Working from Home – Day One – Thursday, March 19th

Today begins my first official day of working from home. The Coronavirus has closed schools here in North Carolina and I’ve decided to work from home, at least for the time being.

I’m pleased with what I’ve been able to do thus far. We met earlier this week and got three weeks worth of work together in student packets. They’re picking those up today. Since most of our students have internet access, I’ve also been working on setting up that line of communication.

Google classroom is one of the tools I’ve been using for the past three years and it’s going to work nicely for sharing online lessons. I’ve already posted three of our favorite songs we have learned this year and students now have access to those. Beginning Monday morning, I’ll post a warm-up each day for each of my three classes. This once again is something they’re familiar with and I think it will help make them feel more like a “normal” class day.

Class Dojo is another tool we’ll be using for communicating with parents and students. I posted from my account for the first time today and think I’ll probably do one post each day to keep in touch with families. I’ve not been the biggest fan of this platform, but now it seems like it just might be my best friend for online teaching.

School email is something we’ve been using for a long while. But it’s become an essential tool for staying in touch with our principal and fellow teachers. We’ve had three online faculty meetings over the past three days and I would imagine this will become a part of my daily routine.

I’ve contacted a friend who works from home all the time and she’s given me some helpful hints to get started. Making a list of tasks, establishing a routine, listening to music, and taking breaks are a part of what I’ve gotten from her so far.

So there you go…working from home is the new normal for me. I’ll keep you updated on how it all goes.

David Lee

Daily Readings for Thursday, March 19th

Meditation for the Day

God’s spirit is all about you all day long. You have no thoughts, no plans, no impulses and no emotions that He does not know about. You can hide nothing from Him. Do not make your conduct conform only to that of the world and do not depend on the approval or disapproval of others. God sees in secret, but He rewards openly. If you are in harmony with the Divine Spirit, doing your best to live the way you believe God wants you to live, you will be at peace.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may always feel God’s presence. I pray that I may realize this Presence constantly all through the day.

From Twenty-Four Hours a Day 

Staying Out of the Middle

“I don’t want to get in the middle, but . . .” is a sign that we may have just stepped into the middle.

We do not have to get caught in the middle of other people’s issues, problems, or communication. We can let others take responsibility for themselves in their relationships. We can let them work out their issues with each other.

Being a peacemaker does not mean we get in the middle. We are bearers of peace by staying peaceful ourselves and not harboring turmoil. We are peacemakers by not causing the extra chaos created when we get in the middle of other people’s affairs and relationships.

Don’t get in the middle unless you want to be there.

Today, I will refuse to accept any invitations to jump in the middle of others’ affairs, issues, and relationships. I will trust others to work out their own affairs, including the ideas and feelings they want to communicate to each other.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie

Some schools closed for coronavirus in US are not going back for the rest of the academic year…CNN report

While some states are shuffling to make alternative ways that students can continue learning from home, others have decided to remain closed for the rest of the school year…

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/18/us/coronavirus-schools-not-going-back-year/index.html