Fellow teachers: When you say “Extra credit if you keep your camera on during virtual meetings,” I know you think you’re saying “Extra credit if you’re not using virtual learning as an excuse to goof off!”
Do you know what some (maybe even a lot) of your students hear instead?

“Extra credit if your home is large enough to be in a space with no visual distractions!”

“Extra credit if your internet connection is strong enough to not completely drop you from the call the second you turn on your video!”

“Extra credit if you’re not trying to hide from your peers that the only way you can do online school right now is at the library/McDonald’s/a parking lot/the hotel your family is living in!”

“Extra credit if you’re not trying to hide from your teacher that you just rolled over and are still in bed after a very late night because you’ve had to take on more hours at work during the pandemic to help support your family!”

“Extra credit if you aren’t also in the process of helping your younger siblings with their online schooling while trying to pay attention to this class because right now you are your family’s only option for childcare!”

I get wanting to see faces. It is sad and surreal throwing all your energy a computer screen & having no idea if anyone is listening/understanding what you’re saying.

A bunch of my kids don’t even have school portraits I can look at, so when we finally are back in the building, I won’t have any idea who they are when they walk in the room even though I have been teaching them for months.

But if you're upset that your admin isn't allowing you to require cameras on or that they’re requiring you to allow re-dos, late work, & extended time during distance learning - you might be more concerned about controlling kids than you are about educating and caring for them.

Stop giving grades for stuff that has NOTHING TO DO w/ learning objectives. If my kids are managing to drag themselves to a computer& attempt to learn in the midst of this ridiculously difficult time, I’m happy.

And if not, I’m going to do everything I can to figure out the root of the problem so that I can help them to the best of my ability.