Emergency Remote Learning, Redux

And we’re back.

Eight months after shutting down for the first time, New York City has once again closed schools due to the pandemic.

A lot has changed in eight months. Last Spring, I was remotely teaching students I already knew well. Those relationships helped us successfully get to the finish line, even as I struggled to figure out what I was doing.

This September I started a new school year teaching live remote classes to students I’d never met. This brought with it an entirely new set of challenges, some I’ve successfully met and others I’m still working on.

While I am anxious about the school closures, I certainly don’t feel as lost as I did eight months ago. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to be in my school building this year, and interacting in person with some colleagues and some students has really helped me get a handle on what I’m doing with my classes. Some things are working, and they’ll continue to work during the shutdown.

But I hope for a quick and safe return to schools. Although I’ve reached the point where I feel like I can teach remotely, I’m still hoping this is just a temporary interruption.

Related Posts

• Emergency Remote Learning Journal
• Teaching 2020