In the midst of week 4, day 25 of “remote school days”, I have finally come to where the tears are falling.

I know some of you might think “How is she just now getting to the point of crying?” while others will think “Why would there be tears? We are all living the same thing.”

Please take time to hear me out.

For someone who has taught as long as I have, there are not many things that bring a challenge. I have a bag of tricks that reaches deep (many of which I have modified to make work over the past four weeks), and my brain is still keen enough that I can problem solve on a dime. Is remote teaching hard? Yes. Have I been forced to learn new skills over the past few weeks? Yes. Do I have struggling students? Yes. Are the parents of my students exhausted? Yes. Can I keep doing this as long as necessary? Yes. Is it ideal? No.

I will be honest. An introvert, like myself, will be fine for quite a bit longer. The remote teaching expectations alone will consume as much (if not more) of my day as it always has. My mind will still run with possible ways to help the students in my classes. My heart will hurt for those struggling with the at home learning. My day will be filled quickly with live chats and email correspondance as students and I engage in this new learning world…and I have more than enough hobbies to fill in any gaps not filled with school lessons, live chats, video recording, prep and grading.

So why tears today?

Over the past four weeks, I have watched many of my students adjust their thinking about education, step into the unknown called “remote learning, come to grips with an world wide crisis called COVID-19, and embrace tech skills that they did not know they had. This was all followed by the realization that they are now really responsible for their own learning-with some nudges from mom or dad and a lot of emails from me. We stepped into this experience with much fear and trepidation.

During a time where fear could have caused my students to freeze in place, I have seen quite the opposite. Don’t get me wrong. We are all having difficult moments. There are days that we all want to quit (that would be both the students and their teacher). There are days that it would be easer to slack off. There are days I have had to remind students that the assignments came from me- not mom or dad- and to consider giving their parents a break.

But this is what I have also seen:

• Students completing work above and beyond what I required.
• Students encouraging each other when things get tough.
• Students initiating small group live chats with their peers to discuss their science lab work.
• Students emailing with questions about their work.
• Students arriving in small group live chats early before I even get there.
• Students (once done with their work for the day) are cooking meals for their families, playing games with their siblings, live chatting with their friends, or learning a new skill.

Today was the day I cried because I have had four weeks to watch my students handle the unknown in a way that we might never have expected. Today was the day I cried because my students have once again adjusted. Today was the day I cried because kids are resilient. Today was the day I cried because we can learn a lot from them.

Do they have it all figured out? No. Do they carry the burdens that their parents carry? No. Are they making the best of the worst situation? Yes.

I think we can learn a lot from these students today. We can learn to take this challenge one step at a time. One day at a time. Trusting in a Savior that promises to never leave us or forsake us. Trusting in the promise that He is our peace in troubled times.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6