Summer 2020: “Teacher Off Duty” Only Not Really…

I don’t know about you, but this summer does not feel like a “typical” summer at all. As teachers, we live for this time off. It’s a time to relax, recharge, and get ready for the chaos that will come in September. Usually, you could catch me on my friend’s boat, driving on the beach with my Jeep, or listening to the local bands on a random Tuesday night. That's the amazing thing about summer. You don't need to follow any plan. I'd like to say that my summer looks similar to the one described above but instead, I am taking on-line classes, attending weekly professional development seminars, and trying to convert all of my lessons to digital.

Instead of going into this year with a negative mindset, I am trying to look at this crazy situation as a time of learning and growth. I am so grateful that I have the time in the summer to learn new tools and grow as an educator. Honestly, I’ve never been the best with technology, but I am excited to learn some of the new programs that my students can only benefit from. I am so blessed that my school is preparing us for all possible scenarios that might happen in September.

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't scared. I think the scariest part of this whole situation is the unknown. As a teacher, I have learned that my class doesn’t always follow the lesson plan. When that happens, what do I do? I put on a smile and pretend that it is on the lesson plan. To be honest, I find that some of my best lessons are not written on paper. Sometimes I find that building relationships with my students is more important than teaching them the typical lesson in English for the day. That's what we have to do with the unknown. We prepare ourselves the best we can and hope that everything will go according to plan. BUT as we all know, life doesn’t follow a strict lesson plan. One of the most important lessons that I have ever received, is that sometimes the best learning experiences come from unexpected experiences. As I always say to my students, great things never come from comfort zones. With that being said, I am going to take the role of the student and take in all that I can. What kind of teacher would I be if I didn't take my on advice? Time to step out of my comfort zone and learn all I can to make this year the best one yet.