{"id":306404,"date":"2020-09-12T07:00:06","date_gmt":"2020-09-12T11:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/is-school-in-session\/"},"modified":"2020-09-12T07:00:06","modified_gmt":"2020-09-12T11:00:06","slug":"is-school-in-session","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/is-school-in-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Is School in Session?"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Parents are making some difficult decisions regarding school this fall. As a teacher, Nan Deal offers suggestions for forming a cooperation between teachers and parents to make sure children are learning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/d2c17sq0nj1f7e.cloudfront.net\/flw2020-09-12.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:28:00","filesize":"25.64M","filesize_raw":"26883050","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2853],"tags":[6945],"podcast_series":[],"cwp_profile":[3629],"series":[10388],"class_list":["post-306404","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","hentry","category-frazzled-family","tag-kids-in-school","cwp_profile-nan-deal","series-familylife-this-week"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/10\/FLTW-Podcast-Cover-2-1400x1400-1-300x300-1.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/dts.podtrac.com\/redirect.mp3\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/306404\/is-school-in-session","player_link":"https:\/\/dts.podtrac.com\/redirect.mp3\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/306404\/is-school-in-session","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-this-week","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"LM7KzXdZPv\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/is-school-in-session\/\">Is School in Session?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/is-school-in-session\/embed\/#?secret=LM7KzXdZPv\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Is School in Session?&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"LM7KzXdZPv\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Parents are making some difficult decisions regarding school this fall. As a teacher, Nan Deal offers suggestions for forming a cooperation between teachers and parents to make sure children are learning.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/flw\/flw2020-09-12.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> If you have kids in your home, you\u2019ve no doubt been asking yourself, \u201cWhat\u2019s this year of schooling going to look like in light of these COVID restrictions?\u201d Well, elementary school teacher, Nan Deal, is asking these same questions.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> It\u2019s going to be a challenge. It\u2019s not going to look the same at all. Some is live; some is at home; and we have to be prepared for it changing daily or weekly. I think that\u2019s what we <em>all<\/em> need to do: we all need to grieve it\u2014it\u2019s not going to look the same; it\u2019s not going to be the same. \u201cWhat is it going to be?\u201d\u2014it\u2019s that new normal when you go through any kind of loss. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So whether your kids are in school, whether they\u2019re part-time in school\/part-time at home, or even if they\u2019re homeschooled, we\u2019re going to take a look at the new landscape of education for the fall of 2020 on this edition of <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWelcome to <em>FamilyLife This Week.<\/em> I\u2019m Michelle Hill. Do you remember that first day of school?\u2014like of kindergarten? You walked into the classroom; you might have been clutching your mommy\u2019s hand, because it was all so new. It was this <em>new<\/em> experience, but there was that kindergarten teacher with a big smile on her face. Mine was Miss Boender. She was <em>so<\/em> excited to have me in her class. I don\u2019t think anybody had been that welcoming to me before. The great thing was my mom got to walk me into the classroom. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s really the story of many generations of students through the years. Their parents got to walk them into the classroom; take that honorary picture of the first day of school with your teacher. But that\u2019s really not what\u2019s happening in this year. In fact, I received a text from a really good friend a couple of weeks ago; and it started off with: \u201cToday was my son\u2019s first day of kindergarten. I sobbed for half an hour after he got out of the car; because COVID means that I didn\u2019t get to walk him in and give him a big hug, or even take that picture with his teacher. Somebody else opened our van door; somebody else took my son out. He looked at me very nervously, going, \u2018Where am I going, Mommy?\u2019\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe reason why I share that with you today is because I\u2019ve invited Nan Deal to talk with me. Nan is an early elementary school teacher, and she is like many of the teachers that you are handing your child off to. I wanted to just sort of encourage you and reassure you that these teachers love your children; and they want to see your children thrive, and grow, and learn. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAs I sat down with Nan, I started things off by asking her why she became a teacher. Here\u2019s my conversation with Nan Deal.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous Interview]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So, Nan, why did you choose teaching?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Wow! My dad built a huge dollhouse in the backyard, and I made it into a school. My grandfather was a teacher\/principal; grandmother was a teacher; my mom was a teacher. I really fought it, but from the get-go\u2014[Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> \u2014I was telling all the kids in the neighborhood what to do in my little schoolhouse, so that\u2019s where it started.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Wow! That\u2019s fascinating\u2014how it goes back to\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014I mean, generations!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right. And then I was a swimmer in high school, and I worked at a pool. I started teaching swimming lessons. It was just like teaching was just a natural gifting; I love it. Now, its early childhood that is my niche.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I mean, I taught drama. I love to do drama; but when you give me middle schoolers and high schoolers, it\u2019s like, \u201cI am so out of my comfort zone.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So what is it about that early elementary\/early childhood age that you like to teach?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Well, they love you!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> You know, maybe, it\u2019s because I need all those hugs and all that affirmation.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u201cMrs. Deal! We want to sit by you,\u201d \u201cI want to be with you!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Yes; they\u2019re just such sponges. When the light bulb goes on, I get to be there for that moment\u2014whether it\u2019s learning to read or they\u2019re learning a social concept or a skill\u2014cutting open a snack, I\u2019m giving them a life skill; \u201cI can do it by myself!\u201d\u2014tying their shoes\u2014all those kind of things!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> It\u2019s the light bulb moment that goes on; and it\u2019s like, \u201cI had a part in that.\u201d And, also, that <em>first<\/em> step into school\u2014if you can give them a <em>wonderful<\/em> experience\u2014maybe they\u2019ll love learning for the rest of their lives. I feel like it\u2019s a mission\/a ministry to make learning fun, and make them feel comfortable, and safe, and secure so that they\u2019ll <em>love<\/em> learning for the rest of their lives.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> That is such a\u2014I wish you were my first-grade teacher!! [Laughter] That would be great!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Oh, you\u2019re sweet!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So what happened when March came in 2020 and COVID hit?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> What happened for you as a teacher?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right. I felt like my job was taken away. You know, you have those moments, where\u2014we lived in Jonesboro when the Westside shooting happened. I know exactly where I was\u2014standing in my house\u2014when that happened. I know <em>exactly<\/em> where I was when 9\/11 happened. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI know <em>exactly<\/em> what I was doing that afternoon when they came into my room, giving us a hand-written message so as not to disturb the kids: \u201cGet the packets ready; get them ready to go. You may not see your kids after spring break.\u201d I\u2019m thinking, \u201cWell, we knew this virus was out there, but we\u2019ll see them after spring break.\u201d Then, after that happened, it was like, \u201cOkay, it\u2019s online learning. How do you do that with little children? Their parents are working from home.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI really felt like my job was taken from me, and I became an IT consultant. That\u2019s not what I\u2019m trained to do; it\u2019s not something I enjoy. Plus, I\u2019m an extrovert; I like being with people! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> You\u2019re like, \u201cI was at home\u2014quarantined!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I was sequestered at home; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tTo Zoom with five- and six-year-olds was challenging. Now, I had three semesters with them, so I had some rapport with them already. I can\u2019t imagine starting off like that when you don\u2019t know a child; you haven\u2019t established yourself as an authority figure in their life. I have one example, where I had one little boy, who was jumping on the bed\/jumping on the bed. I said, \u201cOkay, James; I need you to sit crisscross applesauce.\u201d He went, \u201cOh; yes, ma\u2019am; and then we went on. But to start out like that\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> \u2014I have no idea what that would look like.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So it will probably be hard this fall.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> I know some schools are back in\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014some are not. They can only be at 50 percent capacity. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right; combinations; yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I\u2019m fortunate my school is starting live. We will be taping ourselves in the event that we do have to go home. You know, I read a 20-page document last week about our marching orders for how it\u2019s going to look: masks all day; eating in your classroom; parents not being able to come into the school. I do a lot with having parents come in, volunteer. It\u2019s going to be a challenge; it\u2019s not going to look the same at all. Some is live; some is at home. We have to be prepared for it changing daily or weekly.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> How do you prepare yourself for that changing daily or weekly?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Wow! I\u2019ve been praying a lot\u2014I really have\u2014that God would give me the grace to just do whatever; because after coming home in the spring, and then just kind of getting through that last semester, you know, I thought it would be over; and we\u2019d be moving on to the new\/I mean, the regular.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I feel like last week, after I got my marching orders and our school came together and had that meeting, I had to grieve what was. I had to grieve the loss of what my school looks like and how I have been trained to teach. And then, I went up to my school\u2014I\u2019m fortunate I can go up there\u2014I went up to my school and I kind of did a lay of the land of my classroom; and I thought, \u201cOkay, I\u2019ve got to flip this on its end.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think that\u2019s what we <em>all<\/em> need to do; we all need to grieve it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> It\u2019s not going to look the same; it\u2019s not going to be the same. We need to start preparing our hearts for: \u201cWhat is it going to be?\u201d It\u2019s that new normal when you go through any kind of loss. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I had to do that this weekend. Sunday, I was just still in such a funk. My husband, Ron, sat across from me and said, \u201cThe one thing that hasn\u2019t changed is teaching. You are still a teacher, no matter how it looks. You have been gifted and given a gift to teach. It\u2019s going to look different, but you are still a teacher.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Well, I think it\u2019s key\u2014the advice that you just gave about grieving\/grieving this loss\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014because it is an ambiguous loss that we don\u2019t realize.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> But there have been a lot of losses as we have walked through COVID and through this pandemic. It\u2019s so important to remember that you did lose something. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Yes. My school is <em>so<\/em> fun; we are a big family. We do a dance at the beginning of the year, all the way down the hallway, and then we post it for the families to see. We have a book character day, where last year, I was Cruella de Vil\u2014I mean, the whole garb. We try to one-up on everybody; the kids all come. We have great parties; we have great field days\/field trips; faculty meetings are fun! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re all sequestered to our rooms, and it\u2019s all going to be six feet apart or further. A lot of those things will be taken away from us, so we\u2019ll have to think of a different way how to do it. I mean, I have parents come in; they\u2019re called Mystery Readers. I give the kids clues, and parents come in to read to my classroom. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> The other day, I thought, \u201cWe can\u2019t do that.\u201d Then I thought, \u201cNo! We can do it. They\u2019ll have to Zoom, but we can still do it.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> It\u2019s just <em>thinking<\/em> everything through. Especially with little ones, I\u2019m trying to prepare myself for the first week of school of: \u201cOh, baby, you\u2019ve got to keep that mask on,\u201d \u201cO, baby, you\u2019ve got to keep that\u2026\u201d \u201cOh, it dropped in the toilet? Well, let\u2019s get you a new one.\u201d [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u201cLet\u2019s get you a new one.\u201d [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Yes; you know? They\u2019ve never done it before; I\u2019ve never done it before. It\u2019s a brand-new season with school. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> And what I\u2019m hearing from you is: being flexible,\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014and knowing expectations or not having the expectations that you had last year.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right; right\u2014the pivot\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> \u2014you know, learning to pivot.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I think you need to rely on your team. I think you need to prepare. If you do have an online portal, start learning it now. Start getting accustomed to it and learn it, so that you\u2019re ahead of the curve a little bit. I\u2019m a planner, so that\u2019s me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI just want to give my kids\u2014I need to think through, you know, parents can\u2019t come in the building. I\u2019ve got to think through how I can receive them so they\u2019re comfortable, without hugging. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014and build that relationship with them that\u2019s so important\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> as you\u2019re teaching their child.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right, while wearing a mask.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> We\u2019re all like, \u201cWell, it\u2019s got to be clear; they\u2019ve got to be able to see us\u201d; you know?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Everything just has to look a different way.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt is a struggle\u2014you know, even for homeschooling parents\u2014you\u2019ve got a co-op you\u2019d like to go to; you\u2019ve got hands-on learning you\u2019d like to go to\/field trips to enrich it. High school students and all their extra activities. For me, I do Lego Club: \u201cHow in the world\u2026?!\u201d I mean, right now, my school is saying, \u201cNo clubs.\u201d You know, a bucket of Legos for 30 kids on a Wednesday afternoon\u2014it\u2019s just not going to happen right now; so we have to be flexible. We have to kind of go on to Plan B, C, and D.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> But the thing is\u2014I\u2019m still a teacher; I\u2019m still going to have 20 little ones in my charge. They\u2019re still going to have to learn some things, so I\u2019m going to have to get creative. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> There still have to be goals; there\u2019s still got to be some fun to be had\u2014we just have to be creative.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Nan Deal, sharing how we\u2019re all going to have to adapt and change, just a little bit, because there is this kind of new normal, at least, for a bit longer yet. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI hope you\u2019ve been encouraged; we\u2019ve got more encouragement coming along. We\u2019ve got to take a break. I\u2019ll be back in two minutes with more from Nan Deal. Stay tuned.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Radio Station Spot Break]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle: <\/strong>Welcome to <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. I'm Michelle Hill. Today, we are talking with Nan Deal. If the name, \u201cDeal,\u201d sounds familiar, it\u2019s because Nan is the wife of Ron Deal, who is the head of FamilyLife Blended<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, here at FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019m talking with Nan because she\u2019s an early elementary teacher, and she\u2019s helping us understand what this fall looks like for those of you who have put your child in school; or maybe you\u2019re homeschooling; or maybe you\u2019re doing that hybrid of both. I asked Nan: \u201cHow can parents and teachers come alongside each other to best help their children learn this fall?\u201d Here\u2019s Nan Deal.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous Interview]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> You\u2019ve got to think outside the box with the communication. You know, it won\u2019t be that face to face. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> There probably needs to be a lot more either Zoom or FaceTime calls at the beginning to introduce yourself. Meet the Teacher Night at my school is going to be a drive-by: I\u2019m outside the car, and they\u2019re in the car; and somebody\u2019s getting their supplies out of the trunk. I mean, you\u2019re going to have to figure out how to communicate, whether it\u2019s more phone calls, more emails, more Zooms; and I know we\u2019re Zoomed out!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> We\u2019re Google-meet-ed out. [Laughter] I think the communication has got to be above and beyond, especially at first. You know, a lot of us want to video tape our room, and share it with the parents to say: \u201cHere\u2019s where your child is going to be; this is what it looks like.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I have a shelf in my room, where they get to bring a picture of their family; so that if they\u2019re missing them, they can go over and look at it during the day. Well, that can still be on that shelf! You know, there are some things that still can be; and some things that, you know, we have to take away\u2014and then, maybe, come up with an alternative\u2014so, again, it\u2019s being creative. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut it\u2019s also saying: \u201cI know this isn\u2019t what you want,\u201d or \u201cI know this isn\u2019t the best way to communicate right now, but it\u2019s what we have; so help me help you.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I think communication with your school is so important: communication with your administration\/with your teacher. Let us know if it\u2019s not working! Let us know what works better\/what time of day. I very much want to be flexible for those parents\u2014especially those who have, maybe, some at home\/some at school\u2014and they\u2019re at home trying to have ten Zoom meetings a day.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> \u201cIf another Zoom meeting with me is not great that night, let\u2019s pivot and do it another night.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> I\u2019m hearing from you that feedback from parents is <em>essential<\/em> in all of this.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> It <em>is <\/em>essential! It is <em>key<\/em>; and I think, from the teacher as well\u2014go above and beyond at first\u2014because, like I said, we\u2019ve never done this before. There are a lot of parents who have never <em>not <\/em>walked into the school building. You know, they want to have lunch with their kids, maybe once a week, or go to that football game, or\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014or drop them off for their first day of kindergarten with a picture with the teacher. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know, we have a college student; and he\u2019s going to go back\u2014but part of them are online and part of them are live\u2014the other night, he said, \u201cIt\u2019s just not been the college experience I\u2019ve wanted.\u201d I think, across the board, it\u2019s not what <em>any<\/em> of us wanted. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> As it lingers on, I feel like we\u2019re getting edgier, and edgier, and edgier. That\u2019s where that grace is going to have to come in; that\u2019s where that prayer is going to have to come in, and our faith that: \u201cGod, You are going to equip me to do this.\u201d I mean, I got a great education as a teacher. I was <em>in<\/em> the classroom <em>a lot <\/em>and had some <em>great<\/em> teachers I was under. Never <em>once<\/em> was I taught how to Zoom or do anything virtual. It\u2019s a new day!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> We\u2019re going to have to extend <em>ourselves<\/em> a tremendous amount of grace, too; and I just feel like I need to do a lot of praying; you know?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> It\u2019s going to be one day at a time; because I feel like the plan might change after a week. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right. How do we help our kids\/our students, who are really struggling; because they thought they could come back, and school would be normal again?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right. I think that\u2019s where we, as families, need to just have those talks. Like I said earlier, we need to grieve it; but we also need to talk around it and talk about the emotions around it: \u201cI know you don\u2019t like this; I know you\u2019re frustrated. This doesn\u2019t look like anything that you\u2019ve wanted. How can we\/what can we do differently? What are some things that we can do?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI really feel like we\u2019ve got to put emotions on it\/words on it; we\u2019ve got to talk it through. We can\u2019t just walk around, bottling it up. I think we need to help our kids <em>name <\/em>the things that they\u2019re feeling and the losses that they\u2019re going through; and then, maybe, get creative about some ideas of: \u201cWell, you can\u2019t do this now; but what\u2019s one thing that you <em>can <\/em>do?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Let\u2019s think about creativity for a bit. I know there are a lot of overworked parents out there\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014some parents, who are now working from home, <em>and<\/em> they\u2019re also pulling double-duty of, maybe, an afternoon with their kids or an evening with their kids\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014or you know, having to also be there to do the part-time teaching. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> What are some tips for some of those parents, who are going, \u201cOkay! I\u2019m about ready to pull my hair out; my kids are not listening to me\u201d?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right. I\u2019ve heard from some families\u2014having a plan and having a schedule, especially if you\u2019re sharing devices, has been key\u2014kind of being prepared and having a plan. But also, punting if it\u2019s not working\u2014you know, it\u2019s kind of like\u2014\u201cOkay! We need a time out from this! So let\u2019s all just time out from the devices,\u201d or \u201c\u2026from the learning and pick it back up at another time,\u201d\u2014walk around the block; you know, take some breaks.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019ve even known people who have hired family members as babysitters to come in and say, \u201cCan you come in for a couple of hours so that I can then get this done?\u201d Or maybe asking an older child to help a younger child with something. But, you know, taking some breaks\/having some fun as a family. Not just being all about the online, I think, is important.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut I think you have to be\u2014you kind of have to have a schedule in that, too, especially if you\u2019re sharing devices. You may have a child that works really well in the morning\/learns really well in the morning; you may have a child who doesn\u2019t\/they work well in the afternoon. Maybe you can flip-flop your day with, \u201cOkay, I\u2019m going to get a lot of my work done in the morning, and I\u2019m going to then help in the afternoon.\u201d I had one parent, who was a physician; she was like, \u201cWe are going to have to do this on the weekends; I am on the front lines.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know, I don\u2019t think it has to be any kind of formula; I think it needs to fit your family. And I do think, in this COVID environment, with schools reopening, you\u2019ve got to do what\u2019s best for your family; you really do.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> That\u2019s really a good word: \u201cDoing what\u2019s best instead of trying to fit everybody else.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Right, and thinking about what everybody else is doing.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf it doesn\u2019t fit your family, then think of what plan can fit your family. I\u2019ve always said\u2014because I\u2019ve taught public; I\u2019ve taught private\u2014and I always asked my boys\u2014\u201cHey, would you like me to homeschool you?\u201d And they always said, \u201cNo.\u201d [Laughter] I always took\u2014\u201cWhat does that say about Mom?!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> I was just going to ask, did you take that as a dig; or did you take that as, \u201cWell, sure, kid!\u201d?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I took that as a dig when they were little; but when they got older, it was like, \u201cYou do <em>not<\/em> want me teaching you calculus. I\u2019m an early childhood education major! [Laughter] After a certain amount, you need somebody else!\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think we need to look at it as, \u201cWhat is best for our family?\u201d Every semester\/every year is going to look different; you know? I think you need to look at it like that; and this school year, for sure, is going to look <em>so<\/em> different.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So, Nan, what are your hopes and dreams for this year?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> I\u2019m already praying for those 20 little bodies who are coming into my room. I hope that I can be a calming factor in their life; that I can still teach with fidelity; and we can have fun, even though we\u2019re masked up; and that we can still have those light-bulb moments and those fun moments, even though we\u2019re just stuck in this one room. I\u2019m going to try to give it my all but be gracious to myself, to my co-workers, to those parents, and to those kiddos. If we have to take a break from the masks, and we all have to kind of get away and pull it down for a minute, we\u2019re going to pull it down for a minute, and count to five, and move on. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMy son, Connor\u2014favorite verse was Proverbs 3:5-6. I will say that every day: \u201cTrust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.\u201d As a kindergarten teacher, we always say, \u201cYou get what you get, and you don\u2019t throw a fit.\u201d I\u2019m going to be saying that to myself every day! \u201cI\u2019m not going to throw a fit about this year.\u201d COVID will be gone, Lord willing, soon; and then it will be back to the way it should be. But for now, I\u2019m going to do the best I can with God\u2019s help.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> That\u2019s awesome. Nan, thank you so much for joining me today. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> Thank you for having me.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> It\u2019s been fun.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Nan:<\/strong> It has been fun.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> And again, that was early elementary school teacher, Nan Deal, joining me today on <em>FamilyLife This Week. <\/em>Nan was actually a part of a panel of some other educators discussing what this fall is going to look like with Ron Deal on his podcast, <em>FamilyLife Blended. <\/em>Go to our website, FamilyLifeThisWeek.com, and we have information on how you can hear that podcast. We also have a link to an article about just what school will look like\u2014\u201cFour Ways that You Can Be Praying\u201d\u2014that\u2019s at FamilyLifeThisWeek.com; FamilyLifeThisWeek.com.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you have a teenager in your household, there are days when you love them; and then there are days that you plead with God for enough love not to scream at them. Am I right, or am I right? Well, I know that raising teenagers is hard. I have friends, who are in the throes of that right now; and they keep asking the question: \u201cWhat do we really need to be teaching them? What is <em>most<\/em> important?\u201d I sat down with Lindsey Carlson recently. She and I talked about: \u201cHow do we guide our teens\/how we guide our teens in maturing in Christ?\u201d We\u2019ll have that conversation for you next week on <em>FamilyLife This Week. <\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHey, thanks for listening! I want to thank the president of FamilyLife, David Robbins, along with our station partners around the country. A big \u201cThank you!\u201d to our engineer, Keith Lynch, today; our producer, Marques Holt. Justin Adams is our mastering engineer, and Megan Martin is our production coordinator.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOur program is a production of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, and our mission is to effectively develop godly families who change the world one home at a time.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI'm Michelle Hill, inviting you to join us again next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife This Week.<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"about:blank\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2020 FamilyLife. 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