So … it’s my first week of returning to school … except I don’t exactly have a school. Long story made short, my district is scrambling and multiple teachers are being moved or expected to teach at more than one school. My principal said he’s planning on my return, but because of the chaos of distance learning vs hybrid teaching across fifteen schools, there’s no guarantee. So while I wait for assignment this week I enrolled in a Healing Centered Engagement workshop. The idea is to not just help students dealing with trauma (of all kinds) by coping, but to give them tools to heal. I’m learning a lot and feel this will be setting me on a new path to explore as I continue adapting my curriculum for the future.

Meanwhile, I also started designing my new online classroom. When I’m done each image on the screen will link a student to a particular lesson, all art related work. I literally just pulled or cut images from my desktop to incorporate into the ‘room’.

UPDATE: Following the weekend, on Day 6, was officially assigned my school of the last five years. *PHEW* But I’m still waiting on updated hybrid schedule. All I know is that I have to zoom afternoons from the classroom.

UPDATE 2: Day 11 – Our first morning of zoom orientation went awry and several of us found ourselves playing musical classrooms as we searched for a quiet corner of the building in a matter of minutes. Tomorrow is in-person orientation for Cohort A.

UPDATE 3: Day 13 – Today was the first official day of school, working off a semi-hybrid schedule. My head was spinning all day and it still is. I found out Friday I’m splitting my time between classrooms. Then a leak overnight left me reassembling the classroom an hour before the bell. I made it with a minute to spare. I can’t believe I have to go back tomorrow and do (most of) it all again tomorrow.

Sending love, luck, and patience to ALL educators out there trying to make things work. 😓