Why Gray is the New Color for Back to School

Life isn’t black and white.
It’s a million gray areas, don’t you find?
Ridley Scott

Gray is definitely NOT my color. But it’s what I’m wearing these days during these uncertain times.

Like many of you, I’m awaiting school reopening plans and wondering what next year will look, sound, and feel like.

When I look around, I see teachers reacting to this uncertainty in two ways. They are either happily enjoying summer and avoiding anything labeled “school” or they are knee deep in worry and fret about what is to come.

I’m trying to land somewhere between these two camps and get a little more comfortable with my “grayness.”

Here are a few ideas that are helping me to do this.

Notebook it

As we near August, I’m beginning to see more and more back-to-school “stuff” come at me in the form of district emails, social media posts, and pd opportunities. Living in the grey means that I want to acknowledge that stuff, but maybe “shelve” it until I’m ready to give it my full attention.

So I created some folders in my Google Drive and labeled them who, what, where, when, how, and why, which pretty much covers ALL of the questions I have about the new school year!

If I get an email about a student, it goes in the “who” file. If I’m given any information about schedules, into the “when” file it goes. We recently did some work on identifying priority standards to teach this year and I “threw” that in the “what” file.

And so on.. you get the idea. I have yet to receive something that didn’t fit into one of these folders. As for the “why” folder – it’s where I keep anything inspirational that keeps me focused on what’s really important. Joy. Wonder. Growth.

Look for the Sure Things

I can’t set up my classroom, shop for school supplies, or pretty much do any of the things that I’m usually doing at this time of the year.

But there are things I can do. These are the “sure things,” the stuff I do know. Like, I know we are using See Saw as our digital platform. Taking some time to explore this would be a good use of my time. At summer’s end, I know I won’t regret the time I spent doing that.

Instead of focusing on what you can’t control, create a list of your “sure things.” It might make you feel a little better to be doing something and you won’t be spinning your wheels fretting about what you don’t know and can’t do.

Trust Myself

Easier said than done, right? But this is what I tell myself and it does bring me a sense of calm.

I do believe that I already have everything I need to be a good teacher in the coming year. And I believe you do too! Maybe we just need a little reminder in the form of a daily affirmation.

Nike’s three favorite words might be “Just Do it!” but mine are “You’ve Got This!” and I can call on my inner “coach” to remind of this when self-doubt and anxiety show up.

Avoid Rabbit Holes

As I’m trying to live in the grey, social media and my favorite news source will pull me out of it quicker than I can say, “What’s Up Doc?” Spending time in these places can be addicting and not very productive.

FOMO might be real, but it’s what I’m missing out on, because I have gone down that rabbit hole, that worries me most. I’m planning to spend what time I do have left, doing things I enjoy, knowing that it will all be there when I intentionally decide to “check in.”

Try creating a summer bucket list and make sure you are crossing as many things off of that list as you are your school to-do.

That’s all I got for now friends!

I do hope you are doing well and that you can find that “middle ground” if that’s where you want to be!