Day 25 Slice of Life – Ten Things I Learned Today

Denise Krebs
  1. You can play Kahoot! virtually without all the students being in the same place.
    We are now in a five-day long game!

    This week I wanted my students to play a Kahoot game where they would guess some facts about me. I’m not that experienced with Kahoot, but I thought they would need to see my screen. Yesterday I hosted a Zoom meeting and about 14 people were able to come. Today I learned I can play asynchronously, so I set up another game for those who weren’t able to play the first time.

  2. I love to play games and my husband does not. Today I ventured out to the grocery store because there will be a two-week shut-down of all the shops except for groceries and pharmacies. I’m planning to stay in during that two-week period, so I went out to get a few fresh fruits and vegetables, along with some canned and frozen veggies. (We eat a lot of vegetables.) I also picked up a game. It is called Digital Game, but it’s not a digital game at all. It is actually a Rummikub knockoff. I may have to play alone though because my game-playing friends and I are socially distancing, of course. So, will Digital Game “bring people together” as the package says? We’re going to have to wait and see.
  3. I have herbs and spices and I’m not afraid to use them. Today I made a frittata without a recipe, just diced up some celery, fresh dill, and capsicum. Then I sprinkled in turmeric and zaatar.  It was delicious. That was something new for me. I’ve never been a risky cook in any sense of the word, but this at-home stuff is making me learn.
  4. I must have had a really good immune system. I have been washing my hands and using hand-sanitizer, not nearly as often as they tell us we should, but more than before. Back in the day (by back in the day, I mean my whole life except for the past Coronamonth), I have not washed my hands all that much, or used hand sanitizer ever. I guess my immune system has been good because I haven’t been sick in three years. (Knock on wood)
  5. Virtual assignments are best when students have to respond personally.  I have some teacher friends who have seen copy-paste of assignments turned in, some students copying wrong answers with the exact same misspelled words. I am happy to say, though, that the vast majority of my lessons have needed sweet answers from the students. They wrote pen pal letters to a class in Arizona, which is also doing virtual learning now. They asked and answered “getting to know you” (or remember you) questions about me and themselves. We’ve had fun with that this week.
  6. Communication is the reason for language. This one goes with the one above. How much reading and writing we are doing this month! Handling this kind of learning is a real-life lesson for my language learners and their parents, who are all building their skills in English.
  7. I learned how to add an end page to a YouTube video. We are trying to figure out the best and safest way to upload videos. Some of our teachers are afraid of YouTube, afraid of the videos that will come up after their students finish watching their video, and afraid of the ads they will see. I had never thought of that, to be honest, but a colleague and I were put on a mission to find the best and safest way to upload videos.
  8. My husband is getting slap happy. Today he called and told me to check the smoking toilet. I went in to find this…
  9. Zoom is a pretty good program. I’ve been in or watched my husband in three Zoom meetings today. I need to keep learning because I’ve made lots of little mistakes with it. It’s embarrassing when you are just  learning but there is video and audio evidence of all your foibles.
  10. I miss my students more today than yesterday. I learn this anew every day.

10 thoughts on “Day 25 Slice of Life – Ten Things I Learned Today”

  1. Your 10 things are certainly things we are all noticing. I must say that I LOVE your husband’s sense of humor along with his display of precious paper! We all need to smile and help others smile is one lesson I am taking from your post.

  2. This is a great list. I love all 10 things you learned today. I think I’m going to have to keep my own list!

  3. I love the smoking toilet…and I , too, miss my students more each day. I love the ways lists help with writing. It’s a good reminder for something to ask my students to do too. I might just have them make a list (for some genuine reason) next week!
    Kim

  4. What a great list!! Honestly, #8 made us laugh good and hard! I can only imagine what kind of fun your husband must be!

    Thanks for a great list to think about! 🙂

    1. Thank you, Darin. I appreciate the comment and I’m glad I gave you something to think about. My husband is a great person to be locked down with!

  5. What a lovely list of personal and professional things you’ve learned–just like how our personal and professional life are blended or woven together at this time. That toilet picture is an instant classic! Incredible

    1. Thank you, Jackie. Yes, when I first started I realized how hard it was to work at home because it seemed my home refuge had become a work trap. The dining room table covered with my work always beckoned me to come and read just a few more student stories or check email. Now, it’s becoming more routine and I’m able to develop a rhythm, so I’ve found more non-work hours in my days.

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