Global Roads with Mrs. Surprenant

This in addition to what has transpired since the beginning of 2020. We aren't even through March yet and the following has already happened: Massive fires in Australia Killing of Iranian General Soleimani Ukraine Passenger Jet shot down by Iran President Trump signs a US/Mexico/Canada Trade Agreement The UK formally withdraws from the European Union The Superbowl without the New England Patriots The Senate Impeachment Trial of President Trump New Hampshire Presidential Primary Super Tuesday Primaries The US signs a tentative peace agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan. President Trump gives the State of the Union Address The first case of Coronavirus appeared in the United States on January 21st. What is the rest of the year going to bring?

Today was our first NEW day of school. Remote school. School where I can't interact face to face with students and colleagues. It's doable but tough. So much is lost when one is only communicating with written language through a keyboard. Videoconferencing should alleviate some of this but we have to wait for permission from parents.  During my lunch, I joined a Zoom video conference hosted by Meredith Atwood. You have probably never heard of her but I've been a fan for years now.  In the triathlon world, she is known as swimbikemom.com and I've had the pleasure of meeting her.  She just published a book, " The Year of No Nonsense:How to Get Over Yourself and Get On With Your Life"   ( https://www.amazon.com/Year-No-Nonsense-Over-Yourself/dp/0738285536 ) and she is now hosting daily community meet ups.  Today was a great day to participate in her Community Meet Up because her guest was Mike Reilly.  Unless you are a triathlete or are related to a ...

This is my stack of materials I am bringing home from my classroom. I am cautiously optimistic that I will be able to engage with the following while I am at home facilitating remote teaching and learning. The stack includes: Climate Change and Questions of Justice curriculum  published by the Choices Program at Brown University. This is at the top of the list because I am team teaching a Global Environmental Science class with a science colleague and this curriculum is the structure for our class. NEASC Self Reflection Guide for Accreditation  - our school just started this process last month and I am the chairperson of our steering committee. For those who don't know what NEASC is, it is the New England Association of Schools and Colleges - aka - the school accreditation organization. Back copies of Social Education published by the National Council for Social Studies. There are excellent lesson plan ideas that I want to read and think about. In the midst of all o...

One thing that has changed as a result of school closings due to this pandemic is my daily routine. Getting to school between 7:30 and 7:45 is normal for me and I am still doing it even though I don't technically have to. Working on remote learning assignments and logistics still feels better in my classroom than at home. Many colleagues are doing the same so it is nice to have the interaction. By the end of the week, I will adapt my daily routine to work from home.  School staff and students are very accustomed to strict daily routines that not having one at all can be rather disconcerting. Educators are recommending that students and families develop a daily schedule to provide structure for learning and family. Working from home will be interesting as I adapt to what my school is recommending as a schedule. My son who had to come home from his spring semester of college will develop his own routine for finishing his course work and having mom and dad as his roommates. So f...

Back at school today for more specific course planning. My fabulous colleague, Rachel S., and I are team teaching together for the very first time! Our course melds my Global Studies course and her Environmental Studies course. We roughed out a calendar and adapted the activities and assignments we would have used had we been in school. We are looking forward to seeing how our 23 students respond! Another thing we are trying to work on is determining which students don't have access to internet at home so we can accommodate their needs. Still very weird being in the building without students. This situation will end and we will get through it!

Something is missing here.  Shutting down schools for a global pandemic is new territory for me as a person, teacher, and parent. I have spent the day calling or emailing my advisee's families, collaborating with colleagues about our learning plans, and waiting for answers to many questions. I'll be working throughout the week to create and revise assignments that will meet the needs of my students. As a parent of 2 college students whose universities have transitioned to online learning for the remainder of the semester I am concerned for their academic and social health.  They are dealing with a lot of transitions too. We are all in a state of flux AND WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT!