post lockdown anxiety...

Yes...I'm especially anxious because when my school opens more at end of October, I will be travelling to an area currently a hotspot (+ no sign of change anytime soon). My mask will be worn at all times. One consolation, many student emails re vaccinations=missing remote class.

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) October 6, 2021

honorary knight...

PASSING THOUGHT: Learning to dodge 2021's daggers quite well...Yesterday's rise in Victoria's covid cases +surprise earthquake visitor causing some house structural damage+ongoing anxiety re school...Keep walking...Yes...Practice makes me an honorary knight of the round table...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 22, 2021

quietly celebrating...

It's Friday...the close of Term 3 remote learning...
And I'm quietly celebrating...
with a gift of wine from a friend...
So glad I kept her gift for a special occasion...
Today is that day...
I'm exhausted...totally...
Thank you dear friend...🍷🍷🍷 pic.twitter.com/xgCl2Kdo0W

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 17, 2021

Made it...just...is certainly the right call...The last few weeks have been draining, trying to get my students over the line...Lots of encouragement for them...lots of worry for me...But, I've enjoyed some celebration wine tonight...Tomorrow I'll face that outstanding marking...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 17, 2021

donuts to the rescue...

So nice to receive a gift from school admin today...
Fancy donuts + a special message attached...
Spurred me on through the 2nd last day of remote learning...
Managed to get some cross-marking of Year 10 English essays done+teaching classes online...
All supported by donuts... pic.twitter.com/C5VVj20Y7d

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 16, 2021

farm life detour...

PASSING THOUGHT: My friend has retired from teaching-other than the occasional casual work pre-lockdown. Now she nourishes my remote, 'murky' teaching days with tales of her farm life. She has sheep+today witnessed the birth of a lamb. She's my great detour from weary students... pic.twitter.com/JKgS9Lbp6t

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 15, 2021

surviving remote teaching/learning...

What's everyone got planned for lockdown today? I was thinking about gazing into the eyes of madness. Maybe a walk, too.

— David Milner (@DaveMilbo) September 8, 2021

Sounds so much like my story...You did not mention the dreaded word 'emails'...Do they ever end? I am learning that when I reach 5 o'clock, I stop...I just stop...(I start each day online by 7am...In early days of 1st lockdown in 2020, it was 5am start...I have improved...)

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 8, 2021

Yeah, this is crazy. I hear parents whinging about remote learning, well, many teachers as also parents. Feel like working 3 jobs ATM. Have to keep up with my own kids, still run a school for kids coming in AND teach all this at home. Yeah, then the real work starts. :(

— 7RockLists (@7RockLists) September 8, 2021

I do sympathise...Again, my story...Last week, parent-teacher interviews for 5 hours (beginning 3:30pm) after remote teaching...That was a killer...Marking's impossible...So far behind, yet I am working as hard as possible...But I take short breaks to revitalise+then go again...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 8, 2021

Believe me, there are many teachers in our boat...That's what keeps me going...We're not alone...Yesterday, staff Google Meet after remote learning...lasted an hour...tedious...no need...teachers looked terrible...Indeed, one fell asleep...the one with 3 children at home...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 8, 2021

pygmy marmosets eating peas...

Pygmy marmosets eating peas...
Just what I needed today to erase volcanic bursts of frustration...many emails (+remote lessons) re just a handful of students who really don't play the game of trying...nor want to do so...But we must record we've tried...+keep trying...Sighhh https://t.co/DyXQne78wQ

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 7, 2021

Afghani students...

Just found out another side to the unfolding Afghanistan crisis. A friend, teaching in a Melbourne outer-east school, has c. 60 Afghani students. One parent comes out with younger children+then sponsors the others. Her students are frightened, broken+remote learning challenges...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) August 21, 2021

My friend said teachers have been allocated selected Afghani students to call every day...checking on their welfare...My friend is in charge of this arrangement, so the teachers involved report back to her...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) August 21, 2021

more spring blossoms...

PASSING THOUGHT: Lovely to find more spring blossoms appearing in the garden today. I stepped outside as a break from remote learning work since 7:00am...It was worth the time out...I am trying to do that more often esp this weekend with lots of marking to do+no going anywhere... pic.twitter.com/MMCVto0VSX

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) August 20, 2021

I have been so very very bad at keeping pace with marking students' work this lockdown. I can't stay focused on marking and rarely feel motivated to do it. This is not my usual practice.

I am feeling overwhelmed with universal sadness I guess, constantly trying to keep students' spirits uplifted too...hoping mine follow suit...My efforts seem to take an emotional toll...But I will try harder this weekend... 

teacher stress...

PASSING THOUGHT: I know I shouldn't add to the current quagmire, but today has been a super challenging day of not just doing remote learning but supporting struggling students (lots of emails)+closing the day with teacher welfare PD incl survey of school procedures. So hard 😒 pic.twitter.com/zE6WuUPZ28

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) August 18, 2021

joys of remote learning...

PASSING THOUGHT: The joys of remote learning...Our online learning portal has crashed-since 7:15am...Can't access lessons or email students...An hour has gone by + still not working... Perhaps students are delighted...Meanwhile, teachers keep checking and checking and checking...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) August 16, 2021

first day of lockdown...again...

PASSING THOUGHT: After my rugged reaction to Victoria's lockdown news yesterday, followed by a scramble to change lesson plans+a sound night's sleep, I faced the remote learning challenge of a 6 period day- Google Meets+lots of emails...
And it was OK...I'm OK... pic.twitter.com/YyKbx4Igz5

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) August 6, 2021

All the background organisation for a 'snap' 6 period day - including changed lesson plans, ensuring the Google Calendar had the correct Google Meet scheduled + a flurry of emails to students reminding them to check lesson details on SEQTA- tends to be rather intimidating...not to mention quite exhausting...Always double-check for errors...

But it all worked out and flowed smoothly...Well, almost...One student decided to close a Google Meet a somewhat earlier than I intended...Just a little detective work and I found the culprit...There has to be one...

healthy dose of cute in a crazy day...

And a healthy dose of cute helps to calm my crazy remote learning day too...
Thank you Anna... 🙏 https://t.co/o3fMXf0GUp

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) July 21, 2021

a little magic in a hectic day...

At last, a little magic in my hectic, frustrating, online teaching day under lockdown...
I so sorely needed this time away...
Just so beautiful...🙏 https://t.co/WTRTPNniwX

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) July 21, 2021

return to school...

return to school
climbing out of
bleak yesterdays
with sticky
little feet #tanka
NOTE: Apologies to Kenneth Slessor

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) June 14, 2021

lockdown blues...

I sympathise...I've struggled with a little furball, stressed by ongoing loud construction at my neighbour's. I too have struggled with it from early light up to 7pm...trying to continue remote learning. Only in the last few days has there been relief thanks to storm and rain...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) June 14, 2021

spuddle...

Spot on...This is my day today in a nutshell...In lockdown, but working since c.5:30am, changing Year 10 English curriculum now lockdown will last 7 more days. Exams scrapped. New assessments. Must be organised to alert 2 co-teachers+students of plan. Teaching remotely too. https://t.co/qeapDK4Mtu

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) June 3, 2021

exams cancelled under lockdown...

PASSING THOUGHT: Lockdown update - My school, late this afternoon, cancelled all Years 7-10 exams (due to be done next week). I expect my Year 10 English will convert into a single summative task due end of term + submitted online. Marking 5 large classes in a short time is 😒

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) June 2, 2021

Victoria lockdown begins...

PASSING THOUGHT: Day 1-Victoria lockdown+remote learning...(govt schools granted a prep day today, but my private school soldiered on after panic preparation day @ school yesterday)...Amazingly, the transition today was smooth...We've done this before at short notice...Grateful🙏

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) May 28, 2021

strange day in the remote teaching world...

Strange day in the remote teaching world...I feel I was doing so much - including a Google Meet staff meeting at the end of the day. But I'm not sure I actually achieved anything...Much like being on a treadmill and just keeping pace... pic.twitter.com/d2LNaqPJ8K

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) February 16, 2021