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Conference with a student today. All we talked about what how overwhelmed they were, they got laid off at work, they didn& #39;t sign up for all online classes (even though our class always was), they were behind in just about everything, couldn& #39;t figure out a schedule...
I offered them a week (or more!) to focus on literally anything/everything else. Prioritize what you need, I said. We& #39;ll check back in, see if we& #39;re ready to pick up with our class work, make a new schedule so you can be successful this semester, feel good about your learning...
But that& #39;s added stress for you, they said. I don& #39;t want to do that to you. So I convinced them. I told my student to ignore my class for a week. Take the time, I said because that is my job right now. Taking care of students is my job right now. This whole situation sucks.
BUT I AM PRIVILEGED AS HELL. I& #39;m getting paid (well above the median household income for my area), my position is secure. All I have to do is work from the comfort of my home where I live alone and have access to food and friends and time (if I weren& #39;t so anxious...)
The absolute least I can do is show empathy, give my student a chance to catch their breath, to adjust, to help them create an opportunity to do our work when they will actually be able to LEARN. Especially when they didn& #39;t want to ask for time because they were worried ABOUT ME.
tl:dr if you& #39;ve chosen to be strict about deadlines rn, your students are better people than you.
