How To Teach During a Corona Shut Down — Day 0

Calming and informing my students during an uncertain time

Yesterday was confusing at best.

The morning started with an announcement of major changes in the school schedule. Spring break was moved forward by a month, the week after Spring break was designated a “distance learning” week, student laptops were not to be distributed for class (a bigger deal than you think), and a planned assembly was cancelled.

This all happened with little warning at 7:30 in the morning.

As my students began coming in for first period, I could see confusion and anxiety on their faces. They were getting general announcements over the PA system, asked to “stay tuned” for more information, and being told by some of the adults “don’t worry, we will provide assignments over the break” (as if that’s what they were worried about).

I put on some background music, a single slide that detailed all of the schedule changes I knew at that point, and focused on greeting every student with something positive.

After everyone was in and settled, I began with as much explanation as I could offer about the schedule changes. Students began asking questions and offering their own uninformed assessments of the new schedule and the virus. I…