Fellow teachers: Throw out the plan for tomorrow. Hold space for students to talk and question and think. Keep that space safe. Allow those not ready to process a way out. Be human first, admit when you don’t know.

The day after Parkland, I followed this model...

...I had a student before first period ask if we could talk before we started the lesson. I started off thinking it was an intro.

The students led me another way. I helped moderate, but these kids needed to process. To talk. To listen.

I ended up with other students in...

...my room. Students were leaving classes to come to talk and listen.

I invited other teachers to join us. I asked admin for a larger space. I moved my classes all day and facilitated the student-led processing. It got BIG.

Probably my single best classroom day. Ever...

Tomorrow, I’ll try my best to translate that same space to the virtual space. I’ll allow students to opt out. I’ll likely listen more than I talk. I’ll likely cry.

But I won’t be teaching archetypes tomorrow. I’ll be teaching children. I encourage you to reframe, too.