This lockdown has certainly been the biggest struggle of them all so far. I’ve always felt a bit more down in the winter anyway, but this has been exacerbated this year by the fact we are also being told (and rightly so) to stay at home. It’s been hard to ignore all the negative emotions and I’ve found they sometimes completely overwhelm any positive ones.
Lockdown learning in particular has felt like a struggle. There is much less interaction and let’s be honest – it’s not the teaching we all came into the profession for. I’ve felt like it’s actually harder work than being in school!
So, this week I really tried to focus on the positives of lockdown, and lockdown learning too. What is actually enjoyable about the way we’re helping children learn now? What have I enjoyed about remote teaching?
The first thing that came to my mind, is the creativity children have been able to use. There have been technologies and apps they have been able to use at home which have enabled children to really develop their own work and, for some, also created opportunities for more accessibility. I’ve seen self portraits using computer illustration apps; work completed using PP and Word more frequently than writing; a poem writing session where a child rapped their verses.
In school, we often find that some of the ways we can use technology are limited. As much as we want to give children a chance to explore different ways of working or to be creative with their answers, there are a number of reasons why we can’t necessarily do this as much as we would want. At home, for some, they have more access to this or they have access to chances to be creative. For example, using lego to display a scene from a battle, or the chance to bake their own jungle scene!
Each day I enjoy looking through the work that comes in and seeing how a child has chosen to present it. It’s made me think about how I can be more creative in the work I set them – how else can we get them enjoying and creating English at home? I know whilst (tentatively!) planning for next term, we are already thinking of new ways we can explore the language.
But I know that there are so many more positives than this! So, I am hoping to turn ‘Lockdown Silver Linings’ into a guest post each week, where someone from a school setting can share their own positive experience of lockdown learning. In a time where things can seem bleak, collaboration and sharing of experiences can really help to keep seeing the light in the darkness.
By sharing our ideas, we can collaborate different ways of helping children both in school and remote learning. We can also share ways we have been ensuring our mental health and wellbeing are being cared for during this time. ‘Wellbeing’ is a very difficult word for a lot of us at the moment and can mean something different for all of us. I for one would love to hear how others have had some time away from their desk to make sure that work stays work, even in a home space.
And beyond this, we can just help to spread a little positivity! I know I love seeing positive posts and it really helps me reflect on my own day, too, and be more grateful for those little moments where things are going right.
I can’t wait to hear your Lockdown Silver Linings. ☁️🖤
If you have something you want to share, drop me an email: primaryteachew@gmail.com with your guest post suggestion – I’d love to hear them.
Emily x
P.S – Thank you Sophie (@_MissieBee) for the brilliant name of this feature!
Teaching Isn't B&W 