Hello everyone! Just this time a year ago, saying, "Schools should be open," and "Many kids are safest at school," would have gotten you retweets, likes, and applause. Today, however, it might get you flamed on social media or yelled at. Yes, we are in a pandemic. Yes, things are different because of this. But is the role of schools different? Are schools so non-essential we can just keep closing them down? Is the work we do with kids in our building so easily sacrificed? Brian Mendler, a former self-contained SPED teacher turned staff developer, has a LOT to say on this topic. He believes schools should be open. They should offer online options for those that need them, and adjust to pandemic life, but still keep the doors open for the kids and families that need it most. He believes that schools are essential. Disagree? Agree? Regardless, I hope you listen to this one. As educators, we owe it to ourselves to hear all sides, not just the side we agree with.         This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.