I remember one church retreat a long time ago when my sister planned out a performance of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” for us all to participate in. Although I was about seven, I had been performing in my sister’s productions for my whole life. I don’t remember much other than pulling my Beanie Babies across the stage in a wagon and a print out of Jesus glued to a popsicle stick.
In honor of that hazy memory and a thousand other parodies I’m sure you have heard over the years, I now present “The Twelve Days of Christmas: Online Teaching Edition.” Feel free to sing it out loud as you read.
On the twelfth day of online school my students gave to me:
1 Teacher Singing Out Loud
In my days as a camp counselor, I learned that singing instructions helps eight-year-olds to listen to you. While teaching the Sirens section of the Odyssey, I accidentally learned that the same principle holds true for ninth graders. And they can’t seem to let me forget it.
2 Coffee Cups
According to some professional development we had earlier this year, consistency is very important to helping kids feel safe in the classroom. So really, the two cups of coffee I drink in front of the camera daily is for the kids.
3 Popcorn Meals
When one’s whole world consists of four small rooms and small squares on a screen, one is really inspired to become a better cook. My latest speciality is a bag of popcorn doused in one of those little popcorn flavoring bottles. Very nutritious. Very gourmet.
4 Unwritten Exams
Exams loom ever closer. Yet somehow I still spend more time creating elaborate Christmas-themed lesson plans rather than working to design an exam.
5 Games of Thrones
Whispers in the wind hint at the fact that George R.R. Martin may actually release his sixth book next year. Only twelve years after the last one came out. Therefore my evenings must be devoted to following the convoluted storyline all over the land of Westeros, in awe of Martin’s ability to humanize and complicate every last character.
6 Parents Joining
I’ve seen a parent join mid-class to say hi to the other kids. I’ve seen a kid get yelled at for how many missing assignments they have, in front of me. I’ve had a dad interrupt class to ask his daughter if she wanted chicken pot pie for lunch. The lines between home and school are all but imaginary at this point.
7 Deer Blind Meetings
“Wanna see the view from my deer blind, Ms. Boersma? I actually get pretty good Wi-Fi out here.”
8 Students Emailing
I think my next unit might be on how to write an email. There seems to be a sad lack of greetings, grammar, and subject lines. Sometimes my students send me emails where the subject line is their question, and there is no actual content to the email. That’s innovation right there.
9 Backgrounds Changing
“Oh, wow, and Kyle is in space right now. Maybe you can write your short story about being in space, Kyle.”
10 Dogs Interrupting
“Ms. Boersma, my dog is waving at you; why won’t you wave back?” Doesn’t matter to them that I am in the midst of reading out loud. So I wave back.
11 Assignments Missing
The amount of missing assignments a single student can rack up during remote learning? Impressive. But don’t worry, they will turn them all in at once on a Sunday afternoon. God bless ‘em.
12 Imposters Among Us
At any given moment, all of my students may be playing the game Among Us, while I attempt to show them the beauty in Charles Dickens’ writing.
Someday we will be back in person. Until then, it will be me singing in the midst of all this weirdness. At least I get to see a lot of cute dogs.
Susannah currently lives in New Jersey and works as a 7th grade ELA teacher in East Harlem. When she is not teaching or writing, she can be found exploring independent bookstores, going backpacking, and trying to roller-skate on all the cool trails in the city. She is also recently experienced in the art of citrus skunk repellent (I know you’re impressed).
I love this. God bless the work you are doing, and may you get some form of peace and rest upon the end of this semester.
I am so glad to be retired!
You know you’re teaching in Michigan when your students log in from their hunting blind
Also I feel that the cute dogs make it all worth it.
Nice work cousin!
popcorn is a solid food group. Once you have taught in a pandemic, you can be ready for anything. Way to tackle that and first year teaching! Kinda wish I could have been in a Lauren Boersma original production. And I have sung more than once in my short teaching career, once a camp counselor……
Thank you for this! It rings so true!
Haha. Bet you’re becoming some kids’ favorite teacher. Keep on doing what you’re doing.
The most recent remark I got re. missing work: “Wow, I finished this a long time ago but apparently forgot to submit it. Lol.” Sigh. I’ve been chasing him for weeks.