With a Smile and a Song--Disney Words of Wisdom for Teaching in a Pandemic

This year has been challenging for many professions, and teaching is no different. Last March the way I taught my classroom was disrupted, and then disrupted again when we did finally return back to school in August. My school was completely remote for the beginning of the year, but we have since transitioned to a hybrid model of instruction. This means that I only see half of my students in person on any given day, while the other half are on my zoom screen. I am expected to teach both groups concurrently and keep everyone on pace with their learning. It is, in a word, exhausting.

In order to find joy in a job that has become increasingly joyless, I have turned to some of my favorite Disney songs to keep me motivated. Whether you are a teacher, a nurse (and god bless you, seriously, if you are a nurse or any other sort of healthcare practitioner), I hope this list gives you the motivation to make it through the rest of your week.

1. Let it Go

At the beginning of this year I was angry all the time. I was mad at the world, I was mad at my school, I was mad at colleagues who I didn't think were taking our situation as seriously as they should. However, ultimately anger in this situation was not productive. There wasn't a lot I could do to change my situation, and quitting wasn't an option...I do have a massive Disney habit that is expensive to upkeep after all. Therefore I had to find my inner-Elsa and "Let it Go." There are still days when I cannot believe the situation we are in, and how I am expected to teach during an international pandemic (to say nothing of attempted government coups), but in the end I have to focus and let that anger go so that I can be the best teacher I can for my students.

2. Be Prepared

This year cannot exist without preparedness. When half of your class is in front of you and the other half is on the computer screen, you have to be prepared for any numbers of things. Whether it’s zoom glitches, quarantined students, being quarantined yourself, or even ironically enough given which song we’re speaking about, teaching students about what the word “coup” means, pandemic teaching has taught me to be not be surprised by anything this year. My desk might be covered in post-it notes, but at least every day I can come to work feeling confident I have put forth the effort for my students to have a successful learning experience.

3. The Next Right Thing

I became a teacher because I love my content (history) but also because I love interacting with students. By this point you’ve probably seen the tik tok of this amazing elementary teacher giving all of her energy to her screen. While her elementary students seem to be giving her that energy back, I cannot always say the same for my high school students. Teaching is always exhausting, but you typically experience energy and joy back to you when your students are in your classroom. This has decreased dramatically during pandemic teaching, and some days it can be extremely disheartening to keep going. More than once this year I have thought of giving up a career I truly love. However, much like Anna when the world around her seems hopeless, I know I have to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and do the next right thing, which sometimes is as simple as just grading one more paper.

4. Almost There

Just this week we learned that teachers in my state should be getting vaccinated within the next month and a half. Being so close to the light of the end of the tunnel is overwhelming and exciting. The last time I taught a normal day in my classroom was March 12, 2019. While I think it will ultimately be over a full year until I get to see my students every day again (and even then I bet we’re still wearing masks for longer) I have to keep Tiana’s mantra in my heart. We’re almost there!

5. When You Wish Upon A Star

It’s hard for me to think about the lyrics of this song without crying. In a time that seems so hopeless, these lyrics offer a gleam of light in the darkness. To my fellow teachers, we have to hold onto the hope that fate will step in and see us through. We will make it through this year. We can, in the words of Glennon Doyle, do the hard things. We have been asked to completely recreate the way we do our jobs. We have been held up as heroes and then in sharp contrast to the beginning of the pandemic vilified for offering up words of concerns over our working environments. Let’s hope that fate continues to be kind to those of us who are trying to do what we love, teach, and that the 2021-2022 school year brings less strings with it.