• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Advertising
  • Write for Us
  • Job Board
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Consulting
    • Advertising
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Shirts

The Educators Room logo

  • Start Here
    • Impact Statements: Teacher Expertise
    • Newsletter
  • Browse Topics
    • Content Strategies
      • Literacy
      • Mathematics
      • Social Studies
      • Educational Technology
      • ELL & ESOL
      • Fine Arts
      • Special Education
      • Popular Topics
        • Teacher Self-Care
        • Instructional Coach Files
        • Common Core
        • The Traveling Teacher
        • The Unemployed Teacher
        • The New Teacher Chronicles
        • Book Review
        • Grade Levels
          • Elementary (K-5)
          • Middle (6-8)
          • Adult
          • New Teacher Bootcamp
          • Hot Button Topics
            • Menu Item
              • Principals' Corner
              • Charter Schools
              • Confessions of a Teacher
              • Interviews
              • The State of Education
              • Stellar Educator of the Week
            • Menu
              • How to Fix Education
              • Featured
              • Ask a Teacher
              • Teacher Branding
              • Current Events
  • Podcasts
  • Courses
    • Practicing Self-Care to Avoid Teacher Burnout- An 8 Week Course
    • Becoming An Educational Consultant
    • Teacher Branding 101:Teachers are The Experts
    • The Learning Academy
    • Books
    • Shirts
  • Education in Atlanta
  • Teacher Self-Care
  • The Coach's Academy
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Advertising
  • Write for Us
  • Job Board
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Consulting
    • Advertising
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Shirts
×

February 2, 2021 COVID

Teaching in a Pandemic: Help Teachers, Help You

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Alice Trosclair

Alice has been teaching for fourteen years. She currently teaches English I, English III, English Language and Composition AP, and English Literature and Composition AP. She lives with her husband and son in south Louisiana. She also has hundreds of "adopted" children.
  • Teaching in a Pandemic: Help Teachers, Help You - February 2, 2021
  • The Importance of Feedback in Distance Learning - October 9, 2020
  • What a Teacher Wants: One Teacher's View - March 25, 2018
  • Artist is Not a Dirty Word - March 18, 2018
  • The Death of Reflection in English/Language Arts Classrooms - March 9, 2018
  • More Than A Teacher - March 4, 2018
  • Real Teaching Resolutions - January 5, 2017
  • 23 Times I have Questioned My Sanity While Teaching - September 7, 2016
  • Part 3: Adventures in Real Word English/Language Arts - Let Them Be Great - August 23, 2016
  • Part 2: Adventures in Real World English/Language Arts: Making Them Care - August 4, 2016

 

Currently, I have twelve 9th graders failing and twelve 11th graders failing. I am still taking late work through tomorrow at midnight. I am taking ANY assignment, even from November. I have allowed them to redo any writing assignment as often as they would like for a higher grade. I have offered tutoring after school. I have given re-engagement activities. I have contacted parents.

I do not know what else I can do.

They do not do the assignments at home (which I have NEVER graded for accuracy, only completion and turned in on time.). Their failure to complete the AT-HOME LEARNING makes it difficult to reinforce skills needed for major assessments and formal papers, which leads to low grades on summative assessments. Even when we complete things in class, some still do not do the work and turn it in.

I am really trying.

I understand that we need to show patience and understanding with the kids because it is a different learning environment; however, we have been at this for over a semester. The "learning curve" should be settled by now. The reality is students and parents believe that the school system will not let them fail this year, so they have the mindset of why should I work when they are going to pass me anyway? And if this is true, fine, but what kind of precedent are we setting for them? They need to be held accountable because in "real life," there is no turning things in late without penalty. Or turning paperwork in when you want. I know if I don't turn in my paperwork, lesson plans, or grades on time, I would not be given "grace."

Once in a while, I get it stuff happens, but the failing students are consistently not doing work. Could this be a left-over mindset from March? Maybe. Is this a different type of school year? Absolutely. Something has to be done. And it cannot be up to the teachers to carry this anymore.

Accountability has to be given to the parents and the student.

I know this is hard for parents because I am a parent myself. While I am struggling to help students, my son is home struggling with his assignments. I come home and help him. Because that is what I am supposed to do, it is not just the teacher’s job to make sure he is completing assignments. I am accountable for my own child. Then I prepare supper and sit at the table to grade and plan because I didn’t have a prep period because I had to sub for a class. Then I wake up and do it again.

Everyone seems to get some understanding, additional assistance, or patience, except the teachers. We are held to impossible standards, and we are given more and more, and we, well, at least, this teacher, is breaking. Then school board officials are coming to critique me for an evaluation? In the middle of a pandemic? I get told I have to clean desks between classes, change to another prep, and be in the hall at the same time? HOW? Please tell me. I have to call all my failing students and students who have missed more than three days in every one of my six classes? Then grade the piles of late work? Then lesson plan for three different classes? Then earn new technology to help “mediate” this “new normal.” Update my grade book daily. And cover classes on my prep because we don’t have enough subs? HOW? Tell me. Please.

My dear administration, school board, and society, I am broken. I need help. I need understanding. I need to be valued and appreciated, not critiqued while I am drowning. I already feel like I am failing on every level. This is not the year to… Click To Tweet

I need patience and understanding. Just like you want me to give to my own students. I need time. I need parents and students to be held accountable. I know it is a new time, and teachers have always risen to the occasion, but we cannot be everything to everyone every day. Could you help us? Then we can be better for you and your children. Overwhelming us with all these new expectations, overnight emails, and constant changes will not help anyone.  We need more support and understanding than ever before just as we give you and yours.

Teaching in a Pandemic

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Related posts:

PandemicTeach to the Rest: How the Pandemic Could Be the Best Thing for Education in 20 Years Compassionate Teaching is Key Especially During This Pandemic TeachingFlip That Frown Upside Down - Teaching Like a Stoic Surviving Pandemic Teaching: Teachers, Secure Your Own Self-Care Oxygen Mask
« The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers: Habit 1 - Be Proactive
Marjorie Taylor Greene: A Disastrous Decision for Education and Labor Committee »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

The Educator's Room was launched in 2012 to amplify the voice of educators. To date, we have over 45+ writers from around the world and boast over twelve million page views. Through articles, events, and social media we will advocate for honest dialogue with teachers about how to improve public education. This mission is especially important when reporting on education in our community; therefore, we commit our readers to integrity, accuracy, and independence in education reporting. To join our mailing list, click here.

What we do

At The Educator's Room, we focus on amplifying and honoring the voice of educators as experts in education. To date, we have over 40 staff writers/teachers from around the world.

Popular Posts

  • My Union Showed Up for Me, and I'll Never Forget It
  • Your Students Deserve a Diverse Classroom Library. Here's How to Set It Up.
  • You Don't Have to Watch the Tyre Nichols Video, But Be Ready to Talk About It
  • "Let's Make This Happen": Following Student Interests to Interest-Based Mentorships

Featured On

Buy Our Books/Courses

How to Leave Your Job in Education

Practicing Self-Care to Avoid Teacher Burnout

Using Your Teacher Expertise to Become an Educational Consultant

Check out our books on teaching and learning!

The Learning Academy

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Services
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

 

Copyright © 2021 The Educator's Room.