Slice of Life: Start at the House ... You Have to Begin From a Place You Know #SOL20
So, first things first, I am a literacy consultant. So, honestly, I am not responsible for directly supporting students and families right now. I have an 18 and 20-year old at home. They can’t go out of the house – so this is the easiest time I have ever experienced parenting. I am actually sleeping through the night. My most immediate parenting concern is making sure they eat breakfast before 2 pm. I am not minimizing how difficult this time is for college and high school students, but in terms of my work-from-home life, I recognize I am in a pretty good place.
And yet I am overwhelmed as an educator… dare I say there is almost too much content being offered. I cannot imagine how this must feel to teachers or caregivers. Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed or stressed, I return to how my in-laws give advice. I affectionately refer to it as, “Start at the house.” It began when their kids first started driving and needed directions (this was before the time of Google Maps and Waze). Directions always began with, “Start at the house…” This morphed into meaning “start with thinking about what matters,” “remember what grounds you,” and “begin with trusted sources,” as we grew older and needed advice beyond navigation. I do think there is wisdom in starting with what you know and trust during a stressful time.
I decided to once again heed this advice. I stopped clicking, posting, and sharing. I went to my notebook and thought about the sources that have been grounding me for years. The people and groups I trust, know, and with whom I’ve connected. Sometimes less is more, so I decided to look to the sources that were there for me before COVID -19 to guide me now. I have to say once I made my list, I immediately felt calm.
I recommend everyone log off for a bit, take a step back, and decide a starting point for your virtual communication. It will give you a foundation from which to branch out. It will connect you to your PLN and provide consistency.
Here is the list I made for elementary literacy:
Writing: https://twowritingteachers.org/
Reading: https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com
Literacy Instruction: https://readingandwritingproject.org/
#G2Great Twitter Chats (Thursdays @ 8:30 pm)
Facebook Groups: TCRWP and Jennifer Serravallo’s Reading and Writing Strategies Community
Digital Literacy Instruction: https://sites.google.com/view/rtwdistancelearning/home
Authors: https://www.katemessner.com/
http://www.sharingournotebooks.amylv.com/
I know this does not include everyone – this is my list. I know this list will increase over the weeks – in due time. I know I will learn and expand my PLN – the list can grow. This is where I am starting so I can think about how I can support teachers, caregivers, and families. I have to start with what I know in order to support teachers and answer their questions. I have to start with what I know so I can provide suggestions that focus on what’s essential in teaching and learning.
For me “starting at the house” was turning to Two Writing Teachers to think about how to support teachers during this time. Turning to them helped me to think and to expand ideas on how to collaborate together. Melanie Meehan created a page on the Two Writing Teachers blog for us to do just that. If this feels like “starting at the house” for you, please join us. We plan to post, host coffee half-hours, share resources, and be there to support teachers. We are not sure exactly what it be, just like with writing, we are beginning with a draft that we will continue to revise and elaborate upon over time.
If you are a teacher, remember, your students also need to “start at the house.” Educationally that house is you - give yourself grace and space as you plan how to support your students. Give yourself permission to get offline and think. Don’t feel the need to join everything that is offered. Start at the house and go from there —- you’ve got this!
Thank you, Stacey, Beth, Betsy, Kathleen, Melanie, Lanny, Kelsey, Marina, Amy, and Therapi for hosting this weekly forum and the March Challenge. Check out the writers, readers, and teachers here.
