By Shelley Bennett
Distance learning has its ups and downs and today was a little bit of both for me. I teach English at Lassen High School and this week is Finals Week. My favorite thing about teaching is seeing my students every day as they walk into class. You can tell so much about what their day has been like by their walk.
Some of them try to slouch in, under my radar. I usually let them get away with it, then check on them later in the period. Others strut and make a production of their entrance and I happily welcome them as well. They prefer a greeting and eye contact. Distance learning has put a real damper on my ability to read the class.
Each morning I gaze at my computer screen and see a group of circles with initials inside, some of them have chosen a profile pic, but most stick to the standard initials. If I’m lucky, they will turn on their mic and say good morning or at least type it in the chat.
Today was different though. Today was the first day of presentations and they had to… turn on their cameras! It was a big day.
I didn’t realize how much I missed them until the first face appeared and began with their opener. His face was unsure at first, a little sleepy, but as he spoke his confidence grew and we enjoyed an actual face to face conversation.
Then the second face showed up. More confidence, even enthusiasm as she spoke about the piece of literary nonfiction she had created. The word count due was 500-800 and she sheepishly asked if it was ok that hers weighed in at over 2000. YES!
My third face was more nervous. It took a few seconds to break the ice, but she made it through and responded with a smile when I praised her writing. I wasn’t expecting that part, but being able to give immediate feedback made the encounter more rich and personal.
It wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns, nothing in the pandemic is. I had a few no shows, but I’ll find them. They are on my list to track down today. I know this is hard for them. I get it. They have already shown me their resiliency and been consistent in their attendance, but there is one more step to finish the semester. I’m going to help them get there.
Thank you to Leif, Tatum, Kaycee, Georgia, and Jocelyn. To Miguel, Peyton, and Hannah. You took a risk today and let me inside your world for a few minutes. You let me sit at your kitchen table or desk. You hid inside your beanie or baggy sweatshirt. You made the good stuff outweigh the bad and for that I am truly grateful.
I cannot wait to see you walk into room 115 in 2021.
Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”
