Some educators were never in the building this year; some were, but had virtual learners as well as on-site. This ‘Top 10’ list will bring connections from what we knew as standard practices before to what we are expected to do now, all the way to what is to come.
by Amber Moss
Drumroll, please…
Introducing the top 10 ways to come back to a “new normal” classroom!
With a new school year approaching, it is a great time to come back together and progress to a “new normal.” Whether you taught in person, online, or both in the 2020-2021 school year, this list reminds all educators of what is now the new normal. Without further ado…
Take a deep breath and give gratitude for what you have in whatever capacity you have it. Are you fortunate enough to be back in your classroom with students? Great! Give thanks. Are you still homebound and zooming with your students? Fantastic — appreciate the incredible technology you and your students have to connect virtually and continue to celebrate the growth!
Whatever your 2021-2022 school year looks like, appreciate that educators are still surviving and thriving in this world.
Coming back to school after a global pandemic will and has had its challenges. Bend, so you don’t break. When feeling the pressure, refer back to number 10: just breathe! Take the opportunity to embrace the challenges so you can change and grow in your career. If education continued to look the same, we would never get better!
Dream big,and dream often. Do not limit yourself to what you have always done in the past. Be open to new experiences for yourself, your students, and especially your community. Live out your wildest dreams, don’t settle for what has been. Move forward into the realm of all things are possible.
You cannot do this alone and should enter your classroom with support. Have an accountability partner at the ready so that you can count on each other for assistance. Connect with your students, your peers, your community, and your administration. Let go of all the preconceived notions, and allow yourself to fully embrace a new normal. You’ve got to come back stronger than you were before.
You cannot pour from an empty cup. Make sure you are reviving yourself through activities that bring you joy. Truly listen during your band and choir rehearsals, not just for errors, but for the music being created within a group of people. In the elementary school setting, bring books to life through Orff accompaniments. Listen as primary students count rhythms out loud for the first time. After an entire week, reset and let go of your work responsibilities for a while. Give yourself space to fill back up so you will be at your best. Self-care isn’t bubble baths and face masks. Make sure you are getting adequate rest, drinking plenty of water, eating nutritious foods, and doing something daily you enjoy!
As you walk back into a “new normal,” control is now something you have less of. Enjoy the moments as they come, and don’t take any teachable moment for granted. Listen to your students and enjoy their insight, their accomplishments, and their imaginations!
Create memories, create music, create relationships. Use the time to come back to make new memories for yourself and your students. Do not forget to allow free space for creativity to take place. Don’t overwhelm yourself with all the guidelines you will have to follow to create a safe environment for learning. Use this time to allow the creative process to take place.
Soak it all in. If you return to your classroom for the first time since the Spring of 2020, take a moment with yourself and allow space to cherish the feelings you have when you are back “home.”
The Buddhist parable of a farmer really hones in on the lesson of perspective. In the parable, the farmer always responds with, “maybe it’s good, maybe it’s bad — who knows?” There will always be a next event that leads to another. When we accept that things are good, we worry less and have more hope and joy!
The way to come back to a new normal is to take things one second at a time. In the tiny moment of a second, you can handle what is happening to you right now without worrying about the future. Focus on the experiences you are a part of right now, in the moment. Relish everything about love, progress, and the bright future of music education.
Contributor
Amber Moss is a National Board Certified educator and earned her degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. Amber has taught in several districts throughout the state at various levels from kindergarten to 12th-grade choir. She…
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