The Silver Lining

This unique school year no doubt has brought a number of opportunities and challenges.  We find ourselves longing for a sense of normalcy, eager to return to the rhythm of daily in-person learning. We’d happily throw our computers in a dumpster and not use them for months! At the same time, we are optimistically looking for the silver lining in our current situation. The first four weeks of school have shed some light on the benefits of living through the hybrid and virtual learning that is our current reality. 

Above all else, kids and teachers agree that this year is a good exercise in communication. Whether we are at home speaking to a grid of faces or speaking in-person through a mask of fabric, we are learning to focus a lot more attention on critical listening and oral communication. Making sure the ideas we are communicating are being heard and understood pushes us to become more precise in our explanations and more attentive to non-verbal cues. We are spending more time noticing if our peers are truly understanding our intended messages and also spending additional time offering feedback that brings us together. We are learning that ambiguous communication often leaves others lost and even frustrated. We are learning to be more patient, to listen first before talking over someone, and to double-check that others received our intended message. We are working on listening in an open manner, ready to learn and grow.

This year is also providing an opportunity for increased independence. It is a huge step to navigate the logistical complexities of learning on-line and we all work hard to find ways to be on time to virtual classes, sign into the right meeting, gather the proper materials, collaborate with peers in small groups, use the chat function to facilitate thoughtful discussions, and wall out the distractions that are a part of working from home. Some of us are coming to school AND working from home, so that creates more complexity managing materials, schedules, timing, and peer relationships. At the same time, these complexities have provided rich opportunities to develop executive function skills, solve problems, and advocate for our individual needs.

The skills we are learning within this pandemic environment offer us opportunities we may never have fully appreciated within our “normal days” at Long-View and give us a chance to appreciate the silver linings during this unprecedented time.