Teach On and Write: 50 Self- Care Prompts for Educators #1

 This year has been really hard... like THE HARDEST EVER... I don't think I will ever work this hard again in my life. COVID has been an adjustment for all of us in every aspect of life. It has also given us new opportunities to grow and spend our time differently. I have been trying to focus my "extra time" from quarantine improving the things I have always wanted to do: workout more, improve/change my pedagogy to a more gradeless reflective process, learn a new language, and to spend time reflecting and taking care of me.

I came across this book and will be writing my prompts here.

What I want for this new school year really comes down to making my students know that I care, that they are seen, and that they are capable of anything (especially math) with a little bit (or maybe a lot a bit) of work.

This year is already super hard and I really don't see the hard any time soon nor do I see it even getting any easier. Even when we go to "hybrid" learning I think that is going to be harder. So I am trying to do a few things to help ease the pain.

1. Celebrate birthdays by sending the kids a personal email. I love my birthday and there is nothing better than having someone tell you that they recognize today is YOUR day.
2. Letting go of all the "traditional" ways to hold students accountable.
1. No penalties for late work or being absent. 
2. Providing kids with class recordings and complete notes.
3. Create a feedback loop with assignments and not a point submission deadline. I am finding by making learning iterative the kids are working way harder and thinking much deeper.
4. Giving the students' voice and input in to their grades. As a teacher letting go of the tight rein I have had on points and grades has been so hard. But High School students are often WAY harder on themselves than I would be and by giving them ownership it helps them let go of the stress of that unknown grade calculation that Weighted Grades have been.
5. Kids aren't let off the hook in class and the words "I don't know" just mean we will work on the problem together. Everyone is part of the learning every day.
6. In addition, to the grading input when I make changes in class I get feedback from the kids on if that change works for them as it works for me.
7. Continuing to share my passion project of @mathematicianslooklikeallofus #MathematiciansLookLikeAllofUs