Where Hannah Writes

Not going to church on Easter may feel weird. But I would like to suggest that celebrating Easter at home this year may be the best way to align with the spirit and purpose of this celebration. We celebrate Easter as a day to remember that Christ displayed the most wondrous love that this world has ever known through his death and resurrection. He died in our place and rose victorious over death that we may live with him forever. On this celebration of life, we are invited to love our neighbors, as Christ instructed.  How is staying home a way to love our neighbors? By not gathering together physically, we are protecting one another and we are protecting our neighbors, the ones who we come into contact with at work and at the grocery store. By not gathering together physically, we are placing their safety above our desire to fellowship with one another. By not gathering together physically, we are limiting the chances of spreading the virus while being asymptomatic. By not gat...

Teachers across the world are teaching in virutal classrooms and connecting with their students via email, YouTube, Remind, Google Classroom, Zoom, and any other digital platform possible. Originally, I mistakenly thought that remote teaching would give me time to read a book or learn a language. Instead, I am finding that it takes just as much (maybe actually more) time to be a virutal teacher. It has been a juggle of emails and lesson plans and online platforms and grading and zooming and keeping students informed and answering their questions and checking on them and washing my hands. But during these weeks, I have been inspired by my colleagues who are reaching out to their students and creating normacly for them in so many creative ways. I see teachers connectingwith their students every single day on Zoom. I see teachers contacting their students via phone. I see teachers creating opportunities for students to use technology to have class discussions and meaningfully engage with ...