I don’t know what will happen this fall when schools across the US should be opening, but I do know that worrying about it will not change anything. Try your best to enjoy your summer break when it comes and focus on your mental health.
gerry brooks
809 posts
gerry brooks
@gerrybrooksprin
Educator. Social Media Peep
Lexington KY
Joined February 2016
- It is extremely important for educators to work on their mental & physical health right now. Whether school is in person or virtual, we are dealing with stress that we have never encountered. Take time for yourself daily/weekly - read, walk, rest, spend time with loved ones.
- State assessments should be cancelled for all schools immediately. We are now comparing apples to oranges when students are missing 3,4,5 weeks of school, maybe more. Remove that stress now! Put that in your bill and pass it! They will be even more useless than usual.
- When you have 20 people (parents, teachers, followers) saying positive things & 1 person saying negative, if you focus on the negative, then you are saying that person’s opinion is more important than the other 20. Don’t get wrapped up with negative people.
- I wanted to cut a student off today from telling a story that had nothing to do with my lesson because we were strapped for time. Then I remembered I might be the only one listening to him today, so I let him keep going. It was a bigger blessing to me than it was to him!
- It makes me sad when a teacher assistant says “I’m just a para” when they introduce themselves to me…we CANNOT do our jobs without support staff. They are the backbones of our schools. No one is “just” anything on your staff. Make sure your support staff feel encouraged & loved.
- I do not have an answer for the current situation our schools are experiencing, I wish I did — but I do know the answer is not packets of worksheets sent home with students to complete. Just sayin...
- I miss school so much that today I sat my cat and dog down together to talk about bullying and how they need to get along and came up with a plan of action for them to do better tomorrow.
- Nothing makes me more irritated than when a parent uses social media to air their complaints and concerns....well, except when an educator does it. Social media is not a place for you to blast your colleagues, admin or parents. If you have a problem, go directly to that person.
- When someone is not following a policy and you choose to email ERYBODY as a reminder to follow that policy, you are showing a lack of leadership. Deal only with those not doing what they are supposed to be doing. Eryone else doesn’t need a reminder to do what is right!
- The camera on one of my student’s computer was broken today. Every three minutes he would unmute and say “I’m still here even if you can’t see me...don’t forget me!” Blessings during stressful times!
- We are going virtual for the beginning of school. Saw it coming. Doesn’t make it any easier. Sick to my stomach for our working parents. Stressed for our teachers. Worried about our students. Don’t have the answers. “When you won’t move the mountain I’m needing you to move....”
- I have officially become my grandmother. Get up. Eat breakfast. Talk about what I’m eatin for lunch. Nap. Get up. Eat lunch. Talk about what I’m eatin for dinner. Nap. Get up and eat dinner. Talk about what I wish we had for dessert. Go to bed.
- YOU can change the climate and culture of your grade level, your department, your coaching staff, your school. If you are waiting for someone else to change it, you could be waiting forever.