A lesson from UNO

We are well into the third week of school, during what has turned out to be one of the wildest years any of us have ever experienced. Our classrooms don't feel like the welcoming, warm places they were last year because we've had to store all of our "extra" furniture. We don't have rugs, tables for kids, or centers to share.

I've spoken to so many teachers over the last few weeks who feel bogged down. Some are working from home and some are working within the school building. Many have cried. Each place has an incredible list of stressors and mountains to climb. There are no easy answers right now. And every single educator out there feels like a first time teacher in some way, shape or form. Teachers have been asked to change with almost no training; and they have done it. For their students whom they love dearly.

What I have struggled with the most is not getting to smile at our students or see their smiles. Unlike other years, this year I've looked forward to lunch duty because it's the one time during the entire day I get to see the kids smile. They can't see mine, but I spend as much time talking to them as I can to make up for it. I desperately miss those faces.

Here's the thing.

If we were to make a list of all of the things we "know right now, in education, for certain" and a list of "what we don't know, in education, right now", I suspect the second list would be larger. There are so many unknowns. So many aspects of what we are doing right now that are stressing us out. Social media sometimes has a way of exemplifying those anxieties.

I ran across this Tweet from UNO the other day & I couldn't stop thinking about how it relates to us in education.

You DO NOT need to pull a card until you have a color that matches the discard pile.

Teacher Translation: Teachers, every aspect of your e-learning or face to face class DOES NOT need to be perfect. Please don't pull out every card you have and create so much anxiety in your life that it overwhelms the good. You don't have to have every answer. You don't have to be perfect. No one who matters is judging you right now.

Let me say that one more time for you in the back: What you are doing right now does not have to be perfect!

Mistakes are going to happen. You are going to look down at your hand and find that you are missing the card needed on your next turn.

BUT!

If you don't have a card to play, you only have to pick up one card.

Teacher Translation: All you have to do is the next thing. You are enough and we will get there. You may have to let go of something along the way, but it's going to be okay. All you have to do is pick up the ONE next card.

Just one.

You can pick up just one more card.

And don't forget to reach out to your team, your support personnel, your friends, and your family. They don't always know you need a card unless you ask. It's okay to ask.

And be kind to one another! Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by the cards in our own hand that we can't see how many cards our colleges are holding.

Reminder: You only have to pick up ONE card. You're an educator. You've got this!