CORONAVIRUS SURVIVAL Day 3
The days get later and that’s OK. I mean, really, what is there to wake up for? Can I just sleep until August, a virus induced sleeping beauty type situation?
Not possible although if you are medicating, feeling crappy and not making plans it’s kinda the same thing. Solutions? Of course I have them.
First, accept the new normal. You will be here for at least three weeks. Figure out what you can and cannot do then make a schedule. Plan in some fun because we are not animals. Silly stuff like driving to Mama’s bakery in Sebastopol to get an apple pie on pi day. Texting friends in the morning to see if anyone needs anything. Long walks, rediscovering nature (my favs-SDC reservoir, Maxwell Park forest, any and all beaches).
Then keep a loose schedule, especially if you have kids in the house. Breakfast, chores, a little learning, recess, lunch, a little more learning, dinner, entertainment, sleep. Check out educator resources, I like the California Academy of Sciences and Edutopia but you should just Google “best educator resources” and learn on your own (See how I did that-teach people to fish and they eat forever). Teaching is just like any other job, you put in the work and you get the results.
And how about the school of life? Walk with a purpose, collect things and thoughts and write about them. Learn about the body by learning about the virus. Learn about the economy by studying what is happening to our economy. Knowledge is about understanding how life works.
Go deep, use the California State Standards of Education and the Next Generation Science Standards especially for high schoolers, I guarantee that teachers will be doing everything they can to help. We will be on the job beginning next Monday the 23rdbringing whatever resources possible to your inbox.
And please get outside, as the German’s say; there is no bad weather just bad clothing choices. I played an hour and a half of tennis in the rain last Saturday (use old balls and old rackets and have at it) with my ex-college roommate who drove up from Alameda because he has a new car and he wanted to go for a drive. It was not aggressive and sweaty tennis but casual and social tennis, we maintained social distancing, caught up on life and had a great time. Endorphins are still an important part of your homeostasis.
Then there’s the money, not much to do about that except keep track of your losses and know that we are all in this together. Free meals for students are starting on the 23rdfrom 11-1 at Altimira, Sassarini and Adele. Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, FISH, La Luz, Redwood Empire and other local non-profits can help but only if you reach out which is hard to do when sheltered in place. Ask for help, know you are not alone and hopefully the federal government will send those $1000. checks soon.
And if you want to work, think about what is still functioning and apply there. The Amazon warehouse in Rodeo (19 miles away) needs workers as does Safeway and a couple of other local restaurants (Marys, Round Table, Door Dash, Grubhub). Or get innovative and think about what service people sheltered in place will need-medication delivery, housecleaning, entertainment delivery (videos, board games, painting supplies). Make funny or educational videos, write more, and get creative. Only boring people get bored and you are not that.
Feeling better? No, I’m not either but this is what it is. You can complain and make yourself miserable or plan and make the best of a very bad situation.
Walt Williams is in it for the money, that and the prestige that goes with 22 years of teaching in California high schools (he’s not the smartest tool in the shed). He firmly believes in more standardized testing and that fitting all students into the same box is really the answer. He strongly supports fracking and that climate change is a fantasy made up by hippie liberals, also that the military needs more funding and that schools should just stop whining.