We are entering a new reality in which our relationships with others will change. Constantly comparing to "what was" doesn't allow "what could be" the opportunity to grow and thrive. Every day is a PD day. #myPDtoday

Today, after my wife and I went shopping and returned home, we proceeded to diligently wipe down and rinse the things we had bought, right after we had our showers. We discussed and planned our after-trip wipedown before we left the house, making sure we had all the necessary items in place. I don't know how long we'll continue this practice but, for now, it is the new normal.
We are entering a new normal. As much as we might hope that things will go back to the way they were, there is so much happening that a new normal is already beginning to develop. I don’t know how that will look, I don’t think anyone does. But worldwide events have a tendency to change how people act and interact, how they think about the world, their relationships, their connections, and what is important to them. As we struggle with the immensity of what is happening, searching for habits and routines to help us cope, these changes will influence our tomorrow in ways we can't see right now.
The Place Called School
So what will school and learning look like? Right now, many teachers are trying to figure that our for right now. There’s definitely a lot of discussion going on about what role technology will play and how will people adjust to having to quickly transition to working online. I’ve seen the spectrum of conversations about what will happen to learning, the role of technology, how we will assess, how will we organize schools and students and a whole lot more. It has a lot of people discussing the role of teachers and what teaching entails.
Although I think schools will again become a focal point for learning, I believe we are seeing that learning can happen anywhere, at any time and can involve a number of different individuals. It's difficult to foresee what will happen but if we are to adjust and learn from what is happening, there needs to be an opportunity for what might be possible.
I’ve seen a number of conversations on various social media that this shift to digital can't be as authentic as face to face and that for real teaching/learning to occur, there needs to be students in a room with a teacher. Although I think the role of the teacher is very important, I think that we are seeing that learning relationships extend beyond just those relationships and, in fact, we need to extend these relationships in different ways. Yes developing a ‘learning community’ with students is important, we are seeing that these communities need to extend beyond what we have traditionally defined them. Being open to what might be possible doesn't negate what we use to do. In fact, it gives us the opportunity to reflect and hopefully, tune into what was really working well. Like in many situations, we do the best we can but when we learn something better, we then need to do better.
We are Grieving
I found this article on grief, share with me by Katie White, has a very good explanation of the process of grieving. As I read through this, it is apparent that many teachers I know are grieving for what was, for the normal routine of the day when we could predict with some amount of certainty what was happening. There was solace and meaning in the roles and the connections with students and colleagues. There was familiar ways of getting to know students, build community in a new class, bring people together for learning that was built on routines and habits that were comfortable. The Place Called School has provided certainty for people beyond the actual structure. That is why small communities fight so desperately to keep their schools open, to have the school continue in their community - it's part of the heart of a community. With the closure of schools, the disruption of routines, and the uncertainty of what will coming, it is only natural to grieve and to want to hold on to what we know, what brings us comfort, what helps us define who we are. We resist wanting that to change.
Bolding Stepping Forward
Six years ago I stepped into a new world. I left what was comfortable, what I knew, the routines and security of the world at school. Since that time, I have had to work through the grieving process and push myself and expand what I thought about teaching and learning. It hasn't been easy. There have been times of frustration. It was difficult and there were times I wanted to give up and just return to what I knew. Except, I knew that I couldn't do that.
Having lived in 9 different communities, I have learned that once you leave a place, you can return but it will not be the place you left. It will have changed. There will be a new normal with new routines and new people. Yes, some things will stay the same and sometimes at first glance things will look the same, normal. But as you stay, you will see changes. If you decide to stay, you will have to choose to accept this new normal or continue to be frustrated by it.
A New Normal...
Schools will always be an important part of the community. They may become an even more important part of our communities. But, as we are seeing, learning isn't just what happens in school. It's an approach to how we live and how we view the world. It may be formalized in a classroom and a school but it is taking place all around us. There is great possibility for how learning might be reconceptualized within a new normal of something we call school. It's hard to see what that might look like right now but as we adjust to this new normal of right now, there is great possibility and promise.
We will grieve through this change as some of us try to turn back time, to recreate the past in hopes of returning to what used to be normal. Unfortunately, like a place you have left, there is a new normal. To thrive in that new normal, you have to let go of the old, embrace the new and work at improving it and helping it to flourish and grow. To resist, unfortunately, will leave you frustrated and, in my experience, bitter.
There will be a new normal…