We are the COVID 19 teachers

How are we going to virtually teach this fall?  COVID 19 pulled the rug out from our classroom routines and activities. 

The "I can't do this" thoughts are a burden I sometimes carry in tough situations.  It is often other people such as co-workers, friends, and my husband who have more faith in me than I do in myself. In two different instances last year, my supervisor and my husband both told me I am not allowed to say, "I'm done.  I can't do this."

Last year as the summer was concluding, I was preparing to be a preschool teacher. I had the honor and pleasure of being an assistant for two school years to three amazing teachers.  They encouraged me to apply for a teacher position which I was offered that summer.  I had many fears of being the "teacher in charge."  Everything from challenging behaviors to working with difficult staff to doing assessments.  

The first day my preschoolers arrived I was excited yet extremely nervous.  I had several assistants and teachers including my supervisor helping corral children and teaching them the routine.  It felt like herding cats and honestly it was pure chaos.  We even had an escapee child who exited out the classroom door towards the parking lot.  Part of me looked at the day and said: "It can only get better from here.  I can make this work."  Another part of me felt defeated and said, "I can't do this."

Slowly over the next few months teaching preschool became manageable.  Not only manageable it became rewarding.  Then it became fun.  It reminded me of the early days when I did youth ministry.  I loved my job to the point I said, "Wow, it is so great I get paid to this!" My class went from chaotic, anxiety ridden, and unpredictable to an organized chaos of happy and excited children.  There were plenty of challenging days and stressful situations.  I did have a few, "I'm done. I can't do this" moments.  In the end, I was carrying more joy than sorrow. 

When COVID 19 hit in March and shut down our school, it felt sudden and without warning.  We had to think outside of the box and figure out our new role as remote teachers.  It was never a position that existed in our agency.  We were not even working from home prior to COVID.  We tried things that worked and others things that did not work at all.  Only seeing preschoolers via Zoom or looking out their front windows was hard.  Having our end of the year party virtually was the best we were able to do.  I never felt like I properly got to say good-bye.  I still feel an emptiness because of that.  

I think we all assumed COVID 19 would disappear and the new school year would begin in a somewhat normal fashion.  Everything is different.  Sanitizer, temperature checks, masks, separate baskets for each child, reduced class sizes, closed learning areas, less people allowed in the classroom, no circle time are some of the things that changed.  Not to mention some of us teachers don't even has a classroom.  We are virtual teachers and we are treading on new territory.  Whether we will remain this way until November or January or June or even longer is not determined.  Part of me is saying, "This is terrible.  This is not going to work" and the other part of me is saying "This is an adventure.  I really can do this."

We spent a lot of time creating activities to go in learning packets we delivered to their door

When we were hired as teachers we were given a job description.  Obviously virtual teaching, running a classroom during a pandemic and setting up zoom calls were not listed on that description.  Among other things. 

 It is pretty easy to say, "This is not what I signed up for."  But no one signed up for it..  

But what if we saw it as charting through new territory?  Exploring a new way of teaching and perhaps a new way of learning?  Making history as teachers who sought new ways to reach students during a somber time in our country? We are the COVID 19 teachers.  And my friends, we can make this work.

Running Update: Finishing the Oregon Coast and tackling PDX Sprint

 Rob and I completed the Virtual Oregon Coast challenge on Friday.  As a team we logged 350 miles in the duathon (run/walk/bike) category.  I went 218.68 miles and Rob went 134.11.  Most of Rob's workouts were riding the stationary bike at his gym (yes, we have separate gym memberships) and he did some walks around Salem on the weekends.  He did one bike ride with me the week he ended up in the hospital with diverticulitis.  The two did not have anything to do with one another.  However, it is impressive he biked fifteen miles when he was already showing symptoms.

My online certificate from the Oregon Coast challenge

My workouts included four rides with Salem Bicycle Club, one ride with Rob, one ride with my sister while I was in Michigan, and two rides on the stationary bike at my gym.  It also included a hike up Black Butte, a hike to all ten waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park, a walk with a friend in my neighborhood and lots of running workouts.  COVID 19 affected many of our summer plans, but it has been good for all of us to look back on all the opportunities we did have.

Hike Up Black Butte

What is next?  Originally I hoped to do an Olympic distance triathlon in 2020.  I have not done anything longer than a sprint tri.  That is typically a 1/4 mile swim, 12-15 mile bike ride, and 3.1 mile run.  An Olympic distance is double that.  Why Racing, another race company in our area, is putting on the PDX 145 mile challenge.  Portland, Oregon is 145 square miles.  The challenge is to run, bike and/or swim 145 miles and it must be completed in 30 days.

This challenge is an incentive for me to keep cycling and also get back in the water and swim.  I have done only three swim workouts all summer.  I have the running down already.

Some people have been very motivated to workout during this pandemic and some have not.  I have seen the question: "How do I get motivated?" on several message boards and among people I have talked to.  There is no quick fix answer.  For me personally, running is something I do and has been a part of my life for twenty years.  I gain much from it and that alone motivates me.  I know that is not true for everyone.

What I can say is that people need to be realistic what they can do and not set their goals too high.  If you have never run before or been stagnant for a long time, start with a run/walk rhythm or even simply walking at a brisk pace.  My first workouts were ten to fifteen minutes and I ran/walked to a gas station at the end of my street.  

Find a time that works for you.  Some of us need to work out in the mornings because we lose motivation as the day goes on.  However, in the winter months I love running in the afternoons.  Take advantage of it still being light in the evenings.  When I trained for marathons when my children were little, I would put them to bed and go running when Rob was home.  Sunset runs can be very picturesque.

It has helped Rob to have his gym close to our house.  It is a very short walk up our street.  He thinks if he had to get in the car and drive somewhere, he would be less motivated.  This has allowed him to work out in the mornings and not have to get up before 6 AM or work out over his lunch without extending his lunch break.  

For myself it has helped to have some "social workouts" mixed in with solo workouts.  I have biked mostly with other people this summer.  I sometimes run with a friend though I really enjoy running alone.  Before COVID I was swimming with a group of people which is probably why I have not been as motivated to swim.  I have had to put myself out there a bit and join groups or ask people to run with me.  When you meet people who enjoy what you do, you have this natural connection.  Some fellow cyclists, runners, and triathletes I met over the years are some of the nicest and most hospitable people I have met.  I have learned a lot from them.

  

Weeks 7, 8 & 9

One photo for each day in Summer 2020.  I have been somewhat successful in rising to Hailey's challenge but I have missed a few days.  Going through these photos helps me focus on what we HAVE been able to do versus all the things that got postponed or cancelled.  I really needed that these past few weeks as we learned at least one of our kid's school will be virtual this fall.  Back to school will not look the same as it has in the past.  Sometimes the news, social media. and people's opinions have a way of spiking my anxiety.  Then I focus on our mighty God who meets each and every single one of our needs and blesses us with multiple blessings.

Sunday, July 19: 11 mile bike ride on the Old Kent Trails in Michigan with my sister

Monday, July 20:  Tunnel Park in Holland.  I love Oregon and by far my favorite place I have lived thus far in my life.  But I will always miss Lake Michigan and was grateful for the few years Rob & I lived only a few miles from the shore.

Tuesday, July 21:  Craig's Cruisers!  Rob is CRAZY on go-carts.  He may or may not have gotten a warning from the attendant.

Wednesday, July 22:  Congratulations, Jordan!  We are so proud of you.

Thursday, July 23: Cousins playing together at Millennium Park in Grand Rapids

Friday, July 24:  Flying home from O Hare airport.  I always called this the "psychedelic room" when I was younger.

Saturday, July 25:  Spending an afternoon in downtown Portland.  Walking around Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Sunday, July 26th: Bring on the heat!  First time turning on the A/C.  I welcome the hot days.  

Monday July 27th:  Making chicken kabobs on the grill.  BTW--there is no picture for Tuesday the 28th.  This turned into a pretty miserable day when we found out the public schools were going virtual for the fall.  Although our kids are in private school and my job is not affiliated with the school district, their decisions greatly influence our kid's schools and the agency I work for.

Wednesday, July 29:  Derek built a computer and it has become a cool hobby he took on this summer

Thursday, July 30:  Rob and I went kayaking on Turner Lake!  Thankful for good friends who let us use their kayaks

Friday, July 31:  I climbed Black Butte with some friends.  It was a long 9.8 mile hike but we did awesome.

Saturday, August 1st:  Date night!  In order to encourage social distancing some our downtown restaurants have seating in the streets on the weekends.  We ate the Wild Pear for the first time.  There is no picture for Sunday, August 2nd and Monday, August 3rd.  I simply forgot.

Tuesday, August 4:  Watching my nephew's graduation on Facebook Live. 

 

Wednesday, August 5:  My cat sitting in the dark.  She has been our "COVID" cat brought comfort in a feline sort of way in stressful times.

Thursday, August 6:  Camping with the younger two at an organic farm we found on Hipcamp.

Friday, August 7:  Picking peaches at Olson's.  We picked TOO MANY!

Saturday, August 8:  Trying to can all the peaches I picked.

Running Update: Rob and I are virtually racing along the Oregon Coast

On July 1st Rob and I started a virtual race along the Oregon Coast.  I committed to doing ten races in 2020 and had no idea I would be racing in this format.  I have to admit that it has been pretty fun. Rob and I chose the duathlon category which is running and bicycling.  NOT a biathlon. A biathlon is that event from the winter Olympics where the athletes ski and then shoot at a target.  

So far we have banked 205.24 miles and are 58.64 percent of the way there.  As a team we virtually started at Brookings, passed through Coos Bay and are approaching Newport. We are in sixth place out of  twenty seven teams.

That is fantastic considering Rob had quite the long weekend battling diverticulitis in Salem Hospital in mid July and had to rest from his workouts after his discharge. Virtually he made it to about Gold Beach.    Then virtually he rode in a bike trailer attached to my bike or I pulled him while I ran (can you imagine if that REALLY happened). 

 It was also very difficult to workout in Michigan due to the humidity our bodies are not used to, no access to a gym, and a somewhat full schedule. I did squeeze in an eleven mile bike ride with my sister on the Kent Trails.  I rode my Dad's 1986 Schwinn 10 speed that sat dormant for a few years.  He said, "I can't promise you that you won't get a flat tire."  The gears were a little wonky.  Derek rode my dad's current bike and he was barely tall enough to reach the pedals.  Kara rode my mom's bike that reminds me of Mrs. Gulch's bike from The Wizard of Oz.  It was a little too big.  She could get off it pretty well but it was more difficult for her to get back on.  She was a real trooper.  We were the quite the crew.

Derek, myself, and my sister took a bike ride in Michigan.

  Now that we are home we are back to our workouts.  Me mostly running outside and riding Orange Mango.  Rob rides the stationary bike at the gym and goes for long walks on his day off.

 We did go on a fifteen mile round trip ride a few days before Rob landed in the ER.  I have the endurance and Rob is better at navigating through traffic and planning routes.  So together we make a pretty good team.  

My bike to the left is a rebuilt Schwinn and I am told the frame is from around the year 1982.  I named it Orange Mango since I love the color orange, Orange Mango Cascade Ice drink, and it reminds me of Sunkist Orange soda I loved in the 1980's.  Rob's bike is also rebuilt but the frame is the same one he had as a high schooler.  His bike does not have a name.  The kids called it Cobweb because he did not ride it much but I think it needs a new name!

I also forgot to share about the 10K I did in June with my friend Emily.  The Salem Paddy Pint race I was supposed to run the doom and gloom weekend when COVID 19 shut everything down went virtual.  I still got all the swag and had to download a race app to record my time. We picked a Saturday morning and chose Minto Brown Park as our race destination.  All week the weather predicted cool and cloudy which is perfect for running.  Needless to say it rained hard the entire time.  We were pretty soaked.  But we saw a cool owl perched in a tree.  There were many runners out there and the dog park was packed.  So we were not the only crazies. Our time was 59:09 which is not my PR.  I believe it is 54:44. Considering the nasty weather we did pretty good.

Emily and I ran a 10K at Minto Brown Park

Rob and I have until September 30 to virtually reach Astoria but I think we will make it there by Labor Day weekend.  I am not sure what race I will be doing late summer/early fall but I am almost certain it will be virtual.