Thank you to my town - Plainville, MA

So what did you do on this gorgeous day when you were supposed to #StayatHome? I went to a fire engine parade in my front yard. The fire department in Plainville had a parade where they went to every part of town. I loved the signs they had on the fire trucks. One sign said "Be the reason someone smiles" well they were the reason that I smiled today. I want to thank the fire department for doing that. I believe that was uplifting for everyone in town. We love our fire fighters! We love all our first responders out there risking their lives to save our lives.

THANK YOU

Too much sadness

It is 8am on a Thursday morning as I start to write this post for my blog. This has been a hard week for me as I have had multiple break downs. So many things making me sad this week.

To start, In the past 2 weeks my family has had to deal with several family and friends passing away. Seven to be exact. Only one from the corona-virus and one was much too young. I don't like having to keep my distance and not being able to hug family or say goodbye to the friends we lost. Even as I type this I am crying again.

This remote learning sucks. Sorry but no other word comes to mind. I hate not being able to be with my kids. The zoom meetings just aren't enough for me. I miss being in front of the class and teaching them. I miss their laughter. I miss being in my office and having students just pop in and say hello as they are on their way to some other place in the school building. I miss getting and giving them hugs.

I want to be able to see my son in person. He is at Fort Sill in Oklahoma for officer training school for the army. His program has been suspended for 3 weeks due to this virus. He was due to come home June 23rd but now that may be July. Maybe longer is that base extends the program shut down.

I believe the worst thing I can do is read all the articles about this virus because that depresses me even more but I just need to know what is going on and what experts think will happen in the future. I have read reports that we may have to practice social distancing for another year. and have to wear face masks whenever we leave our house also for a year or more. I just want to get back to normal, don't we all? but so many articles I read say that we are going to have a new normal with some form of distancing.

I do have some positive things to report. My family had #TuesdayTrivia night. We had a family zoom and played trivia using kahoot. That was a lot of laughs. We plan to continue this each week.
On Easter Sunday we had a zoom meeting and I got to see my son for the first time in a few weeks. That put a smile on my face. Huge thank you to the people at zoom.com.

I will end this post with one positive thing I have gotten from the dozens of articles I have read in the past 24 hours. This is a graph showing that the US has reached the peak of this virus. This graphic is from the NY times

Remote learning week one done

I survived my first week of remote teaching. Hopefully my students did well with their first week of remote learning. I had them fill out a survey and I had many students ask for more video lessons. So I spent the second half of this week making videos to teach the kids about solving trig equations. I guess its the next best thing to being there. Miss them so much and this teaching online is so much work. I am at my computer from 8am until 4-5 pm and then back at the computer around 8 pm to check work because my teenagers like to sleep in and do the school work late afternoon/early evening.

I know the governor's order has us back in school on May 4th but I don't think that is going to happen. I really hope I am wrong about this but I don't think we will be back in school in May. Let me say this again, I really hope I am wrong about that!

Today we had some nice weather so I got the chance to get outside. Didn't really do anything except water my veggies that are growing in the green house. I am now referring to the greenhouse as my "she shed"
My husband and daughter made some birdhouses. I think they came out great. The birds will be happy. We certainly get a lot of birds in our back yard.

The only other thing happening today was the Easter Bunny riding around town on a motorcycle. Went by my place around noon time.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. Just won't be the same without the extended family here to celebrate with. Instead we will be having a zoom meeting so we can all see each other. I am very excited to see my son who is on base in Oklahoma. Haven't seen him since the end of January.

I hope everyone finds a way to celebrate Easter and stay healthy.

Remote Learning

Well we started our remote learning this week and boy is this teacher tired. So much work! Don't get me wrong, I love what I do and it was great to get back to teaching but I am exhausted. Today I made time for myself. I walked away from my computer for one hour this morning and then another hour this afternoon. Otherwise I was at the dining room table on my computer from 8am until 5pm. I ate dinner and came back to the computer to correct some of the assignments my students did late this afternoon. After I post this blog I need Tylenol and sleep.
The best thing about this week has been talking to the kids again. Morning zoom meetings and lots and lots and lots more emails.
I read an article online today that alluded to the fact we may not return to school at a this year as some other states have already announced that. Please don't let Massachusetts be one of those states. I want to go back. Even if only for one month.
Before I end this I have to give a BIG thank you to my daughter who went food shopping for me today. She didn't want me out in public due to underlying health issues that make me high risk. I have the best daughter.

Everyone stay healthy and to all my students - do your math work!

Stay at home Day 19

Today is National Autism awareness day so i wore my blue to support and the school were all lit up blue tonight which I wanted to drive by and see but my car battery is dead. Car wouldn't start so my husband jump started it and we drove it directly to Sullivan Tire to get a new battery. Decided to get new tires too so they will work on my car some time Saturday. I'm in no hurry, not going anywhere soon.

Another day spent prepping to teach remotely next week. I am very excited about this but even more excited about seeing some of my students tomorrow. I scheduled virtual meetings with each of my classes and I really hope a lot of my students participate. First one is at 9:30 am so only 12 hours away. YAY! If any of my students are reading this please know that I miss you o much. I can't wait to see and talk to all of you again.
The School comm and the teachers association signed an agreement tonight about the remote teaching/learning so I can now finalize my plans and get word to the kiddos about what we are doing. I get to be a teacher again.

Now I am getting off the computer to go watch "How to get away with Murder" The final six episodes start tonight. Love this show!
I'll be back to blog again this weekend. Everyone STAY HEALTHY!

Day 18

Today was a very busy day for me as my school is prepping to begin remote learning next week. I had plenty of zoom meetings with other faculty members as we all help each other. I had a long day but I am so happy to be able to teach again even if it's not in person. This is a chance for me to be creative in the way I teach and assess. I plan to have zoom meetings with my students on Friday and I am so excited. Bring on the teaching and learning.
33 days until we return to school. That is provided the state doesn't change that return date again. May 4th can't come soon enough.