When Life Hands You Lemons...

 When life hands you lemons...

Whether you are an experienced teacher, veteran virtual teacher, or new to eLearning days, the idea of weeks of eLearning lessons may seem a little sour. Designing and delivering multiple eLearning lessons is uncharted territory for most of us, newbies and experienced teachers alike. How can we make light of this sour situation and make sure we can support our learners?

Fresh State of Mind
Before we can focus on the task at hand, let's take a second to focus on our headspace. No fresh technology tools, strategies, or planning will do any of us much good if we are in a panicked, distracted state of mind. As we embark on this extended eLearning endeavor, you may need to regularly take a step back. None of this is normal and there is no precedent to follow. Everyone is trying to do the best they can, but things will not go perfectly. It is okay to have doubts and not have all the answers right away. It is definitely okay to worry about your students whom you won't see in person for an extended amount of time. Know that there are millions of educators across the globe who are experiencing the same emotions, scouring the internet for lesson ideas, and trying to find ways to support students during these difficult times. Take a deep breath, roll your shoulders back, and exhale. Students, parents, administrators, colleagues, technology, and you-yes, you-we are all working to do our best, but giving ourselves plenty of grace is key during a time of great stress and greater unknowns. Give yourself-and others-some slack. 

Fresh Air
Go for a quick stroll around the block if you need to, then come back. Decades of research show physical movement and activity can boost our creativity, relieve stress, and improve our focus. Many of us utilize "brain breaks" or "brain boosts" on a regular basis with our students for these very reasons. Taking a few minutes to step away, go outside, exercise, and refocus. We'll still be here, you'll still have time to plan, whenever you are ready. Before digging into practical tools and tips, it is important to tend to the ways our current situation has impacted our emotions and our energy.

Fresh Ideas
A great way to feel supported and less overwhelmed is to connect with others who are experiencing similar emotions or who have experience with your needs. Connect with colleagues in your buildings and your UDL facilitator. Social media can be another great outlet for collaborating. Many educators share ideas on Twitter or through groups on Facebook

• Facebook:
• K-12 Learning Possibilities in Pandemic Times
• Dealing with Educational Inequities in Distance/Online Learning
• Educator Temporary School Closure for Online Learning
• Twitter
• Creating a Twitter account
• Helpful people to "follow" on Twitter

As we move into the weeks of eLearning ahead-remember to give yourself time to freshen your mind, your surroundings, and your perspective. Life has handed all of us a large serving of lemons a the moment-before you can turn these lemons into lemonade, first make sure you are taking the time to sweeten situations for yourself.

You can do this.