Here's where I answer the same questions I'm asking of you. No need to worry about formatting or anything for your responses. Enjoy!
***First of all, how are you doing? Is there anything you are particularly worried or upset about, or are you generally doing okay? Do you have family members or friends who you are concerned about, were you a part of extracurriculars that were canceled, and are there other ways that your life has been significantly impacted by this pandemic? Also, how are you passing this time away from school and other people?
I am doing pretty well, all things considered, although I tend to be all smiles when things go well in the short term. Today was a good day. I'm concerned about my wife and two kids staying healthy, and I'm keeping in touch with other family members.
We are, as most of you probably are, trying to stay home as much as possible and keep our distance from others as we do. My spring break was turned on its head: I'd planned on doing some prep work for our last quarter of school, plant a garden, keep the place clean, and enjoy a quiet house for the morning with my kids at school
Instead, my kids were home for the week when their school shut down, I am doing some of the trickiest parenting of my life as I try to keep them occupied, healthy, and somewhat content. I try to make routines and keep my house very clean. We make a schedule for our kids because they like certainties. We try to follow it.
I didn't take much leisure time last week, but I stole a few extra moments today to do some gaming (Civilization V on Steam), which I hardly ever do anymore. It was nice.
***What has been going on in your life since the start of the new semester that is not related to COVID-19? What successes have you had since January? What setbacks? What have you been most interested in and spending the most time on?
This seems like a different life, doesn't it? It's been a solid school year in a lot of ways. My students are a good group this year. There's always some change with new principals, but I feel like the year is going okay, if a little more interrupted by testing and trainings. I'm a den leader for my son's cub scout troop. I followed the 49ers closely as they had a surprisingly great season and came devastatingly close to winning a championship. I'm enjoying seeing my kids grow up more. There are lots of little pleasures in life that you can grow to appreciate as you get older. I wish I could tell my 14-15-year-old self that so many of the things I worried about didn't really matter that much.
Added up, my energy levels have been a little lower than last year's, but I'm more content.
***When thinking about the school year, how have you grown in the time since it began? If possible, give specifics. For example, don’t just say, “I’m a better writer.” Instead, say something like, “I realized that I used a lot of run on sentences, which made my writing difficult to understand. After sharpening that with the MITS practice, I do a lot better now at punctuating my sentences properly. It makes my writing a lot more like an adult’s.”
As a lifelong perfectionist, I'm learning to live with doing things that are merely good enough to get the job done rather than the spectacular, mind-blowing experiences I've sought after in the past. I don't have to destroy myself to be a good teacher (repeat over and over).
I'm coming up on a decade of teaching now, which is a heck of a long time. I've grown a lot, yet I feel I've realized only a fraction of the teacher I can be. Education is a puzzle: a maddening, delightful, impossible mess. I'm embracing that more and more. Pretty Zen, huh?
***What are you most anxious to work on or learn for the rest of the school year? What do you still feel unsure about? What topics do we absolutely need to cover before the school year ends?
We were supposed to do a research paper in April, and we may yet: there is certainly a real-time historical event to track. What form that takes is still uncertain, though I can see a few different paths for us to try. I've got some ideas, but I sometimes find that my students will give me superior ideas. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
***Lastly, what mindspace are you in concerning school work right now? How much work do you think you will be able to do over the next few weeks, and what kind of work would be appealing to you? Please be honest in this section: this will help me calibrate my workload.
I'm actually excited. Any time we can read, write, and discuss things that matter and shove grades off the table means we're doing things that are important. I got into this business to help young people have better lives, and I relish a challenge like this. I believe that our character is revealed in difficult situations, and I hope to push myself and see so many of my students do the same. I look forward to being there for them.
To Your Health,
Mr. Posluch
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