1.Reconnect with the big \u201cwhy\u201d: Relationships.<\/h4>\n

As I take in current projections about how life may unfold with COVD19, I hear expressed concerns about lost academic learning. While of course I share that concern, I am far more concerned about the disappearing opportunities for young adolescents to learn how to get along with others, to cultivate empathy for those different from themselves, to engage in self-reflection and to learn to value a caring community.<\/p>\n

Young adolescence is a potent developmental window during which the lines of social character are engraved. When we take that seriously, and spend time building relationships, the results are extraordinary: heightened investment in school learning, a stronger sense of social efficacy and the development of the social skills needed to live a better life.<\/p>\n

COVD19 has brought out the best and worst in our culture, reminding us that while we may have what it takes to get there, we have a long way to go towards building a fair, just, kind, sane and caring nation and world.<\/p>\n

2. Tap into how you are experiencing all of this.<\/h4>\n

If we hope for more humane middle grades schools, we have to first and foremost allow ourselves to be more human.<\/p>\n

In short, we need to bring our fullest and most human selves into our classrooms.<\/p>\n

Take stock of how you are experiencing the loss, stress and disruption associated with this pandemic. Notice first and foremost how this is effecting you. I have had sleepless nights, restless days and times when I felt I was not able to be productive.<\/p>\n

Students and families will experience these same ups and downs.<\/p>\n

I hear some arguing that we should \u201ckeep calm and carry on\u201d, which may be well and good, especially the calm, but really?\u00a0 I would argue that pretending things are far better than they are is not helpful.<\/p>\n

Emotions are running high for all of us and here\u2019s a chance to honor emotions and feelings as part of being human, part of learning and rightfully, part of school life.<\/p>\n

3. Make everyday personal.<\/h4>\n

I am learning from COVD 19 that empathy is a capacity that needs our collective attention. Easy kindness is simply not enough. Even the face to face struggles that emerge when we are confined with people we supposedly love, puts deep empathy to a daily test. Can we understand this person right in front of us? Are we able to care about his or her welfare even when they are terribly annoying?<\/p>\n

A sure COVD 19 lesson for me is that relationships demand so much more than we think. They demand a recognition that we are all perfectly imperfect and inextricably connected.<\/p>\n

We now teach on the edge of our students\u2019 doorsteps, and as such we have a unique opportunity to make every day more personal. Using whatever platform we have, students can share their lives in new ways, introducing us to special parts of their lives. Maybe they have special hobbies we never witnessed or treasures tucked away at home they never had the chance to share. Students need to feel a sense of belonging and connectedness with us and their peers and sharing real life stuff matters now more than ever.<\/p>\n

Above all, this pandemic has the capacity to move us toward greater interpersonal intimacy. We are all equally vulnerable.<\/p>\n

As such, this is a lesson in our common humanity we don\u2019t want to miss. Keep your classroom plans open to feelings and emotions, and give yourself and your students permission to bring up the tough stuff. Structure time each day for some sort of check-in, whips around the room, or share time. Most of all, make it human and make it personal.<\/p>\n