This school year has really been like no other! I have had so many highs and lows starting off in a virtual setting. I've gone from overwhelming pressure to everything that is working! I've made mistakes and found valuable resources. There are times that I have had to show more humility and grace towards my students, and allow myself to have more humility and grace for my own mix-ups.
It's embarrassing to admit,
1. I sent the Zoom Link for my 5th Period to my 4th Period, and was getting upset my AP-level students weren't showing up! Luckily a student e-mailed me and I saw the notification on my phone, and popped in the Zoom with them!
2. I sent an assignment to my 1st-period class twice! Because I auto-assigned it to both my 8th Period & 1st, the same course on another day!
3. I used the headings from my AP CS-A course for my AP CSP Assignments.
4. In my College Calculus class I have forgotten multiple times to add a Submission option for my Canvas Assignments!
5. I cannot remember names like I used to and I am more forgetful in the online conversations that I have had with students!
6. I cannot motivative my best students to even show up for the fun events! Students are not showing up to online tournaments and events that I have helped set-up. I was even ghosted by a student from the club, he has not messaged or logged into the club page in weeks.
I do not understand this year, I have had frustration after frustration, been turned down on several opportunities and grants. Through it all, I am making sure I build brand new virtual courseware for students and when we have successes, I am trying to make sure I celebrate them!
From the challenges, I have also had successes:
1. Building my Exploration of Game Design Course, of course, is the top success of this new school year.
2. Becoming a NASEF Fellow, and having my draft for an Esports Book Chapter accepted! (I am going to become a published author!)
3. Building up our Cybercat Video Game and Esports Club, one student at a time!
4. Having students featured on the NASEF Rube Goldberg Minecraft Challenge.
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| Students in my Pre-Calculus Section Completed the Khan Academy Learner Storm. 12 Trophies were collected in 10 Weeks! |
This school year is far from perfect, and it’s way more stressful than I have ever been in my life. Trying to balance this virtual work life with a home life has been difficult. I have had to set boundaries and not answer emails or Remind Messages or texts from parents late at night. I also realize that this is nothing I was ever trained to work in, nor thought would be possible in my lifetime. But a wise Tik Tok Teacher explained that we cannot beat ourselves up because at this moment and during this stressful time, we may feel ineffectual and feel like terrible teachers. But we have yet to see the full data, or any of the anecdotal evidence this is 100% true. Watch the TikTok Here!
It has been a wild, sine function wave of a ride, but I am doing exactly what I should be doing. We are challenged daily, learning from those embarrassing moments, and successes are happening that should still be celebrated!
