Tomorrow starts our first day with Connected Learning. I am both excited and nervous. I am not sure why I am nervous. I think it is just the unknown. It feels a little overwhelming but my team has decided to each take a subject area. So that should help.

I am charged with writing. I am stepping out of my comfort zone by videotaping myself doing lessons. I hate to see and hear myself on the screen but I am learning to overcome that. I have been watching the teaching videos of my mentor, Melanie Meehan. She makes it seem effortless.

It is amazing how mini my mini lessons are when no one is interrupting me. LOL

I am going to use this time to really work on my writing lessons and learn other technology to make these lessons exciting and unique.

To everyone starting Day 1…Good Luck! To everyone who had already completed a week…what tips and ideas can you share?

Went “hiking” today
With friends at a distance
Warm sun shining
Wind in my face
Fresh air
Talking
Laughing
Self -reflecting
Story telling
Goal setting
Refreshing the soul
Energizing the mind
Tiring the dog
Tiring the husband
Slowing down to look for the gifts
Appreciating life as it is these days

Well I almost forgot to write. It was a long day. It started with a faculty meeting to go over expectations for our new connected learning. After that, there were team meetings and planning to be done. I took a risk and videotaped myself teaching a writing mini lesson. It was ok for a first timer. I am trying to keep things in perspective and take it day by day. This new online learning seems a bit overwhelming but we will see.

Despite the stressors, today provided gifts. One was a nice, long walk with my daughter and my dog. My daughter is trying hard to keep her OCD and anxiety in check. I can not imagine how difficult it must be for her as it is so difficult for many of us who do not struggle. I can only be there to support, reassure, and love her in this time of uncertainty.

Another gift was Facetiming with my parents. Technology allows that grandparent “visit” even though we are miles apart.

So Friday happy hours are not in the foreseeable future. So what does one do? You hold a virtual happy hour. My last gift…4 couples, some wine, and technology. So many laughs and just what the doctor ordered.

What tonight showed me was that while we may be practicing social distancing, there are other ways to connect and connecting is so important. It is important to stay in touch with the loved ones in your life whether it be phone calls, texts, or a virtual happy hour. Just reach out.

Someone had a spa today. No, it was not me. My dog needed a manicure and a haircut as well as a good teeth cleaning.

He loves to go to the groomer and they love to have him. Today they told me that he brings them joy. They said he provides therapy for them. We all need small moments of happiness these days. I am so glad my dog was able to do that for them.

The groomer made my dog happy today too. Today the groomer was filled with the all the children of employees. Brody had a blast. Brody ran around playing with children and dogs. Doing what he loves most. They even videotaped him playing jump rope. All this activity made Brody one tired dog. Brody is a very energetic dog and anything that makes him tired makes us happy.

It’s the small moments of happiness these days.

I found this on Facebook today and it really spoke to me:

Corona is giving you a gift
The gift of time
To read that book
To spend time with your family
To watch and learn from that YouTube tutorial
You have time now
Slow Down, self reflect…
Discover your values
Notice your desires
Reorganize your priorities

I have let this virus cause me too much stress and I have now decided to appreciate this break. Soon enough the chaos will be back and I will wish for these quieter times.

Slow Down, Self Reflect, Reprioritize

Today was not a very productive day. I woke up about 7:30. A nice 9 hours of sleep. I did what I was hoping I wouldn’t do…sat in front of the tv. After listening to about 2 hours of Covid-19 updates and an increase in stress, I changed over to a marathon of Friends episodes. I need to be more productive tomorrow and get working on some of those house chores I had planned.

We got the email that we will be moving to Connected Learning. Not sure what that is and what that means for me as a teacher. I know many are currently doing distance learning. The unknown and how it will all play out causes me undue stress. The whole situation is just so unreal. I am wondering how I will manage my online classroom and keep my high schooler on task with their work. All you out there who are currently in the midst of this type of teaching, please send me your tips and tools.

I am hoping this will not become the new normal but I fear it might.

Today felt like an ordinary Sunday. I took a nice walk in the woods by the river with Brody. I did laundry. I paid bills. I oversnacked. Just like an ordinary Sunday.

Tomorrow starts our coronacation. I need to have some kind of plan so that I can be productive. I will schedule professional reading and exercise and writing. There will be time outside with the dog and I will make my list of house projects. I HOPE that my teens will want to play games with me.

Today my husband and I made a list of Netflix movies and shows we will watch over the next two weeks. I hope the list lasts as I have already binge watched Virgin River (which I highly recommend).

Today was just an ordinary Sunday. I wonder what the next week will feel like.

I knew I had to write. I have been thinking about it all day. I wanted to write about something other than Covid-19.

It is trying times and everything seems different. A sense of oddity, if you will.

It started at we went to the grocery store this morning. We weren’t there to stock up. We needed ingredients for tonight corned beef and cabbage dinner. We needed stuff for the week. Coffee (I am off for two weeks so yes, I stock piled), coconut milk, veggie sausage…was hoping for some salad mix and veggies as well but that was not in the card. I have never seen the shelves at the grocery store so empty. Not even in the midst of the threat of the biggest blizzard. Even the shelves of canned veggies. How many cans of peas, beans, and corn can you eat? However, maybe all the corn eating would lead to the toilet paper shortage?????

We have some chicken and hamburgers already in the freezer. I am hoping to be able to get some fresh veggies and salad mixes in the next week.

I will keep my social distance but I need to try to eat healthy while I am home.

It won’t be easy because the eggs that were in plenty of stock were the mini Cadbury mini-eggs. Ugh! Wish me luck.

Finished the post…under the wire!

Is there a better way to end what felt like the last day of school than with margaritas? As with most of us, we are off for the next two week. There was such an odd feeling around school today. Calm, but odd.

There was a lot of cleaning desks and chromebooks, organizing materials, and packing up what might be needed at home. Much like the last day of school.

I am thinking about what this break will mean for me. I am thinking about all the little annoying projects I never have the energy to do around the house. I need to clean and organize my closet. The garage needs to be cleaned out. The house needs some deep cleaning.

I also want to use this time as a sort of reset. I can focus on cleaner eating and more exercise. I can spend some time on bettering me.

So the plans will be lots of: organizing, cleaning, walking, cooking, reading, writing, napping, resetting.

How will you use your time?