Virtual

I put my virtual kids in breakout rooms today to start off check-in. I popped into a room and heard a student explain, “Well you gotta start by taking the derivative, like you do in basically every problem.”

That was literally the first thing I heard.

I said, “1) I want a poster that says that and 2) I’m moving onto another group because you all are clearly in good hands.”

I am a first year teacher in so many ways with this virtual class. There are constant growing pains.

But there are also the constant moments of awe and joy that I think are unique to experiencing something for the first time. Like how every day I look forward to reading the discussion thread and seeing what calculus questions they’ve asked and answered. Or how they come prepared with questions every check-in every day. Or how they say thank you for each and every video lesson.

This is certainly a unique virtual group. Many are not typically virtual students; they chose this route due to living with an immunocompromised adult or sibling. Furthermore, we didn’t offer a virtual BC so the kids who wanted virtual calc are stuck with me regardless of the pace they originally chose.

So they’re not used to being virtual students. And I’m not used to being a virtual teacher.

And I think that maybe that’s why we’ve formed bonds so quickly, even if it’s all over a screen.

I’m so grateful for this opportunity; it’s stretching me in ways I needed to be stretched. And I’m incredibly grateful this is the group I get to grow with.