It is very strange not to be in school in the middle of March. Our district is not supplying much in the way of guidelines for what we are allowed to do for students. The main message, which is frustrating, is that we are not to do things without permission, more or less.
Last year our district went fully 1-to-1, which means essentially every student in grades 6 through 12 has a Chromebook. However, despite this, it looks like we’re not going to be able to provide much in the way of guidance online. I was planning to make a few YouTube videos for them to watch, assign a few readings, and maybe even create short Google forms quizzes that would allow the students to self assess their understanding.
For now, all of this is put on hold.
Monday, March 16, 2020
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Costco Run - Sunday Morning
I made a quick run to Costco today. The drive over it was different than what I was used to. I probably only saw about a dozen other cars on the highway. Costco is supposed to open at 10 AM, but when I got there at around 9:45 AM, there were already people leaving Costco with their purchases.
As I entered the store, there was a Costco employee shouting out that they were now out of toilet paper. All they had left was paper towels. There was still a large stack of paper towels toward the front of the store.
Costco was surprisingly subdued. The parking lot was only around 1/3 full when I arrived. When I left it seemed about the same. There was no one giving away free samples, and the friendly faces of employees seemed much more strained. The patrons were also much less friendly. I did not see smiles or frowns, just a lot of blank looks.
Some people were even giving each other mean glances when a person would get in the way of their materials because they were unwilling to get close to another shopper in order to fill their cart.
I was able to get most items that I needed. The main thing that was not there was our normal number three diapers. However I was able to substitute another item.
There were a few things missing that people might think of as essentials. These included toilet paper, baby wipes, and some other simple cleaning items.
While the original intent of this blog post to be very factual and observational about what is like to be a teacher in my town during the COVID-19 outbreak, I believe I would like to inject a small amount of opinion here. While these are very stressful times I think it is very important for us to band together, if not literally, and make sure that we are helping those who do not have what they need to get through the weeks or months ahead. Hey simple smile would have gone a long way for me today. Fortunately I did get one grin from the man who checks your receipt on the way out of Costco. This may only be a part of his training, but it made all the difference.
As I entered the store, there was a Costco employee shouting out that they were now out of toilet paper. All they had left was paper towels. There was still a large stack of paper towels toward the front of the store.
Costco was surprisingly subdued. The parking lot was only around 1/3 full when I arrived. When I left it seemed about the same. There was no one giving away free samples, and the friendly faces of employees seemed much more strained. The patrons were also much less friendly. I did not see smiles or frowns, just a lot of blank looks.
Some people were even giving each other mean glances when a person would get in the way of their materials because they were unwilling to get close to another shopper in order to fill their cart.
I was able to get most items that I needed. The main thing that was not there was our normal number three diapers. However I was able to substitute another item.
There were a few things missing that people might think of as essentials. These included toilet paper, baby wipes, and some other simple cleaning items.
While the original intent of this blog post to be very factual and observational about what is like to be a teacher in my town during the COVID-19 outbreak, I believe I would like to inject a small amount of opinion here. While these are very stressful times I think it is very important for us to band together, if not literally, and make sure that we are helping those who do not have what they need to get through the weeks or months ahead. Hey simple smile would have gone a long way for me today. Fortunately I did get one grin from the man who checks your receipt on the way out of Costco. This may only be a part of his training, but it made all the difference.
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Welcome to TiaToC
Teaching in a Time of Coronavirus
Yesterday, March 13th, 2020, following the president's announcement of a state of emergency in the United States due to the COVID-19 outbreak, governor Jay Inslee of Washington State closed all schools K-12 in our state effective Tuesday, March 17th. As a teacher, while this move was not unexpected, it was a bit of a shock.
The district I teach for has decided not to have students return on Monday. This means that we may be educating our students from home in some fashion. Exactly what my school and my district plan to do is still undecided.
Meanwhile, as people scramble for supplies and prepare for the worst, my hometown is being blanketed in snow. It is a strange time.
As a response, I will be writing a daily blog to continue to flex my creative muscles. Much like our current situation, what form this blog will take is a bit of a mystery. I may return to writing satirical conspiracy theories, speaking to the struggles of social distancing, or I may simply comment on what it is like to be a teacher in the time of the spread of COVID-19.
Until tomorrow, stay safe out there.
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