Thoughts on working from Home: Teaching...

For the last two weeks I have found myself working from home, sitting in front of my new Chrome book, beside my laptop, with my ipad and my phone close by. These have become my colleagues, my pupils and my school. I am usually a reluctant tech. person, preferring to talk directly to people and to use paper and pen where possible.At school I have embraced the use of my computer and the number of emails in my inbox is testimony to how much that is part of my working day, but for me the joy of teaching is the personal interactions one can have with
​pupils and staff.

Coronavirus has forced us all to make massive changes to our way of living and I have never found myself so grateful for the new technology which is allowing school to still happen.
Through the use of google we have set up classrooms  and post work for the pupils to access and return for marking. Teachers have been in their classrooms at lesson time to answer questions and support the pupils. A few hiccups aside, I have to say it has all worked remarkably well. We have discovered the use of Screen castify and have been busy recording assemblies, reading class novels and recording instructions for lessons. It has been reassuring to talk to the pupils in this way and I have enjoyed creating these short clips - after all I always wanted to be Aunty Mabel from ‘Come outside ‘ and now is my chance!  She had a Tibetan terrier called Pippin who appeared in every story. I can only offer two cats called Polly and Stewie but they have been very ‘helpful’, making cameo appearances at meetings and stepping across the keyboard during my maths lesson- creating a very interesting answer!
I have been amazed at how I have adapted to the use of this technology and more importantly not panicked!  New technology usually has me panicking and getting unreasonably annoyed very quickly - but in the current situation this is not an option. I did have a tricky moment on Tuesday when the Wifi wouldn’t play and I couldn’t take part in a meeting, but these trying times certainly help you to re evaluate and reflect on what is important and after a calming walk I returned and followed that great advice of switching it off and on again!  Since then, ‘Mr Wifi’ has been very well behaved.
It has been a joy to receive work from the pupils, along with photos and video clips of what they are doing. Being able to see them has made all the difference and taking part in google meets with colleagues has also been a great reassurance that life is managing to continue with some degree of normality.
These are tricky times for us all and the uncertainty is causing us concern and anxiety, but for the first time in my life, I think I can say I am truly thankful to be living in this technological age where remote access to our family, friends and work colleagues is possible. I am also proud of how so many of us are adapting to this change.  However, this sudden change in our way of life has confirmed how much I want to be a normal teacher, working face to face with pupils and colleagues. It is important that we all follow the rules and stay safe at this time, but I think it is also important we look forward to life returning to normal and be thankful for it when it does. 
Norma Murray