will not be the same, I can be sure that my students will still be learning, just as I always am. To the best of my ability, I will use every skill and strategy in my power to teach and prepare my students for the ever-changing needs of the world around them. I will equip them to face uncertainty and teach them how to be independent, responsible, and exemplary people, as I always strive to do.
Other than these, there is not much more that I can control, and that is OK. Besides, there’s a big difference between being in charge of my classroom and being in control. We’ll never fully be in control of anything, but that doesn’t change the fact that I can take charge of my own thoughts and attitudes, which is the root of all my behaviors and decisions. I can make a conscious choice to keep focused on these 3 areas, and I know you can too. Together, we’ve got this.
