Filling Jobs I Never Thought I'd have.

Part IA

Part IB

Part IIA

Part IIB

Biohazard Capabale Custodian

1. Everything is available FIRST digitally. For some activities, particularly for disabled students/students with disabilities, I will offer to print. 
2. I laminated seating chart cards for each chair. They can be sprayed down, although they aren't water proof (yay home laminating). 
3. I keep a shelf with hand sanitiser and extra disposable masks by my door. Some teachers put their hand sany deep inside the room. I don't. I want them to think about it first thing. Some still don't, but many are beginning to reach for it as soon as they come in. 
4. If I am spraying things down (which I admit I'm not great about remembering at the end of the day), I leave, immediately. The smell is awful and dangerous. 
5. I keep hand sany wipes, paper towels, and some other stuff at my desk, at arm's reach. This is perfect for quick clean-ups. Perhaps I'll share a mini tour of my desk to show you these things. 

Tattle

1. I don't, at least not names. It is above my pay grade and, having been bullied before in some pretty toxic ways, this is NOT something I am going to deal with because of this. My mental health is important. 
2. I do, in that I make a point of saying that things aren't right. I talk to my colleagues and superiors and students about the importance of following protocols. With students, I can tell them to turn around. With teachers, I cannot. If a student argues with me, I try to remember that they are doing what adults have allowed. I don't have to allow it and they can be angry with me, but safety is important. 
3. I model. I am disabled. This week my right ankle has been REALLY sore and weak. But, I still walk the long way around when I need to go somewhere based on the arrows. How can I speak to others about the issues if I don't model what I speak about. I also hand sanitise, wear my mask properly, etc. 
4. I don't engage. When I hear adults speaking about things in a way that, even if it recognises the facts and science behind this pandemic, calls for laxity with the rules and mocks the situation, I disengage and leave. (1) It's above my pay grade to deal with that attitude, and (2) my mental health and safety matter. If people are going to talk like that, chances are they aren't taking full precautions. 
5. I watch. I may not tattle with names and I may disengage when appropriate, but I also watch. (1) people watching is fun. (2) I am great at mental notes. ;) I watch and make notes on things to change about my behaviour and trends to report. 

Therapist/Protector/Mom

1. My classroom is a safe space. If students need to express fear, upset, or panic, they can. I hate these signs... but in this (aka my) classroom, we (in no particular order)... 
   1. accept science
   2. show compassion
   3. listen
   4. belong
   5. care for ourselves and our comrades.
      
      okay.... maybe I could use that sign...
      
2. I set boundaries. Students are always welcome to talk to me and I often invite conversation, even the difficult ones. But... I also set boundaries. Unless specifically stated, I do not respond to messages and emails after I go home. I arrive early, so that I can have quiet, peace, and respite from everything going on. There are others, but this post could get HUGE. :)
3. I make regular use of Social Emotional Learning. nota bene: I do not mean the kind of twisted SEL where students learn "appropriate behaviour" and how to be more extroverted. I use SEL to create safe space where students can share, if they want, be upset if they need to be, and find, hopefully, their own bit of respite. I do this through such things as vents and brags, a little video, a quick mood/emotion check, and regular communication with students and families. 
4. I send home weekly newsletters. I create these in Canva and create them slowly over the week so it's not overwhelming. I provide: general updates, a quick update and grade update for my preps, and a way to contact me and get more information. 
5. Follow the law. Students know that I am a mandated reporter and I share that any time I ask them to share something serious. I also share that, though I have to say something to the proper person, I am still there for them and happy to talk whenever. 

Truancy Officer

1. Ya, above my pay grade. There are things I will and won't do. Contact parents daily with singular attendance for their child? Ya, that's a hot no. Send home a general email saying that your student missed class and the materials are online? Sure, most days. Call and email repeatedly when I do not see a student at certain prescribed points? Yes. 
2. Daily general emails. I send home a "absent from class" email using a template that is short and sweet: So sorry we missed you in class, please look at the materials on Google Classroom. I record that contact in the contact log.
3. Weekly newsletter. I create weekly newsletters in Canva and send them home to all parents and students. It actually helps me a lot to (a) stay organised (b) record grading regularly, and (c) keep families informed. I find that doing this keeps emails out of my inbox that ask what we're doing, when grades are being updated, etc. which lets me focus on the other issues. 
4. Always answer with compassion. During this time... we all need a little more compassion in schools: students especially. Whenever I have to call home or speak to a student about missing work/absences I never approach it from an angry standpoint. I always approach, or at least I try, to with compassion and productivity: Hey X, we've been missing you in class. Are you okay? What can I do/we do together to help you get back on track. 
5. Keep records. I know this is a pain, but already multiple times this year I've had to back up things with paperwork or records. Taking a few minutes to write a note, add something to a spreadsheet, or click that little "add to teacher log" button is a gamechanger. 

Customer Service, Tech Support

1. Play with the tech yourself. I swear by this method, "click and see what happens" (except of course when dealing with spam). As a teacher, we should be playing with tech. Click. See what happens. Then you can at least know what not to tell your students to do when they freak out over tech. 
2. Always... ALWAYS have a back up. For you and your kids. Just yesterday I got knocked off the school wifi 4 times in one class. When I finally got back on the third time... I told my kids, "if this happens again, leave this meet and move to asynchronous work" and less than a minute later, I was gone. My kids knew what to do... Plan B. Similarly, if a student can't access something on a PC, suggest a tablet, a phone, and always allow things to be turned in.....
3. LATE. ALLOW LATE WORK. DO NOT PENALISE LATE WORK. Ya, I don't know how else to say this. Teacher up. Stop penalising late work. Next!
4. Know your computer and know the basics about the opposite system (windows, chrome, apple). The biggest issues I run into are sound, video, and connectivity. These are often easy fixes or just simple require waiting. I can quickly walk a kid through some trouble shooting before I say, "watch the recording later" or "time to call the real tech support".
5. Don't be afraid to say I don't know. I do not have a degree in computers. What I do have is a mother who taught me all the basics as well as skills to deal with computers and changing technology, and a partner who knows a lot more than I do about tech (He is not afraid to actually take his PC apart and make mods). But..... if I can't find an answer quickly, I tell the student to ask a parent or guardian or reach out to the real tech support. I do not have a degree in this. Time to get help.