The Covid pandemic continues to bring uncertainty to schools all over the country, as the excitement of returning to the classroom has been thwarted by spikes in the virus, causing some districts to close their schools once again, and return to online learning. Other districts had no other choice but to open the school year with online classes only, and other districts are able to offer a hybrid of both. One thing is for certain, teachers are being stretched to their limits as what was thought to be temporary, will likely become the new normal well into the future.  Even under the best of conditions, teaching is an inherently complex profession with many moving parts, but now, as hybrid learning continuing to evolve, teachers must adapt as best they can and prepare for the long haul under less than optimal conditions.  International education speaker and consultant, Rick Smith, says,  "Being a teacher is like trying to fly an airplane, while building it."  This is exactly what is being asked of teachers now. 

Students are also being asked to learn in an environment that is devoid of the peer contact and extracurricular activities that help balance the demands of their more cerebral mandates. The isolation of non peer contact has created an environment of depression for some young teens, which is cause for concern. Another aspect of the downside of distance learning and more cause for concern,  are the at risk children who are otherwise disenfranchised in the home, where being isolated is, in many cases, life threatening.  From domestic abuse to going hungry, these children are not receiving the special attention they require, and deserve.  Shamefully, there were no contingency plans in place to mitigate this national disaster, which was not unforeseen,  and there are no easy solutions towards remedy, but the stakes are high all around and we must all do our part to make the best of what we have been handed. 

Teacher burnout is expected to rise so it is imperative that teachers reach out to other teachers for support to help each other form coping strategies moving forward. We all need to hold the hope that we will come through these dark times with a greater understanding of the need to balance our personal lives with our working lives,  (if you haven't figured that one out yet, it's time to carve out time for yourself!). As teachers, we have a say in how this pandemic has shaped us as educators, and moving forward, how to prepare for teaching during a national disaster. The Wright Stuff Chics would love to hear from any and all teachers about their hardships, how they are coping, and ideas about building a better model for disaster based learning. Please post your comments on our FB page, or you may send us a PM. We want to hear from you!! 

TEACH YOUR HEART OUT!! 

Get ready for more Teach Your Heart Out conferencing!! Our virtual conferences are so successful that we are putting more on the calendar. Why is TYHO in such demand? Because we offer excellent, cutting edge content presented by a diverse and dynamic group of experienced presenters who are leading educators in the field, sharing their unique and effective teaching styles. If you haven't registered for an upcoming conference yet, do it now!! Click on the link to TYHO below. Don't miss out!! 

 https://www.teachyourheartoutcon.com/events/virtualconference-2/ 

Follow us on Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/teachyourheartoutcon/

TYHO merchandise available here - https://thewrightstuffchics.com/collections/tyho-merchandise

THE WRIGHT STUFF CHICS NEWS

New in our store is the Covid face shield. Great for the classroom or for family and friends who are back at work!! We also have a great assortment of face masks. Get them while they last!!

Order link below.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2713977648889651&extid=44ffMSZN3CUwpO10

The Wright Stuff Chics PoP Up ShoP

We have opened our live pop-up shop!! Check for upcoming live shows to be announced on our FB page!!

https://www.facebook.com/thewrightstuffchics/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Black Lives Matters Tees

*FUNDRAISER ALERT*

Thank you to @mrdearybury for curating our Black authored Elementary, Middle, and High school book lists. Our goal is to be able to provide 5,000 classrooms with a set of the books by black authors.  By purchasing this shirt, you will be able to help us attain this goal!

This Black owned-business supports Black lives. Thanks for the awesome design @mswonderlymakesmusic

The Pink Santa Hat Movement News

Nominations for our annual Pink Santa Hat recipients is open! This year we will be providing virtual pampering via gift baskets filled with love and items to support eight educators who are battling breast cancer. To nominate an educator, or to make a donation to help us with this annual campaign, please contact Lisa Dunnigan at thewrightstuffchics@gmail.com. Nominations are open until December 1st. 

Thank you for your support!!  

As we close our out September blog, know that The Wright Stuff Chics holds all of our educators close to our hearts and never far from our thoughts. Our community will come through this time together, stronger, wiser and certainly more determined than ever to leave our mark on our profession, making it better as we go, and leaving a path for those educators who come after us.  We will also come away from this time knowing how to better care for ourselves, our loved ones and to learn to take better care of ourselves, and each other.

Take a breath, take a beat. We've got you, and YOU'VE got this. 

Lisa, Tosha and The Wright Stuff Chics Team

“The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day.” -Todd Whitaker 

(Recognized as a leading presenter in the field of education,  Todd Whitaker's message about the importance of teaching has resonated with hundreds of thousands of educators around the world. Todd is a professor of educational leadership at the University of Missouri and professor emeritus at Indiana State University.)