Welcome Back, Teachers!

The feeling of being back in the classroom is undeniable. I truly thought that teaching on screen was something that I had mastered and enjoyed. I saw the smiles; I felt the feels; I witnessed the dancing, and then I ate a sandwich in my own kitchen. And while I did feel moved when I witnessed my students recall vocabulary or win a game, I didn’t quite realize how numb I was becoming from the lack of in-person contact. Now that I finally get to stand in front of my students again, I know that there is nothing like connecting with them in-person.

Looking back, I believe I either forgot what it was like to feel the energy of my class, or I didn’t want to think about it since it wasn’t an option. And because of that, I couldn’t quite recall that feeling of receiving my students’ unabashed love and joy.  By our second session back, my students literally applauded my arrival and hugged me at the end, as if they were the proud parents and I the child. Their happiness continues to keep me charged and smiling all day long.

We are not teachers because we love the extra work or the pay. We are here because it makes us feel alive and fulfilled when we see our students thrive.  How many times can I put “feel” in a blog post?? This is reason number 1,400,076 of why I couldn't be more happy creating my own program versus being in the classroom full time. This sounds strange because I just wrote that I love the classroom, but I am happy to be a part time teacher and curriculum developer because as I create my curricula, I can focus on my students happiness rather conforming to district goals or red tape. 

And because I have that freedom and so many amazing teachers out there do not, I feel energized to keep working on my program in the hopes of assisting teachers out there that spend countless hours researching and lesson planning.  Teachers, I hear you and I see you and I am here for you and your classrooms wherever they may be. Let me be one of the first to wish you and your students all the happiness and… Welcome back!

How to Reconnect with your Students in the Classroom

You’re back in the classroom?! Fantastic! It’s time to shake off that rust and connect in person! Despite having worked with your students digitally, that doesn’t mean your teacher-student relationships will immediately carry over.  Before jumping into new material, give your students (and yourself!) time to communicate and reconnect as a class.

Why is this important? Your students aren’t going to learn from you unless they respect you as an educator and as a human being. And that’s goes for students of all ages. (To learn more about how happiness is one of the best learning tools, click here!).

Did I feel a disconnect after in-person began? Of course! At the start of in-person learning, I had students who were more withdrawn than they had been digitally just days before. I’m sure it was a combination of emotions related to the return to the classroom, but instead of ignoring their quiet shift or calling them out on it, I decided to take the pressure off for everyone by incorporating activities that would strengthen our teacher-student, student-student relationships and recreate our classroom culture.

How did I reinstitute our classroom bond? I put questions into a hat and had students answer those questions in front of the class or at their seats. I incorporated target foreign language when I felt the age group could handle it. But in the beginning, I was more concerned with helping my students feel safe and confident, before revisiting material. To reshape their comfort levels, I began with simple questions about their ideal pizza toppings and destination vacations. And as we became more comfortable, I asked about their families and what the students are enjoying and not enjoying about being back in person (some in private settings, some in group settings depending on the student and question). And not all of the answers were positive and beautiful, but they were thoughtful and honest. And as my students shared about themselves, we not only learned about one another, but I assessed how best to approach them and how to teach them. The more we shared as a class, the safer the learning environment became. And I feel comforted by that. So before getting back to the planning, remember that we learn best when we feel our best, so get reconnected!