6/7/2020 15 Comments "Being brave - having courage - means doing something where you can’t predict the outcome. If you know how it’s going to end, it’s not courageous." Dr. Jody CarringtonI think that the run of Covid-19 has produced not just one pandemic, but two. There is the illness itself that is affecting many around the world, but there is also a crisis of humanity that it impacting every single person on this planet at the same time; the crisis of social disconnect and the crisis of redefining who we are and our “place” in this world in the face of immense uncertainty.
I believe this crisis is particularly hard on teachers. As social beings who carry the successes and failures of others daily, and who feel the emotions and stressors of their students deeply (often to the teacher’s detriment), being disconnected from students is creating a crisis of teacher identity. What is our purpose when we are unable to serve in the ways we know have significant impact? How do we know if they are ok? Are WE ok??? I believe that with crisis comes opportunity. For the first time in my life (and likely longer than my 44 years) there is a palpable shift in the viewing of teachers and their role in society. Up until now, we have not held a respected place in the professional workforce that is comparable with our impact on society. Watson (2019) states we have a 200 year history that has groomed teachers to believe they must do anything and everything “for the kids.” We have been conditioned to accept that we will be underpaid, unvalued, and that we should be ok with that if we “really love kids.” In fact, the more a teacher sacrifices the more you are considered a dedicated and effective teacher! Now, suddenly, the internet and social media are now flooded with memes, videos, even filmed “apologies” (I’ve attached a few of my favorites below) to teachers that affirm that not only is teaching extremely difficult (and parents do not want to do it), it is an ESSENTIAL service! Gone are the derisive views of “teaching is babysitting” or “anyone can teach.” Joking aside, our economy is on the verge of collapse, in no small part due to the fact that children are not at school each day. Teachers now have the opportunity to capture their rightful place in society as respected, critically essential, professional members of society; however, this will have to start with the teachers believing this themselves. Teachers must view themselves as the agents of change. They must view themselves as a key relationship in each of their student’s lives that has the potential to be transformational. And this view takes courage. Brene Brown (2018) defines a leader as “anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential.” Isn’t that YOU? Isn’t that what you do every day as your work? Cranton & Carusetta (2004) describe authenticity in teaching as the way the teacher brings themselves to the work; that it is a passion to teach, almost a calling, and that it brings meaning to the teacher’s life. Their sense of self is rooted in the classroom and in its relationships. I know that each and every one of you takes up your work with children in this way; that you care deeply about them and that you are constantly cheering them on and supporting their success in the background. What I am suggesting is that it is time to come out from behind and believe, for yourself, that you have transformational power. That you are critically important to the children who are lucky enough to have you as their teacher. Can you imagine being so immensely proud of what you do? Wouldn’t it be awesome to tell people that you teach, knowing that you know, and they know, that you change the trajectory of lives each and every day? Brene Brown (2018) says “choosing to live and love with our whole hearts is an act of defiance. You’ll wonder how you can feel so brave and so afraid at the very same time.” I believe we can be brave together, which will make reclaiming our rightful, important place less scary. The first step is believing how truly important/impactful/impressive you really are. And know that I believe in you, too. Please follow this link for an interactive response slide. https://www.menti.com/zn4ri8fo7m View the results : https://www.mentimeter.com/s/fcce41a7ab6259a0fc78da6fd6ab94d3/2d84b51b5668 *. *. * Please share a comment below what this post made you consider or wonder about.
15 Comments
Lori
6/7/2020 07:15:24 pm
"Can you imagine being so immensely proud of what you do?"
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Jana El-Guebaly
6/10/2020 04:15:04 pm
You know I completely agree with you Lori - there have been times as an administrator where I have felt a bit lost simply because I am no longer in front of "my people." Connection is the key.
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Amal
6/7/2020 08:24:23 pm
I always try to put myself in my learners shoes and see how they see things and try to think of all the ways they might look at things so I can make my teaching tackle their needs and interests and not try to force my teaching or my methods to work for them.
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Jana El-Guebaly
6/10/2020 06:01:59 pm
I love that you already know that the responsibility lies within the teacher to unlock what works for a student! They need to bring the effort and perserverence, but we bring the strategies.
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Nick Moskaluk
6/8/2020 10:42:41 am
One of the ideas that keeps coming to my mind when I look at my time in remote teaching is the importance of asking questions that are deeper than, questions I have asked in the past. The importance of stepping outside my role as "just a math teacher" students need us to be their "teacher" now more then ever. That means challenging our own thinking and how we present work and WHY. As sit at my computer wondering how I can create more engagement, I wonder what that looks like and how I get there with my students and by taking risks like starting a class stock market or introducing them to Meyers Briggs personality test which leads to what makes them the learner they are. I have started learning more about some of my kids than I ever could expected. Don't ask what are we going to do, ask what are we going to learn.
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Jana El-Guebaly
6/8/2020 07:58:49 pm
Nick - look at what a teacher you are becoming! I am going to steal that last line for my room this year.
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6/10/2020 07:51:51 am
'...a leader [is] “anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential.” Isn’t that YOU? Isn’t that what you do every day as your work?'
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Jana El-Guebaly
6/10/2020 04:11:21 pm
I love this perspective Chris, and the metaphor! I love "seeing the kids as champions." On a side note, have you ever read Pat Conroy's My Losing Season? I have read all of his novel's but that one is by far my favorite (Pat Conroy himself also refers to it as his favorite memoir). I think you'd really enjoy it.
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Laurel
6/10/2020 02:35:56 pm
As I read your words, "What I am suggesting is that it is time to come out from behind and believe, for yourself, that you have transformational power. That you are critically important to the children who are lucky enough to have you as their teacher" I was thinking about transformation and the conversations that we have been having about what school will look like when we return to our buildings.
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Jana El-Guebaly
6/10/2020 04:13:42 pm
This is why I feel lucky to work with you Laurel! Its funny, my professor and I were thinking about the "word" to capture what I was trying to say. I landed on courage, but metamorphosis is quite a powerful alternative!
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Nicole
6/16/2020 09:24:08 am
So much about teaching and learning is connection. We facilitate, helping kids connect to themselves and to each other. Helping them to trust in themselves and take the risk of being vulnerable, being wrong. When I read the words - "You’ll wonder how you can feel so brave and so afraid at the very same time". I couldn't help but think that that is how our kids feel too. Everything seems to lie in uncertainty right now. We have hope and we try to plan on those hopes. They are doing the same thing. A big chunk of our work in September will be re-bolstering that trust in themselves. We have the chance to co-create how we inhabit our shared spaces. We can make the kids a part of that too.
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It is wonderful to see that teachers are receiving a new found appreciation for the work they do every day. As an administration I have felt that my main role during this pandemic is to continue to take care of staff. They too are balancing working from home and supporting distance learning with their own children. It's been a challenging time with many ups and downs. During our weekly staff meetings we've tried to incorporate fun with a series of trivia games about little known facts about each other. We've also implemented a "daily inspiration" in the daily updates via email we send to all staff members. We've also filmed many videos of staff and students being active outside, dancing, and generally having a blast. These little pieces have certainly contributed to a sense of community for our school even though we are apart. Right now it's being thankful for the little things each day that bring us joy. We will get through this. One step at a time.
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kelly r knight
6/17/2020 01:44:41 pm
"I think that the run of COVID-19 has produced not just one pandemic, but two."
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Anne
6/19/2020 07:33:48 pm
Courage to wonder, to question, courage to stay in, courage to leave, courage to speak and to speak with compassion and understanding. I found in me courage to admit "I don't know" and the courage to accept the journey to find out. Sometimes after finding out I had to find courage to share what I believed or what was truth. I once believed that truth was always unkind and that kindness were always lies.Then I was told that sometimes truth can be unkind and kindness can be lies. In all this discovery, and some recently in people I once trusted, I found my voice. The discovery that I have a voice and that my voice can be learning, questioning, kind, understanding, compassionate, and truthful all at once. I found my voice because I listened. As a teacher, a mother and a partner I discovered that my voice was heard as I became a better listener.
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jana el-guebaly
6/24/2020 10:37:35 am
"I found my voice because I listened. As a teacher, a mother and a partner I discovered that my voice was heard as I became a better listener." Oh my goodness yes! SO true!!!!
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