Alice’s Unfiltered List
There is not one easy answer in this Going-to-School-in-a-Pandemic thing, but some answers are easier than others. For people who know me as Alice and not as my professional self, you know that I filter a ton of stuff so it doesn’t hurt people’s feelings. Sometimes I am really good at it. On this day, however, I am sad and angry and frustrated. And from the stories I am hearing from the field, I am not alone.
If you are feeling a little raw or sensitive, you should probably stop reading now.
Alice’s Unfiltered List of Recommendations for Decision Makers, Parents, and the 5 people who typically read the ERG Blog:
- Eliminate standardized testing for 2020-2021. It’s a joke. Nothing is standardized right now.
- Replace the standardized testing with formative assessment. This means actually looking at student work and performance and deciding how to instruct – not evaluate. If this is confusing to you, please call me. Seriously.
- If you are a decision maker or a parent, please make time to sit in on remote learning sessions*. Take notes on what the students are doing and what the teachers are doing. Reflect on it and use this information to inform your decisions.
- If you are a decision maker outside of a school building, ask to come visit. Take notes on what the principal and admin team are doing, what the classified staff is doing, what the teachers are doing. Reflect on it and use this to inform your decisions.
- If you are using social media posts, memes, or the proverbial “they” to inform you, please stop. Education was complicated well before the pandemic and election year and dust storm and hurricanes and murder hornets. Please – for the love of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph – consider your information sources, use your critical thinking skills, and consider the bigger picture. And if Uncle Rico tells you something that does not sound right, then ask Uncle Rico for his sources. And don’t repeat it. Duh.
I’ve talked to public school folks, independent school folks, and people with no kids in any system. I’ve talked to parents, teachers, principals, and district level people. We are all frustrated and sad. And fragile.
Everyone wants what is “best” but, let’s be real, there is no clear-cut path to “best.” We have to say goodbye to the year that never was and use this time and space to make something better. We have to reimagine “best.” The key to moving forward is leadership and vision.
Where my people at?
*PS- And if you do sit in those remote learning sessions, you will see there is a lot of good happening. Kids are resilient. Damn resilient. It’s the adults that are crumbling. Pay attention, embrace the suck, and figure out how you can lead even just one other human out of this into something better.
#1- I love you. I love reading this and hearing your Baby Teacher Voice from backintheday 1993 because the passion and drive and 100% devotion is all still there. #2-Fantastic advice. Collect real data from what is happening daily. Don’t believe Uncle Rico. Going to school for 13 years back in 19whatever does not make him an expert. #3- Thank someone. A teacher. A student. A parent trying so hard to hold it all together for their kids. An amazing data manager answering upteen questions a day from all of the above… #4- My principal said this in a meeting recently (shout out, Sean G) “We will come back. We need to remember that. We will come back. We will not come ‘back to normal’ so we have to make the best of what comes our way.”
Thanks April!! #1. I love you too. Glad I am not losing my passion in my old age. #2. Yes- the message is just make informed decisions no matter what side of this you are on. #3. Gratitude is a game changer. #4. Lemonade.
EXCELLENT
Love your prospective and informative information.
These are trying days for our educational systems, students and parents. We will get through this and hopefully gain new insights into improving our educational system and it’s environment for the good of our administrators, teachers, teachers, parents and students
The are in my prayers, may we come out stronger and more prepared for a brighter outcome for all in 2021🙏🏻❣️
Thanks Poppy! We will get through this, for sure. More. 🙂
Thank you, Julie Hamlett! I think you would call this “common sense” approach.
On point, for sure. The kids are lucky to have you in their corner. Keep fighting the good fight.
Thanks Shawn! Fighting for all kids…not just my own. 🙂
This brightened my day even in retirement! I still care about the children and teachers even if I am out of school! I hope many people read this!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks Deborah!! Once a teacher, always a teacher- right?
Yes, yes, yes!!!
Thank you Amy!!