The COVID case numbers in the county where my school is located are on the rise. There was more than 50% jump in target numbers (number of cases per 100,000) last week over the week before. After the weekly numbers came out, we got word that the earliest date my grade band might return to school will be November 2. 

My classroom still isn't quite ready to receive students, but it's close. It's incredibly difficult to find time to work toward setting it up now that the school year has already started. There's always something more pressing to do, like stay on top of my email, grade assignments, plan the next activities, and digitize assignments. I could stay really late or work on the weekends if I had to get it done, but I am already working on the aforementioned tasks during those times so I'm trying to continue to just do a little at a time. The room still looks stark, but rather than bringing in my classroom library and declaring it off limits, I'm leaving it in boxes at home. Rather than bringing in containers for shared supplies and having them sit empty, I've left them with the boxes of books.

Last week I was told my classroom will need to have plastic shields up on each student's desk. I got my set out of the workroom and brought them down the hall to my classroom, but haven't brought myself to set them up yet. The idea of each of my students sitting behind a plastic screen, not moving around the classroom is difficult to grasp. I'm told they are working well in the K-2 classrooms, but I do wonder what will happen with older kids who are bigger and work more often out of books. They may end up on the floor frequently in the older grade levels. 

In the midst of all of the crazy of getting a classroom ready to teach in the era of COVID-19, I am feeling very welcomed back into the building. People keep saying things like, "I'm so glad you're back!" and "We were lucky to get you back." When I was in last week, one teacher walked in with a gift for me. She said she was shopping and when she saw it, she had to buy it for me. 

While many things about teaching are different this year, some remain the same. I'm primarily teaching from a corner in my bedroom, but I'm still building relationships with my students and getting animated during lessons. While I'm not jumping up and down or standing on furniture as I would in person, my husband has commented about my lively tone of voice and arm waving as I teach. I'm pretty sure my neighbors have also noticed my arm waving. At least I'm teaching with the windows shut as the weather has shifted toward a cooler pattern.

Even over Zoom, students are making me smile and laugh on a regular basis. I have a few who contact me daily on Google Hangouts. Some send emojis, others greet me every morning, and one gives me regular air quality updates. Fourth graders are fantastic. I'm enjoying this year despite all the unprecedented challenges.

This was my favorite response to a Growth Mindset reflection.