Looking for normal-Whatever that once was

 Every day I go to battle.

From the moment I walk into my classroom even before the 6:00 in the morning hour until I lay my head down on my pillow to rest at night, I'm always trying to stay at least one step ahead of a nemesis that has been looming over us all since this past March.

-Covid 19-

I chose to return to the classroom this year, even after having every good intention to retire after the 2019-2020 school year ended.  As a nearly 65-year old woman, it seemed safer for my health and well being to be home and away from huge groups of children each day.  After 40 years as an educator, people were always admonishing me to remember that I had paid my dues to at least a couple of generations of kids already.  Yet all through June and into July, during the summer that really wasn't,  I kept having this aching within my heart to be with children once again and to help make a difference in their lives.  Story after story within the news told of teachers saying they were not returning for the current school year.  In the great state of Oklahoma, where the teacher shortage was real enough before the pandemic, there would be an even greater need this time around.  

I found my current position here in our local elementary school in mid-July.  It was the answer to the prayer I gave up to God for the greatest part of the summer.  

"I need a classroom Lord.  Please send me a surprise.  I could sure use a miracle!"

And sure enough, He did just that.

We've been at it since mid-August and each day that I have received with those 22 young people who call me "teacher" has been a blessing.  Try as I might to pretend things are normal, the way they used to be normal, the reality is that times have changed so much.  I am mindful to make sure I have at least two or three masks in my school bag to wear at all times both within the classroom as well as when I am away from our room.  Bottles of hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are at the ready and are used often.  I've gotten pretty good with taking temperatures twice a day as they one by one enter my classroom early in the morning and after lunchtime recess has finished.  

I pray it is enough to keep us safe.

Yet I worry constantly that it won't be.

I want for the kids in my room to have as normal a fourth grade year as possible, even in times of great challenge and a world of unknowns.  I've already finished my first teacher read aloud book for them and the kids made some really awesome dioramas to depict their favorite scenes from the story.  We've nearly completed our second round of paragraph writing as I try to help the kids develop good habits  in a world where text messages have completely changed what is acceptable and correct in writing conventions.  A few days ago, I put out the all call for folks to connect us with postcards from the New England states in anticipation for a social studies lesson about the various regions of the United States.  We are plowing head on into multiplication in our math lessons while daily going back to review what might have been missed or forgotten over the months from March until now.

It feels good to be able to teach what I know is important.

You know, going to school during a world-wide pandemic is not an easy thing.  I am sure that this special year, this bonus extension to my more than 4 decades long career as an educator, will forever be remembered as the one year I will never forget.  I am thankful to God for providing me a wonderful place to go each day and a classroom of kids that I would have never known had I been too fearful to return.  My building is filled with people just like me who only want the best for the kids and the families that they serve.  They support me and lift me up each and every day.  I feel welcomed and valued there, a gift that I am most grateful for.  

If you are looking for me in the days ahead, well I'll be out there looking for normal.

Whatever that once was.




 

 



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