Following a glorious Labor Day weekend on the east coast schools began a new academic year this past week. All across New York City the year 2020-21 kicked off with in-person classes or on-line classes or in many cases hybrid classes which combined on-line and in-person teaching and learning. My mind went back to my post from May 12, 2020 titled Teachers and Pandemic Fear. In that I had listed all the steps my graduate students would have liked to see implemented before they returned to teaching. From what my students shared with me this week some or all or none of those items had been addressed depending on individual schools and daycare centers. And since during this first week my students had anywhere between 3-12 children in their classrooms there was still a lot of trepidation and nervousness about going back to in-person teaching. Undoubtedly, first and foremost in our minds is how we are going to protect ourselves and our loved ones from these dangers.
Added to the pandemic stress the Spring and Summer of 2020 also brought on a tidal wave of fear and unrest across the country related to racial injustice, natural disasters, and political tensions. In any other year just one of those factors would have been enough to cause high levels of anxiety for anyone.
As difficult as it might be we hope that, as they begin a new school year, all our brave teachers will try and look for the positive within the current negative national and global climates. It's important that we not lose sight of the good and the kind and the beautiful that still bloom under layers of viral disease, racial injustice, political invective, and devastating forest fires that are filling the skies with ash and smoke. It's important to develop a positive mindset despite these challenges.
I asked my students who are working in New York City schools and day care centers to pause for a few minutes, and visually represent what they might be looking forward to even though the year ahead is filled with so many uncertainties. Here are their expressions and images for finding strength in the small comforts we might have all previously taken for granted.
Florencia: For this unusual Fall 2020, I look forward to learning and spending more
time in the outdoors with my classroom.
Dayamara: I wanted to evoke both the uncertainty as well as the glimmer of
excitement in my piece. I’m excited at the prospect of being settled
back into my routines and interactions with new students and my
co-workers, while also acknowledging that there are many obstacles we
will have to work through...This manifests as
planning for curriculum, reconnecting with new families, and seeing
students excited (and perhaps even anxious) to learn for the first time.
Carmen: I made this word art portrait with words that were meaningful
to me. Much of what I will bring into the classroom this year comes from
my experiences, my culture and the people in my life that I love. All
of this together has given me the grace and positivity to be generous in
the lives that I am fortunate to teach and
learn from.
Mary: Picture
taken in the backyard of my childhood home- It was the morning after a
big rain storm, and I was struck by how beautiful the light and the haze
over the yard looked. I am so thankful to
be able to wake up to this every day. When I see this, I get a sense of
peace and gratitude, and I’m reminded of how lucky I am to be alive. In
August I made the painful decision to resign from my job. I love my
work, but, due to
personal and family health issues, it was too risky for me to go back.
The future is uncertain, and I’m anxious and worried about so much. Yet,
despite all of that, I feel this is going to be a time of personal
growth and self-discovery, and that gives me hope.
Rosanna: What I look forward to as a teacher in Fall 2020 and this academic year is to nurture
and foster children's learning, by keeping children engaged in making learning fun.
Dalila: I'm looking forward this semester to go back to my class to welcome all my children with safety precautions.
Shanece: This
piece illustrates unity and freedom of expression in a private school.
I’m looking forward to teaching in a setting where the students will ALL
be able to
attend class and build a social relationship. Also, the quote on the
board represents our past experience with Covid. It’s there as a reminder
of what can be overcome. The book on the desk is called The Future. With
this book, I’m aiming to teach my students about
adaptation and flexibility in a variety of situations, adjusting to a
new school system and expecting the unexpected.
Leanna: I wanted to depict the internal stressors and worries I
have about teaching at a preschool and also starting my masters this
year, that then lead to the positivity I emit into the universe all
while having
those stressors and worries.
Perla: During
the pandemic, I stood away from the news to try and remain positive
and I came across sunflowers. I googled the meaning of sunflowers and it
stated it meant "adoration". I am a spiritual person and the sunflower
also has a spiritual meaning of "faith". It resembles the sun which for
me, meant positivity or sunshine, something
to look forward to at the end of all of this. The color yellow also
signifies "enthusiasm" and in a time where all I wanted to feel was
happiness, it helped. I scribbled two verses of the bible from Isaiah
58:11 and Psalm 118:14.
Daniella: What I’m looking forward to now that everything is going back to normal. I decided to do something I’ve always wanted to
try and do a blackout poem.
Carol: To provide a safe and healthy environment for each individual
child.To encourage togetherness form 6 ft
apart.To plan age appropriate activities and
build on children’s prior knowledge.To
provide materials that will enhance learning to meet the need of each individual needs. I am looking forward to a
positive school year.
