Just checking in... - Señora Jota Jota

I don’t know about you, but I have really needed someone checking in on me lately. The stress of innumerable added teacher responsibilities on top of my already hectic and ever-changing life has hit hard. Add in teaching at a new school and you might just have a recipe for disaster.

If I need someone to check in on me, I guarantee my students need it even more!

I have really struggled with gauging student engagement. Masks on every face so you can’t see a smile or frown and desks 6 feet apart make for a very difficult path to real human connections. And connections are what I thrive on. Seeing on students’ faces that they get it or that they are just plain enjoying themselves nourishes my soul in countless ways and makes everything so much easier.

It’s hard to “teach to the eyes” when the rest of the face is shrouded.

So, for that reason, I have been sending out “check-in” surveys to my students each week. This week, I asked about confidence levels and if there was anything they wanted me to know. I asked what they liked and what they didn’t like. Now, I know, asking students what they don’t like can be tricky. Many teachers would never include that in a survey because in their opinion, what a student doesn’t like about a class is inconsequential to how they are going to teach the class. However, for me, it is a chance to show students that I am vulnerable, just like them. I am NOT all-knowing. I am open to ideas and suggestions. And… I care what they think. I care a lot, actually.

This week I learned:

One student had two family members pass away in the same week and several others were also harmed. I was able to respond with a condolence card.
Sometimes it’s the ones who exude confidence that are struggling the most.
Another student was moving into a house for the very first time and was worried rather than excited.
The students at my new school like my class just as much as the students at my old school. I was very surprised to read all the positive responses! I simply could not see the joy on their faces and thought they were at best bored and at worst not understanding the structures.
Everyone hates wearing masks and being 6 feet apart, but they understand the why behind it and are willing to do their part.
That while I am fearful that students aren’t comprehending and will get frustrated, students are afraid to disappoint me when they don’t know the answer.
Participation and engagement look VASTLY different between my former school and my new one.

I have been so concerned about engagement that I have lost a lot of sleep since school started. After three weeks of surveys and being together in class, students trust me enough to be open and share a little of their lives. One even said, “I know I don’t look like it, but I really do like your class!” This weeks’ survey put my mind at ease. (Perhaps I’ll get some decent sleep tonight!)

I cannot recommend enough that you check in with your students – for both their peace of mind and yours.

If you would like your own copy of this weeks’ survey, click here. Feel free to modify to fit your needs.

Happy teaching!

And happy sleeping!!