Hybrid teaching is really a drag. I know that I’m really lucky that I get to be in my school building with all of my teaching materials. I’m also in a brand new wing of the school building, and it’s pretty freaking sweet. That being said, I feel like hybrid is such a tease. I see less than half my students each day (full remote option), and I can’t high five them. Distributing and collecting papers is a strange gray area, and worst of all, my lab activities are completely flipped on their heads. This isn’t what I signed up for when I became a teacher. None of us signed up for this.
So knowing all of this, I’m taking the time to treat myself to a few things that I’m finding are making my hybrid teaching experience a bit more bearable. I’m just doing the best I can to make this manageable, and not pull a 2007 Britney freak out.
Back Massager
Okay, so I saved the best for first. This is literally the best purchase of my entire life. I’ve been feeling kind of stiff lately, so I wanted to get a decent back massager. This thing has been incredible for coming home and just feeling worn out. It is a shiatsu massager, meaning that it REALLY digs in. Sitting with this thing running for just a few minutes can ENTIRELY change my mood. If you’re considering treating yourself to just one thing on this list, THIS IS IT. This is seriously what everyone I know is getting for Christmas this year.
David’s Teas & My Kettle
Talking behind a mask all day is actually super drying. I’m constantly thirsty and my lips always seem dried out. I’m not a fan of drinking too much water. It’s so plain and boring that I actually forget to drink it. David’s Teas is a brand that makes “specialty” teas. I like the drink the fruit ones cold and the others warm. I have a few favorites: Hibiscus Splash, Green Passionfruit, Buddha’s Blend, and David’s Chai. I’m constantly trying out new flavors based on what goes on sale. The only one I really wasn’t a huge fan of so far was Cream of Earl Grey, but I’m not a fan of Earl Grey to begin with. I got a reusable steeper, along with some empty tea bags, since I typically buy the loose leaf. Loose leaf is a little messy, but you can actually mix and match flavors really easily. I like to mix the Mango Punch with regular old grocery store green tea. When I’m at work, I use my electric kettle to boil my water in between classes. (I also use the kettle to heat water for experiments sometimes.)
Blue Light Glasses
I’ve been wearing Blue Light Glasses for a few years now, and they SERIOUSLY do make a difference. I got them originally to deal with the horrible school overhead lighting, but they help with screens too! (Because you know, with hybrid teaching the screen time never end.) And I pretty much wear them all day long. I have a bunch of styles, some prescription some non prescription. My husband even stole a pair from me when he had a concussion and was super sensitive to light.
In addition, I also got this stellar cloth that helps to prevent fog. So if you wear glasses and mask at the same time, you know that your exhale rises up and fogs up your glasses. Well I have no idea what’s on this magic cloth to make your glasses not fog (I obviously understand the chemistry, but have no idea what it is) but IT WORKS. The effect for me usually lasts a day, sometimes as long as a day and a half. Definitely worth springing for if you’ve been wearing your glasses at the tip of your nose all this time. This would also be great for lab goggles!
Blogging: Logitech Keyboard
I really like blogging. When I get home in the evenings, I like having something to do, and blogging just does it for me. Writing about teaching is fun, because I’m good at teaching. And writing about things you are good at, is kind of like a healthy form of bragging. I got a new keyboard and it’s so smooth. It’s nice and quiet, the keys are all normal sized and it’s everything you need without all the extra nonsense. It’s the Logitech MK 120. And it came with a mouse. I don’t need the mouse, so I brought it to work to plug into my school issued Chromebook. I use the camera on there to communicate with my kids at home.
Straight on Til Morning
Some hybrid teaching days are tougher than others. Some days I just need to shut my brain off from everything, and this book does it for me. I started it in the summer, I’m a slow reader – especially fiction. It’s a Twisted Tale, so it’s a new take on the Disney classic story Peter Pan. The premise is, what if Wendy made it to Neverland with Captain Hook, instead of Peter Pan. Considering Peter Pan is one of my favorite Disney movies, it was a real easy choice to pick up this book. I love that I already know the characters, and have an idea of the setting. The chapters are short, so it’s nice to just let my brain relax for 10 or so minutes. This would be nice to read during my lunch break at work too! I haven’t finished it yet, so I’m not vouching for the story, per se, but the set up is really nice. It’s also written at a “old young adult” level, so it doesn’t feel like a children’s book, the way my favorites from this Roald Dahl collection feel.
DW Home Candles
There is something about smelling your favorite candle. And these DW Home Candles are it. They have an excellent burn time, and nice strong scents that can fill up the whole house. No need to burn a million candles to have a fresh house. I prefer earthy smelling candles, no sweets for me. Three of my favorites are Poolside Splash, Peony Petals and Green Tea Leaves. I occasionally find my faves at TJ Maxx or Marshalls, but you can’t always find what you want there. I often shop either from the site directly or from Amazon to get that free shipping!
InkJoy Gels and Glue Sticks
I don’t find myself writing very much at school anymore, so when I do, I make sure I’m using my favorite pens. Now do really like the Bic Cristals, and the Crayola Gel Pens, but if I’m being honest with myself, the Papermate InkJoy Gels are the world’s best pen. They’re kind of expensive for pens, but they are worth every penny! My students use interactive notebooks, so we are using lots of my favorite Elmer’s Restick Gluesticks. I keep my own version of the INB and like to write the fill ins in the colorful InkJoy pens so when I take pictures and post to Google Classroom, my students know exactly what I think they’re notebook should look like.
Slippers
So we got a new bell schedule. We went from 9 periods in a day to 4 blocks. So instead of having 40 minute prep periods, I’m guaranteed an hour and a half of undisturbed time to prep. And I have an office/lab prep space attached to my classroom. Since we are in a weird situation with labs, the prep space is really just an office this year. So I have these REALLY cozy slippers I wear in the office to keep me comfortable for my planning time. When I’m comfortable, I work very well, so slippers it is! There’s seriously no need for these other than spoiling myself.
Puzzles
Kind of along with the novel, puzzles are another way I like to turn my brain off. I started growing my puzzle collection in February, not knowing that a Jigsaw puzzle shortage was just over the horizon. I have a bunch, but my favorite one right now is this Brooklyn Bridge one. The bridge is seriously SO gorgeous and has such an interesting history. It was primarily built by Irish immigrants (it was one of the few jobs available to the Irish, who were discriminated against at the time). It makes for a great chemistry lesson (and a lesson in kindness and humanity) too! If you ever visit NYC, it’s definitely something you need to see.
Ringlight and Mic and Hard drives
Along with the blog, I really enjoy doing the All Star Planning Podcast. It feels like chit chatting with teachers in the faculty room about work, and since the faculty room is pretty much a dead zone these days, it feels especially nice. There’s a few pieces of tech that I use and love that help me get the job done. Some of these things could be helpful for online learning too, if that’s the boat you’re in. First is the ring light. I record the podcast and put it on Youtube so I gotta make sure I look fresh. Then I use this decently cheap microphone. My husband steals it for video games on his computer too. Last is this mega hard drive which stores all my audio and video files, along with the video files for my All Star Planning course. A removable hard drive is really great for those who are recording A LOT of videos and don’t have the storage space on a computer, and aren’t interested in the multiple USB drive game.
Hybrid Teaching Doesn’t Have to Rule Your Life
I know! Hybrid teaching is hard. So is any form of online teaching. But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean that it needs to consume your life. I suggest that if you’re really struggling, you take a look at my All Star Planning masterclass. In the class, I teach you the five pieces of my All Star Planning method that gave me back my twenties! Lesson plans don’t rule my life any more and they never will again!! While all of these items are fun and helpful, nothing is going to help you more than getting a handle on your lesson plans and feeling some level of control.
Best of luck to you in these crazy hybrid teaching, online learning, socially distanced times!
*This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through the link I make a small commission, though this does not affect the price of the item for the customer.
