Can't say I am sad to see 2020 go . . . although the beginning of 2021 has had a bumpy start. However, I am an optimist. So I have decided this WILL be a better year.
In looking back at the first semester of school this year, I can honestly say I love what I do. This was not an easy start, and this is not a normal year. I keep telling myself that. This year will mark my 26th year in education, and without a doubt, this year has been different from all the rest. I am trying to find the joy in the little things. That keeps me going.
One of the things I am loving this year are my virtual activity calendars. It sort of evolved from the activities I posted during the shut down last Spring. Every day I had a new virtual activity for my students and their families. It looked something like this . . .
So, I tweeted out the calendar on Sunday, and then tweet out each activity on their corresponding days. I did it all with Hootsuite which lets you schedule posts across many platforms. For me, that is Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Creating these calendars was just something fun I liked to do, and it was a way to become familiar with all those free-during-the-pandemic resources. Then I would know what to recommend if a teacher came to me looking for something to go on his/her/their Canvas page, or if an administrator asked me to share something with the campus.
So at the beginning of this school year, I was struggling with putting some fun back in the library. I got bogged down in virtual dual credit classes coming to the library, babysitting when a SUB wasn't available, and taking attendance (over and over again) for our office aides. I honestly started questioning my career choices. Then I remembered how much fun I had planning those virtual activities, and decided to give it another go.
Here is what that looks like now . . .
Do many students participate? Not really. The library "regulars" found my Canvas page last Spring, and started getting into the activities. These are the students who participated in the "in person" activities before the pandemic, and they are enjoying the monthly activities I am putting out now. It's a small, but dedicated audience. And I am okay with that.
To see all of my calendars so far,
click here. August and September were nothing special, but I hit my groove in October.
Recently, in a FB group I joined, I had some people question my efforts if the virtual activities did not draw a lot of traffic. So I simply said these calendars helped me regulate my stress. When I get caught up in a task that brings me down or stresses me out, I go to these calendars and concentrate on filling out just one or two days. It is amazing how my outlook turns around when I concentrate on something fun for just a few minutes. In addition, as stated above, I use these calendars to familiarize myself with certain resources and/or tools. I always want to be ready when a patron asks for help. So I feel my work is justified when it helps me and my library "regulars."
Trying to get through the school year? My advice is to find your joy amidst the craziness, and don't let go.
