Today was my third work-from-home Wednesday in a row, not by
choice. It’s the third Wednesday since
the start of the new semester I had to rearrange appointments, reschedule class
visits, and spend my day bundled in blankets with my computer to keep me warm.
For those of us in the northern climes, it’s been a brutal
winter. The snow is removed with
construction trucks here in
The winter takes its toll on
students, and it takes its toll on us. The toughest part of the winter has been missing contact time with
students, students who need remedial lessons and emotional support. While it’s the snow that causes the delays here in
everywhere. It’s a delicate balance—how do you make up
missed time without bombarding students who already feel like they are
drowning? How do you keep them
interested in remedial lessons when they are falling behind on class work
because of weather, illness, crisis? How do you remember to enjoy the snow day, something that was so easy to do as a kid, instead of fretting about lost time?
(Rebecca Flanagan)
