Hello my friend,
How is teaching for you? How's getting through the day going?
WOW, what a difficult time.
I want to acknowledge that you may actually be doing great! I don't want to poo poo that being possible. I'd be THRILLED to hear that's where you're at. I have had my own moments and periods of feeling great amidst difficult times these past few months - thank goodness - but mostly I'm hearing from people who are struggling right now so this email is mostly focused on that...
For a lot of people things are heavy and hard right now.
For some people things are REALLY hard as the toll of the pandemic continues...
...compounded by so much else.
Going back to teaching (and I know some of you have been teaching all along) can be a relief and normalizing for some...a good focus, nice to connect with the children - whether it's through a video call or in person.
And teaching might feel IMPOSSIBLE and/or ridiculous.
So many people are juggling so much.
Trying to teach virtually while your own kids are also learning remotely (so many computers! so little space! ...actually, not enough computers...definitely not enough space). Teaching in-person in child care when your own kids are home from K-12 schooling being closed? UGH. What!?
Administrators providing no guidance...or unreasonable expectations? (I see you great and supportive administrators and coaches! Sadly, not all teachers have that and I'm writing for them) Or, maybe you're in a preK-5 system and they keep forgetting that pre-K even exists! Is that good as you can fly under the radar and do what you think is best...or, just as infuriating as ever!?
Then, there's all of us on the west coast, stuck in side, watching the orange sky and even smelling and breathing the smoke inside. How is that even possible, really? (Not orange down here in southern CA but I can smell it inside today). UGH.
Continuing the fight for racial justice.
Continuing to feel the staggering impact of racial injustice.
Deciding whether and how to participate, when to engage with the media and social media.
Trying, somehow...to keep on keeping on, to survive, maybe thrive, to find joy in the simple acts of daily life...or just get through the day.
Figuring out whether or not and how to talk to the children about what's going on in the world, in their lives.
No easy answers.
Here's one thing I'm holding on to. I offer it to you in case it might help, even one small bit.
Use what you know about young children and child development to guide you, just like you always do.
Trust yourself. Trust what's in your heart.
Ask for inner and/or higher guidance, if either of those are a compass for you.
YES, circumstances are different.
We usually tell children to share and now we don't want them to share toys and materials for fear of spreading Covid-19.
We may be afraid to talk to children about what seem like grown-up concerns such as the continued racial justice uprisings. But we need too.
We don't want to scare the children with information about the fires. BUT some children have had to evacuate. Some children live right nearby the fires, know people who are affected, see glimpses about it all in the news, or overhear adults speaking about it. So, we need to acknowledge, open up the door for conversation, hear what's on their minds...and, know that confusion, feat and sadness will always come out in children's behavior, especially if they are not yet very verbal.
No matter the issue or unprecedented nature of these times we need to talk to children in developmentally appropriate ways (usually asking questions and repeating what they say, providing 1/10th of the info you might first think you need to provide), based on whether and how things are in their midst and impact their lives.
You may be teaching online, unsure how to do that appropriately, and worried about screen time.
Your program may be open when you think it should be closed...or closed when you think it should be open.
Do keep learning from others and talking with colleagues about how to do this all well.
And...
Trust your knowledge of good early childhood practices. Stay grounded in what you know about child development.
Trust your gut.
Even if you "don't know what you're doing" trust yourself. Trust what you do know. Trust that what you know can be translated to the current circumstances. Advocate for yourself and the children as you need too.
Have thoughts about this blog? Let me know in the COMMENTS BELOW.
Sending so much love,
ps - During difficult times sometimes I find it can really help to take small actions in an attempt to do something positive for the greater good.
(And, sometimes the best medicine is to stay in bed).