I honestly don't even know. I've lost track of the days, weeks, and months any number of times by now. It's crazy to think that June 12 will signify 3 months since I've been at school on a normal schedule. Since then I've been there twice; tomorrow will be three times. I'm going for a meeting to work on aligning planning time effectively across the various levels of the subjects I'll be teaching next year.
As I was sitting on my couch watching the last episode and a half of the History Channel series called "Grant," (more on that in a minute) I had a quasi "oh shit" moment as I realized that I'm responsible for two AP curriculums next year. This isn't a surprise because...what have I been working on with my newly dubbed favorite (just dubbed him...just now...trying it out...not sure it'll stick but we'll see) for the last week and a half? Sure, we have an entertaining time but it's still working on school stuff. Never would I have ever thought I'd dub him a "favorite," but the whole new year new you mentality has really been a game changer, perhaps for both of us. Anyway. Curriculum. One AP class is stressful because it's preparing students for the course they're taking in high school and also a test that they take to determine if they have to take the class again in college or not. With APUSH you also get to add the additional pressure of it being a state tested subject so there's ANOTHER test they get to take (usually in the same week-10 days) but it's fine. Now, because I thought this would be a genius idea (and others agreed and backed me on the cultivation of this idea) I get to do that for two classes, although only one of them is a tested subject. Reprieve!
It will be fine. By working on aligning and organizing this summer I will feel a lot less overwhelmed going into this school year because I'll have familiarity with the material but, when you just think about it out of the blue, the color might drain from your face and you might have a second where you struggle to breathe. No? Just me. Okay, that's cool.
Grant documentary: When the History Channel releases something new I take it with a grain of salt. The caliber of work that has been released has slipped in recent years and I find it hard to teach half-truths. It's just this crazy standard I have. But I heard the Grant documentary was excellent, really excellent, so last night I watched the first episode. Today when we were working on APUSH, my newly dubbed favorite said, "I watched the Grant documentary last night." and I said, "Me, too! The first episode," and he said, "I watched the first two. It's like a movie with documentary clips," and I agreed. It was really well done. We both agreed that we didn't know a ton about Grant and that was so refreshing to me for some reason. One of the appeals of teaching social studies, especially history, is that it doesn't change. What I focus on might change but it already happened. The bonus is that I learn more each year because I am able to go more in depth. It's especially a bonus when you teach the same subject multiple years in a row, something that hasn't happened for me until now. This coming year I will get to combine last year with the previous year (with a twist since the course changed) and I am wholeheartedly welcoming some familiarity.
I hope I don't choke.
There have been a lot of questions lately. Since I'm a teacher I field questions from students, parents, friends, family, and random people...all asking the same question(s): "What is next year going to look like?" closely followed by "What does that mean for sports?" In order...nobody knows yet but it will probably be a game time decision. We've been told to prepare to teach in person, or online, or a combination of both. See? It's not any clearer to us either. As far as sports the only thing I've heard is sporting events could be closed to spectators. I just don't know. And I am aware that it would really suck for...well everyone....so that's why I don't want to talk about it. What I will say is that a friend of mine from another district sent me an article today that basically said her district is looking at doing classes both in person and online and I responded with the following statement: "So this crap for a variety of reasons, the main one being that digital learning did not work. Kids are even more behind. They can't or won't or don't take it seriously and the district backs itself into a corner because who is going to fail a kid in the midst of a pandemic for staying home to stay safe?" and then I rant a little before continuing, "If you want digital learning to work then you need to rewind the clock and nip the problem in the bud. Then you need to pay teachers overtime during the holiday break to prepare valuable and useful curriculum. Then you need to use the time from January to the end of February to teach online in the classroom so students understand the expectations and THEN roll out digital learning. No pass/fail. No changing it up. Pick something and stick with it. Require students to attend a minimum of one Zoom meeting per week, per class. Use check-ins for attendance. Hold. Them. Accountable. And realize this will never truly work because the inequity, especially in regard to technology and internet access, will always be there. The problem is the precedent has been set and kids will continue to not take it seriously...most of them fail to realize just how much this is hurting them. The few that do understand that they're looking at a huge educational deficit while the majority of them are all, 'Yay! Five months of summer!' and this generation is our future."
And then I stepped down off my soapbox and I'm still waiting for a reply that is not a bitmoji.
In the personal world of Aubs, I've stepped into a huge conundrum and I'm not sure how to solve it. To those of you who know me this is not a shock. To be able to explain it would require way more honesty, frankness, and harsh reality than I choose to put out there right now but...damn...you should see my draft posts. They're full of musings and speculation and utter ridiculously foolish "hearts in your eyes" insanity. It. Is. INSANITY.
I think. Probably. Unless it's not.
UGH. Men. I swear.
Aubs
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