Checking-In

Greetings NEA-Jurupa Family,

I hope that this email finds you and your loved ones safe and well. I came across this the other day and wanted to share it with you (edited a little)…

What is grace? Merriam Webster defines it as “an act of kind assistance”. Synonyms include: benevolence, boon, courtesy, favor, indulgence, kindness, mercy, service, turn.

“When you feel like your day is unraveling or you’ve been hard on yourself for whatever reason, “giving yourself grace” is about giving yourself that kindness you often deserve. Sounds awesome. The type of thing you’d want your best friend to do for herself because you don’t want to see her breakdown.”

During this time of COVID, 100% online instruction, learning PSL, meeting your new students, meeting their families, getting your classroom organized, getting supplies to students, changing grade levels, moving schools, starting new job assignments, and the whole host of other things you are doing…. BE GRACEFUL UNTO YOURSELF!

You can only do what you can do. I mean that wholeheartedly, and I am in no way making light of what you have been asked to do to begin teaching in 2020-21. But I hear how you are frustrated, stressed, anxious, and upset because you feel unprepared for the beginning of the year. Give yourself the space and the grace to do what you can during these unprecedented times.

You are the professionals! Whatever you choose to do and how you choose to do it is within your purview. The pressures you are under and that you are feeling are magnified by the fact that you do not have access to the district provided technologies you believed would be in place. So, how can you use what you don’t have? Simply, you can’t.

So, what can you do? Breathe. Stop reading this and step away from your computer. Give yourself time to recollect your thoughts. Remind yourself that you know what you’re doing. Begin your year with fun activities so you can get to know your students and they can get to know you. Work through this together, and laugh and learn from your mistakes. Set reasonable expectations for yourself and your students (chances are they are as nervous and overwhelmed as you are). Be flexible within your day. Go slow to go fast.

Last, remember that you are human and that we are in a global pandemic. It’s time we give all of ourselves some grace. “Sometimes the thing your students need right now has nothing to do with what’s on your lesson plan.” – Anonymous

We are all in very different places personally and professionally, emotionally, mentally, and physically… Some of us and some of our students have suffered unimaginable loss during this time. Again, you can only do what you can do and that is enough… Be gentle on yourselves, practice whatever self-care you can. My doctor told me many years ago, “if you don’t take care of yourself, you’re no good to anyone else…” Just some food for thought.

Here are just a couple of quick reminders and some helpful resources.

Reminders:

• Site Rep Elections — each site has been allocated a number of reps based on number of association members. Area directors have that information and should be reaching out. Please try to have those names to us by Friday or Monday as we have a Rep Council Meeting next Wednesday.

• Instructional Council — Please remember that IC members are voted on by unit members and are not decided by Site Admin per Board Policy 6030.

Resources:

CTA IPD Recorded Sessions

JUSD Digital Gateway Resources

Reading the Virtual Environment

Zoom Settings Walkthrough

2 Simple Ways to Improve Online Instruction

How to Align Your LMS With the Science of Learning

Calming Room (Google Slides)

Essential Apps

How to Build Strong Relationships with Students if You’re Starting the Year Online

Ten Years of Teaching Online Has Taught Me These Five Things