Art educator Wendy Milne created this sketch to express her experience of teaching during the first year of the COVID pandemic. Many hoped that by the Fall of 2021, life in schools would have calmed down and been reasonably predictable. Unfortunately, as the omicron variant has raced through the country, it looks like the roller coast ride is not yet over. We are starting a new discussion thread where educators can share their experiences as the school year proceeds. We are beginning the discussion with a series of “dear diary” entries written by high school students on the anniversary of their school going virtual.
What a great metaphor for the ups and downs, twists and turns of the time we live in. Thanks to Wendy for helping us to reflect and respond to the ever-changing environment.
Sarah, Thanks for cheking into the website. I agree that Wendy’s image still resonates with me as I hear the latest “breaking” news about schools and COVID. Those teachers who are hanging in for the ride really deserve a great deal of credit, much admiration and many thanks. Maria
This is a great metaphor for the many ups and downs that this pandemic has brought about. I wonder what Wendy would draw now to express her current feelings and experiences.
I find this picture to be very impactful in the way that it conveys the challenges that teachers have faced during the pandemic. As a college student, my learning experiences have thrown me for a loop. Since I am a preservice educator, I also feel that I have been able to view things much more from my teachers’ perspectives than some of my peers. Viewing this illustration gives me an even clearer idea of the struggles teachers have been going through and helps me to better prepare myself for what I will encounter in my future teaching.
Emily, thanks for visiting our website and adding your comment. I really respect how you are not becoming discouraged by what you are observing and our using your observations to prepare yourself for what may lie ahead in your teaching career. This is so important, because too many teachers are leaving the field and too few are entering. I hope you will stay connected to the Nexus as we mean it to be a place where teachers can both give and get support as they naviigate all the twists and turns of life in school. Best wishes for success in your studies.
Emily, thank you for your comments and insights. I can see why as a preservice teacher your perspectives are different than some of your peers. I am curious what you might draw to represent your experiences as a college student in a teacher education program during this pandemic. I am inspired that you are still committed to being a teacher despite all of the challenges educators are facing and will no doubt continue to face.
I love this metaphor about the “COVID-19 Roller Coaster Ride.” It is wild, it is unexpected, and no one can hop off no matter how bad they want to! It is a time of life that the world did not anticipate and that has continued to surprise everybody. This virus has brought about heart break, trauma, division, and anger upon the entire world. It truly has been a roller coaster. However, as I look at this sketch, I also see some points of down hills and slower areas; It hasn’t been all bad. This roller coaster has been extremely difficult at times, but there have still been victories. Teamwork, growth, helping one another, and coming together. I hate the fact that we are still strapped into our seats on this ride even though we thought we were about to hop off. But we are all strapped on the ride together, and we gotten it through this far together. And I am confident that no matter how long we experience this unpredictable roller coaster, we will grow in faith, endurance, and strength together.
Clare, As I read your comment, I was reminded of the one time I rode on an actual real life roller coaster. It was the mildest of all the coasters at Kennywood and I was desperate for it to end. I love how you have acknowledged that feeling of wanting to be off the COVID roller coaster and at the same time are able to see some of the brighter possibilities. Are you willing to share some examples of the teamwork and help you’ve received? I hope you’ll continue to follow our website. More posts about pandemic experiences are coming in the following weeks.
As a preservice teacher who has worked in school settings with other teachers and being a college student through the pandemic, the art really speaks to me. This art really shows how I think all of the teachers and students are feeling at this point with schooling and covid. It’s been frustrating, stressful and a whirlwind of trying to make things work. I know that with the support of fellow students and older educators we will get through it and knowledge will still be received and given.
Gianna, You bring an important combination of experiences to the COVID era of schooling. I’d love to hear more about how you have been continuing to learn and move forward in spite of the challenges. Please continue to visit the website and share your thoughts.
I think the beauty of this sketch is it has something that everyone in a school community can relate to. A lot of the times with various COVID experiences there is chaos and uncertainty. Within all of the twists and turns it can be easy to lose sight that everyone is on the same side. Students and families may disagree with school policies or teachers may struggle to meet the needs of students in altered class settings. This is why I love the metaphor of the roller coaster because it shows that everyone is going through the crazy “ride” together. This piece is from the perspective of an art teacher, but I would be interested to see if students were to make a sketch of their view of the COVID experiences if they would have the same themes of chaos, uncertainty and infinity, and if not what themes their perspectives would show.
Savannah, I like the possibility that you raise about what students might draw to reflect their experience. Would you be willing to give this a try from your perspective. If you draw something you’d like to share, that would be awesome. If you’re not happy with the results, you could post what the exercise of drawing was like for you and whether it provided any insights, regardless of the artwork itself. This would be a great experiment. Hope you might try it and let us know what happens.
This is a wonderful picture that shows just how confusing this time can be. Once we think that we have things figured out we are immediately pulled into another direction that is completely opposite of the first one. Life right now really is like one big rollercoaster.
Lindsey, Thanks for your comment. You’re right that the forces impacting teachers and schools are pushing and pulling in multiple directions. Would you be willing to share some of the pushes and pulls you’re experiencing? Hope you stay connected and share more of your experiences.
As we are entering 2022, it is crazy to me how relevant this post is and how many teachers and students are still feeling this way. COVID has impacted everyone and has brought many challenges and heartbreak. This transition has not been easy for anyone, and it has put a lot of stress on both teachers and students. I have learned a lot from switching from in-person classes to remote learning, but I hope to reflect on my feelings as a student during the pandemic when I become a teacher. I believe that going through the COVID era as a student will help me as a future educator. I will remember how stressful and overwhelming online classes can be and the different ways teachers have helped me become successful. This dark time has made me feel more prepared to teach an online class in the future and helped me realize the importance of connecting with your students in and outside of the classroom. I completely agree that these past years have been a roller coaster ride.
Chelsea, I respect your determination to continue pursuing a career in teaching. Too many preservice teachers are having second thoughts about their career choice. Also, you determination to use what you have learned as a student during this time to make you a better teacher is exactly the type of attitude that makes one a scholar-practition. Would you be willing to share some of the lessons you’ve learned about navigating an in-person and virtual learning environment? I’d love to hear more details. Please stay in touch.
I think this image is an interesting perspective on how Covid has impacted our life in more ways than not. Especially in our school system. I really like how it shows the rollercoaster showing how quickly things can change.
I cannot think of a better image than a roller-coaster to display the impact that covid has had on everyone’s lives. This image accurately portrays the obstacles and challenges that teachers and schools have faced during the pandemic. As pre-service educator who is still in the midst of learning how to become an effective teacher, I believe I am learning more skills as a result of covid that will hopefully help me to be the most effective teacher I can be in the midst of this ongoing pandemic. As one who has always doubted my experience with technology in the past, I can now say I have learned a lot about technology and incorporating it in the classroom. As the roller coaster ride of navigating school and education throughout this pandemic continues, I am going to continue to learn and grow in my knowledge and skills as a pre-service educator to overcome these barriers and provide the best possible education to the students in my future classroom.
As someone who is both a student and a future teach I can’t help but think of the rate of change and impact Covid-19 has on the world today. We are constantly learning new information about and adjusting our lives and work to accommodate safety for ourselves and others. My initial reaction to this change is to learn to adapt and make the best of the situation. See the light at the end of the tunnel. As teachers we are called to instill this hope and positive outlook in our students. Classrooms and students have been through many changes because of Covid and as an education program we must learn to adapt and strive to do the best job that we can, no matter how hard the circumstances.
Faith, Anna, and Lauren, Thank you for joining the discussion and posting your responses to Wendy’s roller coaster image. I applaud your positive attitude to learn from the twists and turns of our pandemic world and to use those lessons to become better teachers when you have classrooms of your own. I hope that you will stay in touch and elaborate on the ideas your are gaining through your experiences. The world of education needs your positive attitudes and the insights you are gaining as you navigate the worlds of on-line and in-person learning. Maria
Thinking as a future educator within a world that is seemingly confined by COVID I believe this illustration demonstrates perfectly the idea of how my ways within the classroom have been recently. Rather than the normal classroom I have been molded to fit the non integrative class that we are forced ourselves into.
Katie, Given this experience, how do you imagine adjusting your approach to instruction to accommodate many unexpected circumstances that arise over a professional lifetime. What lessons have you learned that you can care forward? I’d love to hear more. Maria
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