I haven't checked my email since one o'clock this afternoon and it's been fantastic. I feel more relaxed and less rushed than I normally would in the evening. While I didn't get much done, it was good to just stare at a blank screen for a while. If you can, I would definitely suggest scheduling some time in for yourself to be away from your email.

Today's question: What do you do to keep yourself grounded?

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I sat down to start my report cards today. I didn't get very far. Writing report cards is always tricky but it feels even more so this year. It's been nearly four months since I last saw my students so I don't know how accurately I'll be able to report on student achievement this time around. To be fair, I question how accurate report cards reflect student learning and achievement every time I write them. How fair this is, I don't know.

Today's question: What changes need to be made to how we assess student achievement?

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This is a conversation that I'm uncomfortable with because I don't know what my position within it is. I know that this is an important conversation to have and it's important for me to listen. I don't know how my students have been affected by the anti-Black movement and I don't know what their experience with racism is. The consciousness of diversity can't exist in a homogenous environment; what environment are our students learning in and what does this mean for our teaching?

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Online learning is creating an ever-growing separation between the students themselves and the students and teachers. Without the classroom to provide a context for learning, I'm not sure how much longer we'll be able to remain connected with our students. We – students and teachers – need to be able to articulate how we're feeling in order for everyone to be able to understand each other.

Today's question: How has remote learning changed your perspective on 21st Century learning?

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I was asked to help a committee plan a virtual talent showcase. I agreed but it reminded me of when I was in a talent show. What we often don't realize is how much work goes on behind the scenes and how valuable this work is in helping provide students with an opportunity to present a different, unique side of themselves.

Today's question: How much does social media influence our teaching decisions? Do we unknowingly adopt ideas and present them to our students?

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Coming into this June, I feel more tired than I remember ever having been. I feel very confused, uncertain, and disconnected. I've been questioning my teaching practice and its effectiveness. I just don't feel ready, yet.

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In today's episode, I share a bit of my story and how being labelled "smart" had an impact on my life. Being smart isn't a bad thing but it shouldn't be the primary aspect of one's identity. As teachers, we need to be careful about how we congratulate students on a job well done.

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I've been thinking about what it means when students say, "But, you didn't teach this." There are so many ways to interpret this simple statement, but it always means that the student doesn't know how to do what you've asked them to. What causes students to feel this way and what can be changed to support them so that they don't say this again?

Today's question: Should we be thinking about our days as if they are normal school days? Teaching between the bells, planning and marking before or after them.

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After some conversations about student placement, I started thinking about how we have an impact on students' learning environments and the people they interact with. Grouping students together, or determining their cohort, should be done with the best of intentions and done truthfully. 

Today's question: I have a fancy for fountain pens. Now that students are submitting all of their work online, how is this changing the thinking time that is available to students?

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In today's episode, Diana Guerriero shares her experience with using choice boards to empower students. She shares a number of ideas for activities that can be easily implemented. She then shares how she collects student feedback to help her assess the effectiveness of the work students get to choose from. 

Today's question: Should students be playing outside right now or focusing on school work?

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