Education :: Tips for Back in the Classroom

As we come in to November, if you haven’t gone back into the classroom yet, you will probably be heading back soon. And if you are, I’m sure you have a LOT of anxiety coming back into the classroom; especially with all of the guidelines you have to meet.

Not only do you somehow have to wrestle your kids into social distancing in the classroom, but you also most likely have to deal with plexiglass dividers, masks, hand sanitizing and washing, sanitizing the classroom before and after use, being ready to flow between online and in-person depending on the week’s current guidelines, dealing with parents who are short-tempered and stressed, working twice as many hours as ever before (and you already worked 50-75 hours a week BEFORE Covid-19 hit)…

The list goes ON and ON. It seems to be a never-ending, ever-changing, big ball of stress and anxiety.

That’s why I wanted to write this post.

I’m not saying all of these tips will work for you or you classroom. However, if any of these help you, let me know!

Masks: how can we handle our students wearing masks, especially when they’re little ones?

• Don’t tell every single student every single time, “Fix your mask!”
  • You will never get anything else done if you’re worried about masks
  • Your students will get frustrated if that’s all you focus on
  • If you’re constantly snapping at them about their masks, it’s going to add nothing but anxiety about something they’re already stressed about (Covid-19, I mean)
• Every once in a while, just give a general, “How are your masks?”
  • This relaxes the anxiety about the virus
  • You’re able to focus on actually teaching
  • Eventually your students will learn to self-monitor

Plexiglass Dividers: how in the world are we supposed to have our students use these without them being disgusting or constantly falling down?

• Teach your students how to properly clean them twice a day
  • This gives them ownership
  • It teaches them cleaning habits for the future

Tips for Good Practices

• Masks: how can we handle our students wearing masks, especially when they’re little ones?
  • Don’t tell every single student every single time, “Fix your mask!” You will never get anything else done if you’re worried about masks
    • Your students will get frustrated if that’s all you focus on
    • If you’re constantly snapping at them about their masks, it’s going to add nothing but anxiety about something they’re already stressed about (Covid-19, I mean)
  • Every once in a while, just give a general, “How are your masks?”This relaxes the anxiety about the virus
  • You’re able to focus on actually teaching
  • Eventually your students will learn to self-monitor
• Plexiglass Dividers: how in the world are we supposed to have our students use these without them being disgusting or constantly falling down?
  • Teach your students how to properly clean them twice a dayThis gives them ownership
  • It teaches them cleaning habits for the future
• How to Establish these Practices:
  • Teach your standards before they enter your classroom
  • Be consistent
  • Establish classroom practices together

Though I could give a million more tips, I think you all have been doing a phenomenal job so far! Share your own tips in the comments below!

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