November 4 Day 241: Affirmations

I thought the first day back after Election Day might be challenging for me and my students. So I started the day by sending them this announcement through the course management system:

Title: The morning after…

Body:
…and its not over yet.

Tensions are high with the election results pending on top of COVID isolation and everything else that 2020 has thrown our way.  Not everyone deals with stresses the same way. For me, I have a tendency to throw myself into my work and block out the rest of the world. It’s not so healthy.  For you, it might be something completely different.

So, I am going to acknowledge that not everyone is up to taking Individual Assessment #4 by 1:30 pm today.  I am NOT extending the due date but I am preparing a “Creative Challenge” that can be completed by the end of the quarter to replace your lowest Assessment score.  So if you cannot face a timed online assessment today, there is an alternate path to success. 

…(course specific details)…

Right now this country is divided. Let’s work to keep our class a place where we come together, regardless of difference, to support one another on our educational journeys.  I try to remember these words that I wrote March 13, after only one week of remote emergency instruction:

“Don’t panic. You don’t have to be an expert… Ask for help. Offer help. Breathe.”

I think they are equally applicable today. We can get through this together. 

I think it made a difference. There were more people in attendance and more cameras turned on than in recent classes. I began by asking each person to write a positive affirmation to themselves or their classmates. (I did something similar in the Spring Quarter). I share some of them with you now.

In the end, we identified confusions, solved some problems, and continued moving forward.