When YOU are Feeling Down~

Just when springtime is springing, teasing us with warmer days mixed with blizzards, "Here comes the cold!" you say to yourself with partial dismay. However, you are NOT talking about the snowy white wet stuff falling outside. No. You are talking about the dreaded scratchy feeling starting to creep up in the back of your throat. You quickly assess how long it has been since your last cold or flu and know it is bound to be your turn to deal with a virus. You hope you will not have the flu but only sniffles to contend with. But as the day wears on, you know this is going to be more than a three day cold, you can just feel it.

Based on past colds you know that it takes a few days for them to find their peak. As each hour passes, the next is worse than the last. "Great!" you think as you realize it is Thursday night and students will begin posting most of their threaded responses in the next day that you will have to tend to, and two of your classes are submitting dozens of papers that are due Sunday. Quickly you begin forming a battle plan, so as to be the most efficient as possible as you continually feel sicker by the day. So what battle plan do you have in the wings to help support that one week or two during the semester when it is your turn catch the germy germs?

Most of us deal with a lot of excuses throughout the semester from students who write to tell us of their illnesses, back problems, pregnancy woes, or oldtimers [forgetfulness]. Many teachers like to remain pretty much on the surface with communication between the student and themselves limited to the curriculum. It has been my experience that building a positive rapport with the students facilitates reciprocation if you are the one who needs a little time to recover from being sick. Students who enjoy the class and the teachers presence are more accommodating when the teacher needs extra time to grade assignments, answer emails and attend to the numerous discussions.

If you find yourself feeling under the weather, post a News announcement informing your students that you aren't feeling will, letting them know it might take more time than usual to address their papers. This reminds students that there is a real being on the other end of the communications that is vulnerable to needing extra time like they occasionally need. With the online learning environment, getting to class when you are sick is a lot easier than commuting, but you still need to lessen the stress so that you can bounce back more quickly. Students are much more willing to accommodate our needs when we meet theirs over the course of the semester... ~:o)