As we start the new semester at HSHMC, a topic of conversation is always, how are we connecting with our students and our families? As we move into marking a year next month in on-line only instruction, this question we ask ourselves is more important than ever. How do we not only connect with our students but how do we bridge the divide, the exhaustion we are all feeling as we navigate distance learning? The key is the same, making individual connections. Working as a student coach this year, providing extra support to our students who are struggling has reminded me of the importance of listening, and of sharing your story. On Friday for example, the last day of the semester, one of our classes was just struggling. The students were feeling overwhelmed with finals, with the knowledge that yet another semester was going to be on-line. Rather than move forward, we stopped. We shared. We opened the chatbox for those who didn’t want to speak out loud. We simply listened and shared.It is important to note that we all struggle. This is not the perfect solution to our complex problems. Students needed to see and hear that as teachers, we too struggle with this format sometimes. We were honest, and some students were brought to tears about working from home, and the struggle to make it work. We listened. We followed up by sending our counselors’ notes to stop by virtually or in-person with some of our kids. We shared strategies that we use when things seem too much. My students know that my pup Arby lives in my office, and hops into every Zoom session I have once students come into our space.This has led to the sharing of their lives, their pets, siblings, small snippets of their lives. There is that fine line to walk in sharing your spaces, but I think when we all walk back into our school buildings, we will have a new and stronger connection teaching and learning from our homes, a better understanding and respect for each other. It was powerful and cathartic. The message here is creating safe and inclusive spaces means that we connect with our kids where they are. We allow many avenues to share, both publicly in class, or during office hours or drop-in visits to make sure our kids are doing ok. This is how you build community, with honest communication and taking action.
Writing to express, explore, and to push my own thinking and inspire others to do the same
