#SOL20 Day 23: Planning this week's lessons for my students has been a bumpy ride!

#SOL20

#SOL20 Day 23: Planning this week's lessons for my students has been a bumpy ride!

3/23/2020

#SOL20 Day 23: Planning this week’s online lessons is a bumpy ride!

I spent all week reading googling articles, searching twitter and facebook, scanning educational apps and reading TWT blogs trying to gather material to post for my student’s learning next week. Beyond the challenging technology aspect of it, I felt totally overwhelmed. There was so much to choose from. The Cincinnati Zoo’s live animal of the day, Mo Williams doodle workshop….People were being so creative and generous in sharing their expertise online.

How can I sort through all this? I wondered. I should be better than this. I’ve been teaching for so long. Why am I so overwhelmed and lost, I scolded myself as I continued to spend hours upon hours on my computer feeling like I’d accomplished nothing!

I had arranged to discuss Monday’s assignments with my three fifth grade colleagues on Sunday at one o’clock. My colleagues are younger and much more technologically savvy than I am.

I decided to attempt to plan the google meet. I read the directions from an old email my principal had sent and gave it a shot. Surprisingly, before I knew it, I had three familiar faces on my chrome book as each one accepted the invitation. (I think they were shocked too at my ability to arrange the gathering!)

We spent over three hours planning and there’s still more to accomplish.
I’ve come to realize that teaching online is harder than teaching in the classroom. But, I’m determined to embrace this challenge and rise to the occasion. This will surely be a bumpy ride!

8 Comments

Erika Victor (Ms Victor Reads)

3/23/2020 06:34:35 am

Sooooo with you! Even though I am pretty techy it is so hard!

Sarah Parker link

3/23/2020 06:46:48 am

I think the fact that you are trying your best is the most important thing!

Terje

3/23/2020 07:28:43 am

Yes. It is easier in the classroom. The lessons we learned last week, our first week: to seek a balance for screen and screen-free learning tasks; decide and let the kids know which tasks they need to share and which ones are ok, if they don't get completed; to remind everyone to schedule breaks and stick to them; and parents needed reminders to give a bit time to adjust to the new routines and create schedules that fit their family. Collegial support is so important. And self-care and self-compassion. I hope that your first week goes better than you envision.

Elisabeth Ellington link

3/23/2020 09:41:04 am

It's challenging, isn't it? Every day brings something new and unexpected! Like you, I'm overwhelmed at the generosity of all that is being shared online right now and grateful to be able to connect my students to some of that content.

Noël link

3/23/2020 10:28:35 am

We are all on this wild ride together. Hang in there!

Brian Rozinsky link

3/23/2020 03:11:19 pm

New tricks means new bumps, especially for old dogs like us. Kudos to you for the effort to keep trying because such resilience, in my experience, helps bounce back from said bumps.

Darlene Beckert

3/23/2020 03:46:04 pm

I feel you. It is a lot harder to plan for online learning. It is overwhelming and exhausting. My team has split the work each taking a different subject. I am hoping it will get easier.

Barbara Clements link

3/24/2020 09:25:30 am

I can imagine how good it felt to successfully implement your google meet up.
I retired a few years ago. I want you all to know how in awe I am of you as you wade into the uncharted waters of teaching online.

Thoughts and Reflections