Moving Forward in Spite of Resistance

There has been resistance this semester to the idea that a snow day is not a free day any longer. With the Chromebooks and Google Sites and Docs, class goes on since the course website has all the handouts, quizzes, deadlines, etc. that any student needs for success, or to at least move forward until we meet again and have face-to-face time to answer questions.

My students know the expectation is that the work continues, the deadlines remain, and everything they need to be successful exists.  Still, a snow day is a free day in their minds. In fact, they expect ME to change lessons around, move deadlines, and make adjustments to accommodate the loss of school days even though expectations have been reminded, reinforced, and rephrased over and over.

This year, only the 6th grade have Chromebooks across the county. My classes have them as part of the initial study, but the students believe themselves out of the norm so class expectations are pliable. HOWEVER, next year when all the grade levels have Chromebooks and all the teachers have class websites, classes will continue through snow days. Is that what is needed to make the digital life real for students?  Consistent, across all classes expectations?  Probably. When the expectation to self-direct through a snow day is in only one class, it seems subjective and silly. As a school-wide expectation to return with completed work or at least questions about the unfinished work, lollygagging through a snow day is a lot less inviting, you know?