Another week done-Week 2 in quarantine

I left the house only a few times this week-Mostly to go on walks with my husband and to get the mail. Only once to the grocery store- that was awful.

Today was the end of week 2 of online learning, instruction and Teams meetings.  I have learned things this week. About myself, about how I work with other people and about boundaries.

Identifying and Sticking to Boundaries:
1) I am learning to set work time boundaries.  I will work a 40 hour work week. What that looks like is flexible right now, but it needs to be in a way that works for me.  This means I sleep in, take breaks throughout the day and work later.  For me this is successful and I'm taking care of myself.
2) Take a lunch every day.  That only happened by chance today because a kid stood me up for a meeting. But I have my schedule such next week that I have an hour for lunch that way when the inevitable meeting pops up I should still be okay.
3) Set boundaries with students and parents and colleagues when they miss meetings.  No I cannot meet with you right now simply because it is convenient for you. If you miss a meeting get on my schedule.
4) Don't reschedule meetings with students when the staff meeting is scheduled over your already booked time- it just leads to lots of upset people. I can always watch the staff meeting later.
5) Not wearing all the hats: This has actually been a beautiful break from things like department chair roles in the traditional sense for special education.  It has been a break from para scheduling because my VP is a rockstar and took that project on. It's been a break from the parts of my job that don't bring me as much joy.

Do work that brings me joy:
1) My 1:1 meetings with kids bring me joy.  I had 10 hours of meetings with kids this week. Those are individual meetings. They've been great. They are why I do this work. The days I get to talk to my kids are good days.
2) Make sure I talk with my kids every day.  Thursday this week was all meetings with Grown-ups.  Worst day of the week. Not that I don't enjoy those people or that those meetings weren't successful, but I really need to meet with my kids every day. So I have next week laid out that way.
3) Kindness Activity: I have really enjoyed my Character Strong Kindness journal activities both for personal but also professional use.
4) Union work:  It's still new, but I really like helping people even if it's just pointing them to the right page in the contract.  Sticking up for the underdog has always been something I feel drawn towards and this is one way to do that.

Letting go of the things I cannot control:
1) I have no control over schedules for students.
2) I have no control over the district policies on grading.
3) I have no control over the expectations a parent has at home.
4) I have knowledge of or control over kids potentially cheating on exams online.

Controlling the things I can: 
1) My classroom will continue to be a safe and relaxed space for students.
2) I am more concerned about how my students are doing as people than their grades.
3) Continuing to schedule 1:1 meetings with students.
4) Continuing to take time each day to check in with my co-department chair who I miss dearly.
5) Continuing to take time each day to focus on my husband and my home.
6) Continue to show up and give my best each day to my students.

I have learned a lot this week I still have a lot to learn as we transition into a more full time online setting.
Signing out for now
-C