First up is Bridget Whalen, a 4th and 5th-grade teacher in Durham, North Carolina.
Welcome to our new blog series, Together Apart, a community effort to establish mindfulness, connection, and presence, even when we cannot be physically together. Each week we will feature guest writers from various careers, places, and moments in life to discuss how they are Living More in the time of COVID-19.
When my principal announced we would not be returning to school over the intercom, my 4th and 5th students cheered out loud. The whole moment had the feeling of a North Carolina snow day--forecast for an inch the next morning, 75 and sunny outside at the moment, and hard for me to take seriously.
The next thirty minutes were a scramble to make sure that extra books from the classroom made their way into backpacks, and math flashcards were handed out. I quickly made a link to a google classroom, so that the students in my class with computer access could stay in touch. We left school that day knowing that a week or two was expected, but there were no clear answers, for my kids or for the other teachers at my school.
Today we got the call--school is cancelled until May 15.
What this means for end of year tests, services for students with specific learning needs, and fifth-graders moving on next year is still unclear. The burden this is putting on families who are suddenly in need of childcare, food access, who can’t access distance education opportunities, and possibly facing unemployment is at the forefront of all of our minds.
We’re not legally able to do distance education since access is an equity issue--and I’m worried about my students’ growth, as well as their health.
These worries are pervasive but unproductive, so I’ve been directing that energy into doing things I’ve been wanting to do for ages. Things I’ve been saying I’d do when I have more time or am more established at my new school. I’m taking an online class on equitable education practices from MIT with a friend in Boston, and participating in conversations with other educators advocating for our students and their families during this time with NCAE.
I’m breaking up my workday by taking the time to learn some new skills (watercoloring and baking sourdough bread!) reread some favorite childhood book series (Chasing Vermeer, The Golden Compass) and new books I was able to pick up curbside from my favorite independent book store (The Regulator in Durham, NC).
I’m also trying to stay intentional with my online time--taking advantage of technology to do a virtual dance party with my siblings, a distance book club, or board game night. I’ve been enjoying the emptiness of typically busy roads, the space for me to get out on my bike and enjoy the silver lining of a dark city.
