Neatly organized in the front corner of my classroom, in the same spot it’s been for four years, March 17th classwork is still waiting there unused. To be honest, I hadn’t really thought about it much until yesterday, the day our Governor declared that schools would remain closed for the rest of the school year. The students I taught this year will never see that lesson, in fact, they’ll miss over two months of lessons I would have given them face to face. It’s not that we aren’t teaching them, but every teacher will understand that the lesson we’re giving students online will never be the same lesson they would have received in person. 

            As I try to navigate trying to be an excellent educator online, I’ve found myself leaning heavily on the relationships I’ve built from August to March. In reaching out to parents, and students, I’ve had the most success with those who:

Know how much I care for themKnow how hard I’ll fight to give them a good education

I did not think about these families or students when it was announced that schools would close for the rest of the year. Instead, I thought about the ones who might not know or believe those statements. 

What was the last thing I said to each child?

Teachers are in the trenches daily. We plan out a school year, plan individual lessons, analyzing data in the moment, anticipate misunderstandings, pivot instruction to meet the students’ needs, all while holding firm expectations and nurturing students. I’m not saying it’s difficult. I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t enjoy it, but we wear so many different hats that sometimes one or two fall off. Sometimes we deliver great lessons but misinterpret student misconceptions. Sometimes we are so focused on nurturing students, that our lesson fails to deliver them the instruction they needed. Sometimes we hold such a firm bar, that we push too hard to get them to meet it.

Not one day are we ever perfect and I can’t help but sit here and wonder what imperfection I displayed on our last day together in person.

Did I make sure they left knowing how much I care about them?

Did I make sure they left knowing how hard I’ll fight for them to get a good education? 

We don’t always get another opportunity with people. For some reason, we live like we will. Some of these students will move, or transfer, and I may never see them again. Unlike previous years, we never shared the joys of finishing a year together, of reflecting on our time together before we parted ways. Yes, we chat on the phone, text, video conference, and I’m still a daily presence in their life, but that last day we spent together, that day is the last day I will ever get to stand in front of that exact group of students and make an impact.

Hindsight it 20/20 and truth is, I don’t think I took advantage of that day. I’m willing to bet most educators don’t think they did either.  We all wish we could have that day back.

You don’t have to be an educator to wish for a day back. I’m sure we all have one, but it won’t ever come back.

This day, however, this day is happening right now. This is your chance to make that impression, to apologize, to forgive, to love, to be who you were meant to be.

Make your impact. 

Now.

Because no one really knows when you’ll get your next chance.