"wait, I have a surprise"
GiphyYesterday, one of my autistic kiddos said "wait, I have a surprise," right before we ended our lesson. He came back carrying a cat. I said "Ummm, you don't have a cat!" and he said "I know, that's the surprise!" Still have no idea where the cat came from, but we laughed nonetheless. youalsogetnodinner
"HEY. GET OFF MY CAR!!"
I was on a zoom call for animation last week. my teacher was on her ranch, for some reason (i arrived late so i don't know why). she was talking about our work for next year and then she yelled "HEY. GET OFF MY CAR" and flipped her camera around to reveal a goat sitting smugly on the hood of her bright orange car.
She couldn't really do much to take it off while on call. the call got cut short anyway, since her horse got loose. good time. jumping_meerkat
Physics.
I teach Physics.
I love the fact that I've been able to:
- Really know some of my students as people (see their pets, talk about their siblings doing homework next to them, see them joke with their families, etc.)
- Watch some students blossom under this model. The shy girl that never talks in class? Super confident online. The kid with messy writing or that never takes notes? Makes nice infographics of the class materials and shares with the class. SpicyAbsinthe
In near silence.....
GiphyI teach middle school. I'm always available by email, but once a week, I use our school's conferencing tool to review material and directly answer questions - like virtual office hours. I have a couple of classes where no one shows up, and that's fine. I don't require it.
One day, I had over half of one class show up. We reviewed the lesson, and I said that if they didn't have questions, they could leave. A few minutes went by, and they were all just working away in near silence.
I reminded them they could leave. Someone goes, "I know, but I miss being in class, and this is as close as I can get."
Many of them felt isolated and were extremely bored. I left the chat up for the rest of the allotted time to let them catch up and work on other homework together. They really miss each other.
I really hope we're able to go back in the fall. I miss them, and I'm supposed to have that group again next year. MissDaywalker
I'm still waiting.
College professor here. I'm still waiting.
This is so hard. It's all I do now other than eat and sleep (and sometimes can't even do that), and everyone seems miserable.
My students are all kinds of dissatisfied, some want to be able to do things on their own time, they want recordings, practice problems, etc., and can't be bothered to show up to classes during designated times. Others demand video classes and for things to be like they were before.
It's hard for me to have video classes or record demos/lectures because we live in a tiny apartment and I have very little privacy, this is much more stressful than I would have expected.
I am changing the syllabus every week to keep up with the demands of the students who can't make the old deadlines and because I can't cover the same material the same way.
My family is being neglected, and they are miserable. I haven't been able to get to any of my research and my collaborators are annoyed. I guess, everyone is on edge these days anyway, but this definitely feels like a lose-lose-lose situation.
I feel like everyone is mad at me, including myself.
Sorry, I guess really just needed to vent. survivalothefittest
It made me cry.
GiphyAbout 10 years ago I taught early online classes at a University. There was no FaceTime component so you just communicated in chatrooms or through email.
A kid emailed me that he was gonna be late handing in his assignment cause a family member died.
I just responded in a human way, said sorry, told him not to worry and hand it in when ready, etc. Talked a little bit about the family member (I can't remember who now which feels shitty but it was long ago).
Anyways, didn't feel like anything special just like what you should do.
But at the final exam which they did have to show up for in person, the kid came up to me after, I'd never seen him before. Handed his paper in and then gave me the biggest bear hug ever. Then told me it meant a lot that we talked then.
It made me cry. billbapapa
Who people are....
My Social Studies teacher always introduces us to her cat and sometimes her kids during every lesson.
My science teacher accidentally turned on a hotdog filter and took five minutes to turn it off.
I joined a google meet once with like 30 kids in it and we were wondering why the teacher was muted with video off and right as the teacher turned on the camera, we all heard like, porn. The teacher was watching porn.
One of my tutors, during online tutoring spent the entire time watching tiktok instead of helping me with my math homework. ParallelGalaxiies
Precious.
GiphyYesterday one of my students showed up to our online class wearing his uniform! It was so precious. naivemelody4
In 2020....
I teach history at a community college. Most people who take history don't actually care about it, but some are engaged. When I give lectures, I try to relate history to real world examples people might face in 2020 to comprehend the material better.
I've had numerous students, some who were good when we were in class and others who weren't as engaged, leave comments about missing going to class and that my explanations of events helped them understand things better.
If anything, online classes have made me realize that I can assign readings and give PowerPoints, but a lot of meaningful comprehension comes with how I explain things.
I've only been teaching a year, but it's nice to think I'm doing something right. OkayestHistorian
Smiles....
GiphyCouple of things that made me smile. I accidentally started up one class half hour early as the timings are different on Friday. One of the older kids I have, aged 11, logged in anyway and proceeded to show me his rock collection, his two cats and the comic he'd been working on, but for the entire half hour until the class really started.
Very sweet. Secondly, my colleague who works in kindergarten told us about one kid aged 3. His parents left him alone for a while and whilst on camera, he just went and hid in a cupboard and shut the door for the remainder of the video. misscat15
Do you have something to confess to George? Text "Secrets" or "
" to +1 (310) 299-9390 to talk to him about it.
Cat Hang Up.
GiphyNot a teacher, but a student in Uni. It's fun to see my classmates younger siblings coming to annoy them or ask for help with their school stuff. Also, it's amazing to see other pets and their habits, especially when a cat ends calls. NakoNii
Oh Craaaapppp!!!
A kid was watching Dragon Ball Z in English. Screamed ohhhh craaaaaaaapppp while Frieza got cut in half. Catacrew1
Dbz dub is actually better for me, Goku sounds better and there are some funny moments with the translation, "Don't shoot, he's not black." Killarusca
The Dingy....
Just how SOUTHERN one of my student's family is. She has no discernible accent (we are in N.C.) but her family sounds like rural Alabama stereotypes. Also, her grandmother said I was an idiot (to my Zoom meeting face!) because I said corn dogs weren't good for cats. So... I understand why this student is maybe a bit dingy. AreYouALavaBeaver
Seek Help.
Not a teacher, a therapist.
I've learned that as bouncy and distracted as kids are in my office, at home they are much worse.
It's fun to see where all my patients live though, and sometimes meet their families inadvertently (they invite the family over to see, Not breaching confidentiality) and the best part is getting to meet SO many puppies!! sexy_syzygy
3 Second Rule.
GiphyMy friend Audrey said a teacher told her that he saw a kid spill a Pepsi on the floor and start licking it up. gorgon277
Computer Time.
I volunteer at a group home, and the kids have very limited time on computers, so they had to excuse themselves from google classroom. They also have to be watched the entire time, so I sit there watching them scroll through whatever work they are given. I often act as a tutor, and help where I can. If you're a teacher and you're reading this, grade this stuff generously please. I'm in college and some of these homework packets would probably take me months to finish. userasdfghjk
In Need.
I teach at two NYC community colleges. I've had to make live lectures optional and set up my course with a lot of low-bandwidth options. Most of my students reported having consistent internet and computer access, but I'm trying to maximize accessibility. Even still, I'm expecting some students will need to bail out and try again next semester when things are back to normal. paleo2002
I'm off the clock!!!
That a week's downtime turns students into nocturnal wilder beasts. Seriously I had a math class planned this morning at 8. First student signed in at 1030 with 50 min left. 40% had signed into the class by 1400. And only now at 1915 does the questions start coming in on Teams.
You know what guys? Screw you, I'm off the clock! Jumbobog
Got You on Camera.
GiphyOne mom swore up and down that she didn't have a laptop for her kid to do google classroom.
Compromise: take a picture of her son completing the packet I sent home.
In the background of the picture: a brand new Mac just hanging out. Banthefrack
So Rude.
I was in a small group meeting on zoom with my college prof today. One of the guys didn't realize his mic was on and yelled super angrily at his family member "WTH are you doing?! I'm on a video call with my professor right now. Get the hell out!" A girl did a similar thing last week too. Apparently people speaking really rudely to their family is normal...? Ashamed_SkirtSuit
Radiating....
GiphyThat their parents limit computer time and yell at them about using a computer while they're in class. That and a lot of parents are still worried about radiation from using a monitor for too long. Ummm, our school laptops don't have CRTs. rudeteacher1955
Purr/Woof....
Mostly, I'm getting to see students' pets. I've seen rabbits, birds, and lizards now. FortressofTrees
Awww, I want to see cool pets. Maybe I should start using video for my live lectures after all. paleo2002
Eyes Wide Open....
I saw an article about a school in Finland that sent an email home to all the parents asking the dads to wear pants around the house - apparently a lot of them were walking around sans trousers in the background while their kids were videoconferencing with the class. gavinski91
The Right Way!
The students who show up a little sloppy to class, crank it up to 11 at home. Coloradical27
I literally did not get out of bed, alarm set for 7:55am, wake up, connect to zoom at 8:00am, nuts out (under the covers) THE RIGHT WAY TO LEARN! writingwithmovement
step 1 is realizing no one gives a care.....
step 2 is not giving a care....
step 3 is wanting to be comfortable.....
3 special steps, thats all you need.... writingwithmovement
Cereal Student.
GiphyI just got off an online class and my teacher said she saw a student in another class eating cereal on the kitchen floor. simmigamergurl21
Same Old....
I teach preschool and we're doing daily zoom meetings... today two kids had a meltdown bc I didn't talk to them soon enough, one kid wouldn't stop singing, one kid was playing legos on the floor, and another was literally just running around outside.
Not much different than my everyday tbh 🤷♀️. l-ilac-win-e
Mute People!!
Student here but my first lecture was today and I gotta say, people don't participate in physical classes like they do online, like wow we have 10 people actively talking compared to maybe 4
That and weird stuff happens when people don't mute mics. throwaway126400963
I'm in a usual lecture of roughly 300 & today we only had about 12 online. I was actually happier with it cause I'm such a nervous person I felt like I could connect more with my professor. TheNarwhalMom
We're Listening....
Student here, my parents yell at each other an awful lot and now classmates of mine who used to be awful to me are unusually polite. My psych teacher recently told me he's always there if I need to talk. sm0ldering_heart
I was on a call with my boss as I'm working from home and my parents were having a discussion with opposing view points that got a little loud... I hope she didn't hear them, as my door was closed. on the other hand, during a team meeting someone's got kids that are loud and behave like high energy kids so that made me feel better. TorrentialKiwi
Kiddo Time.
A lot of my high schoolers have adorable small siblings. We commiserate at their siblings and my toddler interrupting our google meets and at the end of classes we let the kiddos use the screen to hang out. Lets_Call_It_Wit
Cleo.
GiphyI've learned the names and habits of /so many/ cats and dogs. my favorite is a student's dog named Cleo. Cleo is the very best of boys, big solid lad. Hedgiwithapen