Trickey thoughts on current times

Kia ora tātou,

The debunked quote is quite a nice starting point and though there are probably a billion pieces written about the times we are in and the current pandemic this is not what this blog is. This blog is more a cathartic piece as I reflect on my own practice. Though to throw some context on the piece Aotearoa, having enjoyed unparalleled freedoms for well over a year, went into a snap level 4 lockdown just over a week ago as we look to stamp out the Delta Covid virus. This has led to us again as educators working from home. So I am going to outline my new coping strategies for this time and what I am up to and also take a sideways glance at the reactions.

I do want to flip the script on this post going around. It is true that many adults and many students have not coped with the conditions we have been placed in. From what I am seeing there are incredible leaders emerging from this that give me real hope for the future. Students are not only becoming more creative, but they are also finding new ways to connect and care for each other's well-being. The wonderful counselor at our Kura has already reached out in a proactive way to the students and they are working with her online to support their further wellbeing. It is noted that this basic support is sometimes easier to access during these times. How do we though continue through our practice to develop relationships and support our ākonga?

Well, I quickly decided a number of things with my junior classes it is important to continue to build on the relationships we have. My year 10 class are familiar with Monday morning circle time and attendance question. One of my favorites is “What is the weather like on plant Student X”, I start by stating my weather. My weather is often stormy depending on mood or it can be very very pleasant if I am a little manic at that time. This is quite a nice way to go round the room in Zoom but not the fun engaging group activity I was looking for.

The other thing I do with my juniors to open up our new Zoom classroom is use Karakia. I chose a karakia that was meaningful practiced it and read through it as our opener. This will hopefully make people feel culturally comfortable and connected. Karakia for me anchors me back to that moment, I can go back to specific karakia and say oh yes that is how we opened this and reflect on their meanings. This though it shows the students I am learning and gives me something to reflect on does not give the same excitement that a group task in the classroom would do.

Me and my whānau thought about this for a while and we came up with the minute to win it as a good primer for the class. So I asked the students to bring 5 apples with them to the Zoom. Invariably we ended up with a variety of items, some had oranges and apples, some had started eating the apples, many said you are not going to make us eat the apples are you? We then with the students who could and me at home play the apple stacking game for 1 minute where you attempt to stack 5 apples on top of each other. We laughed some students got 3 some cheated and it was really fun. We had a moment where we all could laugh and connect and that is what is so desperately needed in these times. I will, on return to school, run this challenge in the classroom. This though is not the only thing missing in the classroom. Collaboration and the actual act of working together are not only vital for the generation going forward it is a highly sort after skill in the workforce. Encouraging this takes more creativity.

So the task this week for my year 10 class required them to work together. Using the google Jam board the first thing we asked for was students to sketch a picture of their team (My example above was sent to them (sorry Flynn). This task should be fun and my year 10 class is very used to art starters. There are some exceptional artists within the class. They then will go on to complete a series of slides on jobs they would love and hate and look at the qualifications that you need to get them by looking at the Careers NZ site. These will be presented in class on Thursday and I really look forward to this. Next week I hopefully can devise something just as creative. I actually feel quite lucky that I had invested class time in working on the Jam board as the students are quite used to this way of working. I certainly know that my shift from instructional pedagogy to a more constructive and collaborative pedagogy has left me more creative in my approach to the classroom. How do I cope through these times though?

Any work colleague, who knows me, would readily know that I did not cope very well with Lockdown last time. These signs were again starting to show early in the piece and I was getting triggered and manic about simple things. For example, a social event that turned into a meeting, made me fly off the handle. Luckily the Trickey whānau mirumiru (bubble) is a caring one. Promptly I decided that I would take it easy on myself this time, be more present for the family and relax a little more. I scheduled 1 Zoom with each of my classes and make sure they are fun and engaging (I have a huge amount to write about the unknown student superstars of Lockdown those kids who can light up the screen just by answering a question or doing something funny) or as fun and engaging as I can be at the time. I continue to meet my eSports team on Discord and schedule gaming time for them, though screen time is a worry I think it is important to schedule in this time. Minecraft club whānau drop in and no regular classes have been scheduled for Friday. This is my check and reflect day. I will open up the virtual staffroom have a coffee and not sit in my office. I will connect with staff who I want to and schedule a catch-up with a friend. I would say I wish all my Fridays look like this but they kind of do this is just me being more deliberate about it.

Well that is all my musings for now. I hope this finds you well.

Noho ora mai (stay well)