Gail Anderson, Lansdale, PA gailanderson@cpm.org
These last few months have been pretty surreal. Who would have imagined that in such a short time, such a large percentage of the world could stop or alter working and stay home? Who would have imagined universities, high schools, and even preschools would send students home to finish semesters from their homes? Who would have imagined a field hospital in Central Park?
Crises are defining moments for nations, families, and individuals. We learn, we adapt, and we grow. We expose weaknesses and injustices. We uncover strengths and beauty we did not expect. During this crisis we have discovered how important access to WiFi is for every one of us. We have a new appreciation for our families, neighbors, healthcare providers, grocery workers, and our mail carriers.
As we see the curve flattening, we begin to wonder: What will be different a year from now? What will be the long term and lasting changes?
How will this impact your classroom in the fall? Have you acquired new tech skills that will help offload some of your daily grind? Will you make your classes even more interactive, because you realize how precious social closeness is? What will you do to prepare for students who are potentially less prepared than in past years? What surprises might greet you as students have had the unusual time and opportunity to explore what really interests them? Will your students all be so tired of social media and video games that they will voluntarily turn their cell phones off during class?
Historically, crises have made people stronger. We look forward to a fresh start and a deeper awareness of the needs of each other and our students and of their families. We will have a deeper awareness of our own needs. Those of us who work at CPM would love to hear from you as you consider these questions this summer and as you make plans and set goals to implement change in the fall. We are here to support you in your efforts to bring more math to more people. Please join the CPM teachers online community in Slack (Slack invite) and let us know how we can support you in your work.