My students sent me a very heartwarming e-card today and it got me thinking about the impact that we have as teachers; we have more of an impact than we realize. For me, this is a lot of responsibility and one that I need to acknowledge and accept. How students see you and what you see in yourself might not always align so it's important to as for feedback from them.

Today's question: If you could provide feedback to any one teacher you know, who would it be and what would you say? If you were to give yourself honest, third-party feedback, what would you say?

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This is the last week of school and it's not about learning. This week is about solidifying our relationships with our students. I'm having a hard time staying focussed so I can only imagine how students are feeling. The uncertainty that is coming with the end of this school year is only making this a stranger end to a strange year.

Today's question: Who do you respect as an educator? Why?

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The gifts I ordered for my students arrived this morning and I took the afternoon to deliver them. I saw a few of my students today and it was a trip. I'm curious to know what it's going to be like to see them in September.

Today's question: During remote learning, are you getting dressed to go to work?

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I've been working on building a marble run for over a week. I've been trying different materials and learning about how they work. In this process, I'm using a lot of the skills that I teach. It's important for us, as teachers, to pursue our own interests and take an interest in different things because our students are all interested in different things.

Today's question: What cultures have we unconsciously adopted and coopted in our classrooms?

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Today I was thinking about the importance of names and what they mean to us and our students. Names carry meaning and they establish a presence. It's important to call our students by the names they choose for themselves and pronounce them correctly, too. Students, too, should be calling us by names that we choose to use.

Today's question: How many opportunities have your students had to ask you questions? How many times did you respond honestly?

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I got tired of seeing students' avatars on the screen so I started creating imaginative stories about each other. It turned into an entire narrative that all of the students present enjoyed. I think that students should be given the opportunity to identify and explore their own stories. Students should develop their individual narratives as they're writing them.

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With only two weeks left in the school year, I think it's important that we turn our focus to the relationships that exist in the classroom: student-student and student-teacher. With engagement and motivation waning, it's important that we present students with interesting challenges to keep them thinking. I want them to go into the summer nicely.

Today's question: What's the biggest lesson that you're taking away from remote teaching?

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Today, after finishing report cards, I started reflecting on my teaching practice for Big Idea Friday. The perspective that you take on your teaching practice will impact how you reflect on it. Coming at it with the lens of a colander – focusing on the holes – or a fishing net – focusing on the ropes – changes how you perceive yourself and your practice. This then leads to figuring out how you can grow and develop in the future.

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I went outside to do some work today and it was great. I felt a lot more refreshed after being outside, and the work I was doing seemed easier. It was a nice change from the regular routine and something that I would like to make a habit. When we get back into the classroom, I'm definitely going to be taking my class outside.

Today's question: How are our personalities coming through during remote learning? Are our personalities, teaching personas, different online than they are in the classroom? What effect does this have on our understanding of who we are as teachers and how effectively we can teach?

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I'm running out of steam. This isn't a normal June and it doesn't feel right. After ordering some gifts for my students, I started thinking about how the pleasure of giving it to them is taking a backseat to the administration involved with delivering them. I think I'm just settling into the fatigue.

Today's question: I'm trying to get back into photography, what hobbies have you let slide that you could get back into?

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