In 1.5 Days...Yay!

 After the longest Spring Break in the history of teacher-kind, I am 1.5 days away from beginning Year 30!  Yay!

Am I excited?  Yes!  Of course!  Nothing like the first day of school!  Yay!

Am I a bit nervous?  Hummmm...not really!  I got this.  Seriously...see previous 29 years of experience!

Here in no certain...yes, quite random...order, are my thoughts on 2020-2021:

1. My Room:  Almost ready.  I need to spend a chunk of time there tomorrow...finalizing and picking up the Gillmore vibe...trucks, bees, teal...just me.  Almost there!  Challenge:  social distancing.  Needed.  Necessary.  BUT...no more group work in a face-to-face setting.  Back to desks in a row.  Yes, I taught that way for years.  I got this. (Thank goodness for technology!  See 2, 3, and 4!)
2. Curriculum:  Ensuring everything is ready to go digitally...that takes time, friends!  I know you started even more ahead of time than I did.  But...again...that 29 years of experiece is kicking in.  AND...this is an absolute (sorry!):  I enjoy talking to kids...are you listening?!...time just flies!  In case you are curious, here's the first day of class for Eng 11/Oral Com and Teacher Cadets.  NOTE:  these lessons are very subject to change as my brain is popcorning all over the place, and I keep having ideas!  Stop me!
3. Technology:  I have kept some tech tools...and added some apps.  This I know:  One may quickly become overwhelmed with technology tools.  My advice?  Choose one...or two.  Master those.  Become friends with them.  THEN, add another.  Do NOT allow technology to not be your friend, as technology is the way to 2020-2021!
4. Favorite Tech Tools:  All things Google.  Of course!  This week, I created two graphic organizers using Google Drawings.  A first for me...I like!    My go-to Google apps are Classroom, Docs, Slides, Sites, and Blogger (glad you stopped by!)...and Gmail! :)  Use every day.  All day.  They make my life happy.
5. Going-to-Be Favorite Tech Tools:  Pair Deck and Automagically!  Thank you, School Leaders, for thinking of us!  Yes!  I am still on a bit of a learning curve.  I know...do what I should do when driving....slow down!  Ease into them.  Then, speed up!  (Just have to love an extended metaphor!)  OH!  I now have my very own YouTube Channel!  Congratulations, Tammy!  Houses one video.  Success!  Hopefully, more on that soon!
6. Amazing School Family:  These people have spent hours...yes, hours...working, plotting, planning, getting ready for our kiddos.  My Suggestion:  Set up a group text with your hallway or PLC or those that have become your besties across the building...and share, lean on one another, support...prop up, if needed.  Just be present in others' lives.  On March 17, our hallway started a group text...what an empowering group!  SIDE NOTE:  Well, we occasionally strayed and vented...BUT the next round of 100 texts (women have much to say!) would be full of memes and just-learned info and jokes...not always in that order!  HINT:  Beginning Monday, save those texts until after hours!  :)
7. Added Job Responsibilities:  This year, I will become even more adept at the cleaning of desks and administoring basic medical advice and such.  Happy to do so, for our students need the routine of school. Supplies are ready, and I might...could be...facing a learning curve as dusting is just not my favorite...BUT...I am sure cleaning desks will be much more fun.  Right?!  :)
8. My Students:  I have read a plethora of comments from teachers who are not ready, scared, apprehensive.  I have chosen to not go there.  I am resting in my Faith that these students are the mission field to which I have been assigned.  Yes, you are so right...mission fields can be dangerous places.  Very.  BUT.  The rewards are immeasurable.  There is where I rest.  I FIRMLY believe that students need school...mentally, emotionally...some even physically (food and such).  Simply put:  We are #BetterTogether.
9. COVID:  Rona is a beast.  One to whom I have nothing good to say.  BUT.  We have faced other beasts; yes, I have faced a few throughout my years of teaching and learning with thousands of kids (those numbers do add up over 29 years!)  Whatever COVID brings...we will handle each situation in the professional manner in which teachers and administrators rise to every day. (Stop...no finger pointing to the few times we failed...humans, we are!)  I work with amazing people who love our students.  They are better with me...than not.  Does that sound conceited?  I hope not.  I am just confident that our intentions are true.  
10. PRAYERS NEEDED:  If you are a praying person, then I ask that you pray for each on the mission field of education; that each will fulfil his/her calling this year...with smiles and positive attitudes abounding...all the while impacting your child's future story.

We got this.  I really believe you do, also.  Happy New School Year!  2020-2021 is here!

Thank you.