hello, from the other side of the screen

man arm hands people
Photo by C Technical on Pexels.com

We talk through glass and try

So hard to teach a lesson on

The vagaries of love and hate

And all the in betweens.

Impossible, I think,

But that’s the age we’re in.

Anyone who has been reading along will know that I’m in my training year as an English teacher. The year started in September and so I have only ever experienced teaching in a pandemic world. However, that term has been done in the classroom and it has all felt as normal as it possibly can feel, given the circumstances.

I finished before Christmas feeling really pumped. And then I’ve been watching the news over the break and my heart has been sinking day by day. I want everyone to be safe and well but I’ve felt so sad and nervous knowing that the likelihood is that I’ll be teaching online this term.

The news has been steadily getting worse and worse and it’s now Sunday and I’m not entirely sure what will happen tomorrow. This is terrible for teachers and students and I don’t know what to feel about what I’m walking into.

I have been learning to swim with the current and not try and fight it so that is what I plan to do. I can’t control anything that happens and I just need to show enthusiasm and resilience as we all push forward.

However, as much as I’m telling myself it’s going to be OK and we’ll get the kids through another really turbulent year, I am thinking about how on earth we are supposed to teach online. I teach English and although it’s perfectly OK speaking through a screen, I do think so much will be lost.

English is full of discussion and feeling and I don’t understand how we’re meant to get all of the richness through in our lessons. I like to walk around and write on the board and ask questions and see facial expressions and I feel like I’m going to miss all of that and that makes me sad.

I guess it’s a learning curve for everyone and if I can get through this in my training year then it’ll all feel very easy as I get further into my career. This still doesn’t make me feel any less upset about the things we’ll all be losing out on this term.

Much Love

Rachel xx

10 thoughts on “hello, from the other side of the screen”

  1. Margot Kinberg

    I’ve been in education (teacher preparation) for over 30 years, and I have never seen anything like what’s happened in the field this past year. I give you so much credit for doing what you do. Being able to create learning experiences for students, even in this time of Zoom classes, takes extraordinary effort. You are not alone in your concerns, and I think you have the right attitude: swim with the current and adapt as well as you can. It’s not easy, but we will get through this.

    Reply

  2. K.L. Hale

    My thoughts and prayers are with you. I’m no longer a teacher or principal. I see my teacher friends struggling with these new “ways”. Kids are resilient in their adaptations~although I see some concerns, particularly and specifically in two young kids of my partner, Jeff. He agrees. Keep up the wonderful work ~and keep the faith and hope. ❣️

    Reply

  4. crispina kemp

    I do feel for you. I know others elsewhere in the world who’ve been teaching online and doing ok. Just needs some adjusting. But here, seems no one wants to make the decision, to open the schools or not. And that is surely the most destructive part.
    I do wish you well. Just hang in there. You’ll be fine. You won’t be the only one doing this. Have sympathy for the older generation who are not so okay with IT (like me!)

    Reply

      1. crispina kemp

        And how much harder for the older teachers? I know I struggle sometimes, despite my fingers have been tapping into IT since it was stream-powered. But it’s the latest interfaces that throw me

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