New normal — closing a chapter
Adjusting to the new normal is an interesting task as the landscape of this global pandemic keeps changing.
COVID19 continues to have unexpected consequences like the trimming of staff at the Recorder. After 13 years as a weekly columnist, I’m signing off. It’s been a pleasure to serve this community in this capacity and while it’ll free up more of my weekend, it’s with sadness I write my final column.
I’ve enjoyed having an audience for my intellectual ponderings. Thank you for reading them. Because writing is a fairly solitary activity, it was always a joy to meet someone who had read my column. I was often surprised when people introduced themselves as one of my readers. Whether they responded via email or in person, it delighted me to hear their thoughts and reactions to what I’d written about.
I was often asked how I came up with a new idea every week. I’m an educator. We tend to be curious by nature. What’s the best technology to deliver this content? What’s the best strategy to augment this curriculum? Many of the ideas for my columns came from trainings I received through employment with PUSD.
One of the aspects of being a local educator I’m most proud of is our ability to respond to the needs of our students. Distance learning has been no exception to that rule. I’ve had conversations with concerned colleagues, parents, students, and administration. How do I logon? How do I unmute myself? How do I push out that assignment in a format that’s editable? How do I make sure my kid is turning in his assignment?
Communications from district office personnel, the superintendent of schools and the governing board president have all been complimentary about this unprecedented transition. Questions abound, but as a community of life-long learners we continue to collaborate as problem-solvers toward a common goal. “Creating opportunities and changing lives” continues to be our goal. We keep supporting each other as we figure out what the new version of normal will look like for now.
How do we engage students in online learning without being able to motivate them in the classroom? How do we equitably offer access to these online platforms at home? What do fair grading practices look like? How do we help at risk kids who haven’t logged in? To Zoom or not to Zoom? That is the question!
The unanswered questions seem endless. When will we bring our students back into the classroom? How will we survive our cabin fever? How long must we do social distancing? Will I get sick or make someone else sick? Should I wear a mask? So many unknowns. Regardless of the answers, there are some things that almost feel normal.
Teachers still design lessons. They just deliver them online. Most students still do assignments. They just turn them in electronically. Parents still supervise homework. It’s just all school work is now homework. Administrators still have staff meetings. They’re just via Zoom now. Change is inevitable and how we deal with is a measure of our character.
As I’ve adjusted to news of no longer communicating via my column with this community, friends have asked what my new normal will be in regards to my writing. If we weren’t social distancing, I might take up again with my abandoned writers’ group. It seems writing a column a week took the place of writing a chapter a week. So perhaps I’ll flex my narrative writing muscle again and dust off that children’s book manuscript.
Several professors have requested I compile a curated collection of columns into a textbook for new teachers. The international spiritual organization I’ve belonged to for years is recruiting me to be a project manager for some of their new online course offerings. I’ll add these ponderings to the growing list of unknowns at this time. How do we continue to function amidst all the unknowns? How can I be of service to those in greater need? How can we benefit from all this slowing down and sheltering in place? What is this pandemic asking of me?
I realize this isn’t an advice column, but since it’s my last… I’m taking liberties. My message in the face of all these unknowns is to value this time of reflection. Take seriously this opportunity to envision a better future. Remain connected in this time of social distancing. Together we will find a new normal and start a new chapter.