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With what is happening in our world right now between Covid and all of the rioting that is going on  around the world, we have an opportunity to make a difference! As teachers we have been able to make a difference in the lives of so many students during the distance learning to be their stability in their world that was completely changed. With the riots going on in the Twin Cities, my heart was breaking as I watched the news. My fiance and I decided that something that we could DO during this time was go down to Lake Street to help clean up. That's what we did! Although we were surrounded by destruction, it was so healing to be ALSO be surrounded by SOOO many incredible people from everywhere helping to work together and take care of our city! We used the negative situation as an opportunity to go an do something about it!

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I would agree that whenever there is a small bit of crisis, I am evaluating my self to see what I can do better. There is a huge crisis going on in our country right now and I am reflecting on the different ways in which I can bring equity into my classroom. This is something that I always try to be mindful of, but right now it is needed more than ever.

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My first year of teaching, all probationary teachers were pink slipped. Since I was the newest hire, my principal did not have an open teaching position for me the next year. Although understandable, this was devastating to me. I knew that new elementary schools were being built in our district so took a shot and applied. I ended up being hired and it has been the greatest thing! You can react to crisis with fear or power. I chose to make moves by actively applying and choosing to not be afraid of the future and I am so glad that I did!

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With everything that has been going on the last 4 months, crisis mode has been the norm for people, myself included. Crisis may make someone want to change, but it can also make someone shut down. With distance learning, I was able to focus on different areas of music education that I don't normally get to hit in school. It wasn't a perfect system, but it was successful in some areas. With the racial crisis happening now, I feel so hopeless that it is difficult to know what a person can even do to make things better. It's hard to 'make a change' when the problem is systemic.

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This year at my school our numbers came in very low for kindergarten. Myself and two other kindergarten teachers were pink slipped because of this. With distance learning now and not knowing what the school year would bring I worried about having a job next year. Luckily the three of us were brought back on, but I am going back in 1st grade. I have loved teaching kindergarten and absolutely love my team, so at first that was hard to come to terms with. The more time passes the more positive I am about this situation. I have the opportunity to loop with this year's class, learn a new grade level, and stay at my same school. I feel very fortunate to have a job at the school I love and not have to say goodbye to my class this year through distance learning.

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The crisis that is going on in our world right now really hit me hard. I have been reading so many articles, watching videos, reading various twitters posts, etc. It is pretty clear that it has consumed my life.  I didn't know what was going to happen.I wanted to stay informed of everything.  As a social studies teacher, I find it important that we talk about current events and issues happening in the moment.  I want to make sure that I am educated, so I can teach both sides of the story. I want to know all persectives and teach from various lenses. However, as we know with COVID-19, this has changed. I can't be with my students to talk about what is happening in the world. So, I have had to come up with a couple of different ways to do this in my virtual classroom.

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I'd like to focus on the positive and the opportunities that have come out of the recent pandemic/world crisis. March 13th was the last day I saw my students all together, in person. The world was beginning to shut down, everything was closing, etc. I don't need to explain the rest, we're all continuing to deal with it in our own ways. The opportunities that have come out of this for me have been:
-more family time
-more time to work on grad school
-an increased focus on self-care -my own health
-more home cooked meals
-my house is clean (most days)
-more time outdoors
-money saved
-less commitments to kids organized activities
etc.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the things we've committed to that we forget to take the time to sit back and appreciate the important things in life. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to return to some normalcy, but I may view it a little differently now.

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Hey all........

As I wrote Hey all......, my daughter came running up screaming yelling she was sorry but hurt my son on her bike. It turned out she (7) and he (5) were racing down the bike path and she ran into him on her bike and it was laying on him. I thought I was a fast runner before but got there in lightning speed. both were ok with scrapes and band-aids cure all!!! As I was carying him, my instinct just took over. After it was all done, I thought about the situation and at the time, it looked like a crisis, but how you handle it and respond to it makes all the difference. We sat down and talked about it being an accident that might have been prevented but it still happened and how we handle it in the future helps us learn. Some of the posts I read from you guys talk about the Minneapolis issues. I refuse to judge either way but only try to learn the facts and not get caught up in the whole social media pandemic we are always in. The virus that has struck us has also brought light as it has made not only teaching much harder but also general life. I try to look at the glass half empty vs. half full or vice-versa, as this time has given me a chance to be at home seeing my kids (who at times drive me nuts) and be with them and be "present" in the moments of them growing up. I teach and coach so I usually only see them, maybe a couple hours a day during the school year and sometimes less in the summer working close to 70 hours a week. I think a crisis is when your back is against the wall and nowhere to turn to. Communication and finding those that can listen well and help you make all the difference. Never miss a call or worry about the end result when you can be that person to just listen when someone needs you.

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It is very easy to see a lot of different problems going on in the world today.  The crisis that really hits home with me is the George Floyd crisis and how some of our officers have treated black people through the years.  It is something that can be uncomfortable to talk about but it is time that we all have that conversation with our self and loved ones.  I grew up in a very white agricultural setting and this is something that I never have had to think or worry about.  After teaching in a very diverse school for six years and hearing students say there is a problem in our town is when I started to realize there may be a problem.  After the last few days I see how many other people all across the US have had similar instances and it does make me want to make a change in my thinking.  Before I can make a change in my thinking I know that I need to become educated on the topic and that is what I am trying to do.

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As I think about crisis and my  personal connection there are a few that stand out over the rest.  By far the biggest crisis I've experienced is having a miscarriage.  My oldest son was almost two and we were over the moon to be expecting since we had struggled getting pregnant with him.  When I lost the baby it was devastating and I wasn't sure what to do next. At the time I didn't know anyone that had lost a baby and I was working in ECFE and it seemed like everyone was pregnant.   Miscarriages are something I feel like people don't talk about.  It was only after I started to talk about it that other people started telling me that they had had a miscarriage as well. I think when we are in crisis it is important to reach out to our support network. You never know who's been through something similar and can lend support along the way.

Fast forward to two years later my son Austin was born.  If I hadn't lost the baby I wouldn't have Austin and I can't imagine my life without him.   Sometimes out of crisis can come a wonderful new opportunity, and trust me he's pretty wonderful! :) We may not understand it while we're going through the crisis, but hopefully the opportunity it brings will help get you through it!

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My earlier post/reflection on this topic vanished! Oh well, I can reflect for a second time.  The past three years have been filled with crisis and opportunities. Three years ago I was displaced from Kindergarten due to low numbers. I was devastated. I had a great team and I LOVED Kindergarten. If I wanted to stay in my current building I could teach first grade so I did. I didn't even have to switch rooms!! I have been able to get to know another awesome team of teachers. Eventually I will go back to Kindergarten. Last year, in May, 45 minutes before school was scheduled to start , one of our teachers died at school. I remember hearing the defibrillator alarm going off. I remember seeing them work on her.  I remember all the emergency personal arriving. I remember waiting out front to meet her husband, who had not heard that she had died. The crisis team started to arrive to help figure out what to do and when to do it. Our students were outside waiting and wondering.  They waited anxiously for over an hour. We brought our students to our classroom and went into a medical lock-down. That lasted until they removed her body from the building. I ended up seeing that. It is an image I will never forget. The crisis team had to step into my classroom and take over since I wasn't able to teach. It was hard and difficult. We united as a building and supported her family. Our building was closed so that we could attend the celebration of life service. Now we are to the third year with a crisis. Distance learning has been an emotional crisis. I have struggled, my students have struggled and their parents have struggled. It has been hard. We will get through this. We are teacher strong.

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I would consider the current situation in our world and state to be a crisis. I have had such a difficult time trying to find the right words to explain how I've been feeling. It's really hard to comprehend all of the hurt and pain that so many are experiencing, have experienced, and will experience. I am realizing i need to make a change and be better at finding a way to stay informed but also not fixate on things that are out of my control. I need to also make a change to make sure I'm a place of safety, refuge, and support for all of my students all of the time.

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It has been really difficult at times navigating everything that is going on. Right before the pandemic spread I gave birth to a baby boy so I feel as though I haven't had a sense of normalcy since before he was born. It is so easy to get down about everything right now but I continue to focus on how much joy our son has brought to us in these dark times. I think it's important to remember to give each other grace and always lend a helping hand during times of crisis. We don't know what everyone is going through and we need to respond with kindness and empathy during these times.

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As we are in the middle of many crisis's, I have personally been working hard on staying informed. Being educated is a powerful thing, if I am educated on all the hot topics right now I can help educate those around me. Not only understanding what is going on but figuring out ways I can do my part. That could be giving a different perspective to those who don't understand what is going on or supporting those who are on the front lines. In our career we never stop learning, growing, adapting to the new environments so why should it be any different in our personal lives.

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This week has been a hard one. At this time of the crisis that is happening in our country I try to think about what I can do to help. I think it is important that we educate ourselves on the topic and try the best that we can to help be a little part of the change. We need to take this crisis and grow from it and ultimately become better because of it. I have watched all of the hate happening lately but I have also seen so much positive also. We need to remember the positive when it seems like everything is negative.

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While in the midst of crisis there is a point where I begin to evaluate the situation and narrow down what my values are and how I see them playing out in my life. A time of enlightening, self-knowledge, and focus on the positive bring about the change that is needed. I agree that a crisis should not be needed in order to makes changes and pursue opportunities.

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Crisis can be scary, there is no denying that. However, if looking for the "bright spots" in crisis, we can find hope, opportunity, growth and change. It is safe to say that our schools/cities/states/nation/world are experiencing crisis' of different forms and severities right now. I feel blessed to work in a profession where we have the opportunity to fight for change- for our students and their futures. This makes me think of the quote by Nelson Mandela, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world". Change CAN happen! I have hope that it will.

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This is a timely topic! At this time of crisis, I am thinking about all that I have to be grateful for and what I can do to help the population. I have been reflecting on how I have impacted students and my family. I have thought about how I could do more or do better and how I have had moments that I have shined. I have also been thinking about how much our society can grow from the challenges we all have faced lately. There is a lot of negative available, but also so much to be positive about.

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This is definitely something that all of us can resonate with during time of unrest in our city. It has been heartbreaking to watch everything that has happened in our city, community, and nation. It is hard to be positive during this time, however it is something we should be doing. We need to lift everybody up in our community and be strong together during a time of pain and chaos.

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Wow...what an incredibly relevant topic considering everything going on in our country right now. We have arguably all been in "crisis mode" ever since Covid-19 began to drastically change our lives and mindsets about health. And now the fight for racial equity and against police brutality...this. is. crisis. As educators, we have a chance (and obligation, in my opinion) to provide opportunities for our students to reflect and evaluate these historical events. From there, we can all help make a change by adjusting our mindsets and doing what's right. Crisis gives us the ideal conditions to make a change and it's up to us all to utilize a crisis situation for the better, even when it's tough.

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I have an immediate connection to the reflection on how crisis can help to create change. When we first heard there was a chance we may teach from home, at the very beginning of March, my principal made a comment to our entire staff that we should look for the good out of even the most difficult circumstances. I believe he was trying to help us put our situation at the time in a positive light, even when nearly every staff member had their eyes wide open and were starting to panic. Every year older I become, I realize how all of those crisis events, or moments of change, have helped to shape me for who I am as a professional and helped shape my character. For example, deciding to complete my graduate degree was not a crisis, but was a large change for me to decide to undertake. It would put my family on the back burner for a little bit more than normal, and I needed to carve out time for additional school work, to better myself as a teaching professional. I am less than a year into the program, but I am blown away by how much I have been able to learn and immediately implement into my classroom and pushed me to be a better personal all around. I actually find myself more balanced now than ever before, and my family wasn't pushed aside for me to accomplish this!

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I think crisis can be an awakening for  many people  to realize that they need to make a change. Obviously my first thought goes to the current unrest that is occurring in our state right now. As a teacher, I have the opportunity to work with students of all colors. I think I really have been realizing these last couple of days what an amazing opportunity I have to be an ally for my students of color. I want to continue to be aware of this opportunity and educate myself the best I can, so that I can be a solution to the problem. Sometimes, it takes an unfortunate event like this for us all to take a step back and see that we can have a part in helping. I have been a part of our CRT team at my Elementary School where we have been working to create a culturally responsive school environment. I want to continue to work even harder with this group next year to help best teach all my learners.

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I agree that crisis can change who you are and can give you an push to make a change or give you a new opportunity. As I reflect on both my personal and professional life, the crisis' that I have faced have made me who I am. The situations I have faced have forced me to reevaluate what is most important to me and build myself up from there. A crisis can lead to wonderful opportunities.

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This is such an appropriate topic to reflect on considering the events that are currently happening. Thinking about this topic leads me to reflect on my path in teaching. My teaching journey has not been traditional, but looking back, all of my experiences have helped me grow and become a better teacher. One experience in particular that had a major impact was when I first moved to Minnesota and was having a hard time getting a teaching job. I found an opportunity to teach at a non-profit in St. Louis Park that works with homeless and at risk students. I ended up working there for two and a half years and loved it. It was challenging, rewarding, and helped me grow so much as a teacher and person. It also helped me land my current position as a reading and math intervention teacher. This is just a small example of how crisis can lead to change and in the end, it can be such a positive, though scary at times, experience. Crisis can lead you to opportunities that you never realized were possible.

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What a fitting scenario for all that is going on in our community right now. When I first started reading through this I thought, “I can do this! I can take on the challenging situation and find something positive!” And while this is true to an extent it is not easy! One thing that has helped me, whether I am facing a difficult time in my personal or professional life, is trying to stop and take a deep breath and ask myself “Is this something I can control?” When I reflect on that question it puts everything into perspective for me. I try so hard to not get fixated on the things that are out of my control, but instead focus on the things that I can do to make the situation brighter. This past school year my district was forced to make a lot of cuts due to finances. I found myself spending too much time worrying about the situation and not enough time remembering the tools that have allowed me to approach conflict head on. When I realized that the budget cuts were not something that I could really control, it helped calm my anxiety and allowed me to focus on the positive community of people surrounding me.

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I can 100% agree with crisis = change! I have gone through a few different events in my life that you could call a crisis. One of those being my journey to become an educator. In my undergrad when it was time to take all the praxis exams or mtle tests, I struggled. I was never a good test taker (especially timed tests) so unfortunately when I did not pass I could not get my degree and finish. At this time when all my friends were graduating and getting jobs, I needed to figure out what to do....CHANGE! My crisis led me to one of the best decisions I've made. I packed up my car and moved to Minnesota. I met new people who pushed my to continue my dream and now today I am in my Masters Program doing what I love! Sometimes you need a crisis to push you to try new things for a little while, it can be a good thing!

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I do think that it is true that sometimes when you are in the midst of a crisis that its a good time to make a move. When I think about how I got to faribault I was in the midst of a small crisis. I think as humans we get used and comfortable in our situations even when they may not be the best for us. This small crisis(seemed big at the time) is what made me decide to apply for other jobs and ultimately how I ended up where I am now. It was one of the best decisions I have made and I am really glad that I made it. Crisis can sometimes force you outside of your comfort zone and that can sometimes be a good thing.