A First Day Like No Other

I am exhausted and yet I am compelled to write, at least a little, to document this strange, and draining first day with students. It is much too late, and I am way too tired to reflect with great depth or detail and so I will just note some observations, and maybe, if I am lucky, some highlights.

The first, and least surprising, yet more important and encouraging, is that kids remain kids, and my students, in both my classes, are lovely. 

I spent the bulk of the day outside with my students getting to know them. Our morning classes took place in the back field, with meditations, name greetings, and our first introductory exercises. I had to choose between having trouble hearing kids inside under their masks, or outside with all the background noise, so it seemed the obvious choice. Our afternoon was spent with our first writing activity, which we did by providing each student a clipboard and heading to the park. It was easy to make space, and give students the chance to ease their way in, and us the chance to get to know them. 

When we were walking back at the end of the day and I asked how they felt about the first day. Most felt good about, and many remarked that it went by very quickly. I was glad they thought so. I can't say I felt the same.

Being with students again was indeed fun and fulfilling. It is always amazing to feel their excitement, and amusing to see their dread and discomfort. Talking about their learning and the success that I know will come is inspiring and energizing- it is why I do the job. 

The first days, talking about routines and procedures in usually annoying and draining, and today it was that tenfold. Everything was just that much harder. 

Most kids weren't bothered by their masks at all, and I was surprised by the number who left theirs on throughout the day, even during our time outside. For me, talking from behind the mask was draining. It took all my energy, and all my breath, to be clear, so I could be sure everyone heard and understood, or at least as much as possible. 

Outside wasn't much better. I had to be twice as loud to overcome the surrounding noise, even when it was quiet, and the distance of the students. At times, I had to do that while still wearing my mask as I wasn't certain students were far enough way.

That was a fairly constant, and exhausting, concern. By the end of the day I was tired I reminding kids to spread out and was just happy I was outside. In the classroom, for the short periods we were there, most kids seemed comfortable enough, and like many aspects of classroom life, the same kids needed the same reminders, and will again tomorrow.

It is also evident that the needs in my classes are great this year. I am not sure if they are much different, or more, than in the past, but they are certainly magnified, by the limited support, and all the other subtle changes that impact every part of classroom life- there are way too many to write about here and it seems they all fall on the classroom teachers. 

It is a lot- a lot to consider, a lot to manage, and a lot to process, and this was just the first day. 

I am lucky to be in a co-teaching situation and work with a colleague, who provided balance and perspective. At the end of the day, as we decompressed, he wisely reminded me that as veterans we have a wealth of experience on which to rely, and there is purpose and solace when we are able to work with our students as that is where we find our expertise- we know what we are doing. 

His words were comforting because they are true. When we can be at home in our classrooms we can do our jobs and we do them well. 

I just hope that our classrooms have not become so limited and we actually get to keep doing that.