The Joys of Parenthood (of which I remind myself constantly so that I don't completely lose it)

We know that we're not going back to school in person, but that's about all we know right now. I don't know how many students I'm going to have in total or in each section that I teach. I don't know how many synchronous learning sessions (virtual class meetings during which I'm interacting with students in real time) there will be each week, or how long each of these periods will be. I also just learned that our department head, who has been like a guru for me since coming to this school, is leaving for another job (for both practical and admirable moral reasons), so there's that as well.

Today, I've reached out to my colleagues to gauge interest in a "meeting" to discuss what we've been thinking in terms of our virtual return to school, especially as it relates to incoming ninth grade students. Otherwise, my plan for the day is to continue experimenting with the digital tools that our district is using. I've been a Google-ite for quite some time, and really appreciate Google Classroom as a tool. It's a comfort thing. Using Microsoft, especially in a collaborative nature, is still a bit bewildering to me, but it's important that kids aren't being asked to use different platforms for each class. As a staff, we need to be better aligned than we have in the past, because kids are figuring out enough without having to keep straight that they use Google Docs for LA, OneNote for History, so on and so forth. If they're repeatedly using the same programs, they can keep themselves better organized and less confused about what to do and how to do it. I also need to look into Adobe Creative Suite and to actually start scripting some videos. 

The additional challenge of my day is Chloe, my six-year-old, who is resisting my attempts to get her ready for the fall and constantly trying to work me for more screen time or snacks. I couldn't even finish that sentence without a 2 1/2 hour delay so that I could serve as building supervisor (exterminator visit today) and activities coordinator (it's raining out, so arts and crafts have come out of their hiding place).

I've gotten Chloe to read me a very short, yet delightful, "Fancy Nancy" book, and I'll get her to read another one without much struggle, but I cannot get this girl to sit down and do any handwriting practice. Before I start to sound too much like a sweatpants-wearing Captain Von Trapp (though I do have the whistle), I should clarify that we ordered her a collection of great workbooks that we've been working our way through over the summer. While I'm pleased as punch that she doesn't share my aversion to math and is often eager to tackle some equations, she runs from crosswords, fill-in-the-blanks, and other ELA exercises like a normal, non-sparkly vampire would run from sunlight. 

So I've been squeezing in bits and pieces of job stuff in between the rest. In my attempt to make this blog both personal and relatable, I will also just put it out there that I have neither showered nor dressed today. Today, that shower will serve as more of a reward than a necessary chore.