Teaching in the time of the coronavirus, Fall 2021 edition

Today I walked into the classroom where I last taught right before the shutdown of spring break 2020. Prior to that moment I hadn't considered how returning to that space might trigger memories of pandemic-related trauma. I really like teaching in that room, but the week before spring break 2020 I was really sick with a presumed head cold, doing my best to try and not cough or sneeze all over my students, the classroom jammed to capacity.

Today I stood in front of a smaller group of students; this class is capped at a smaller size. It was a relief that it was a smaller class. And I tried to do my best to explain why we need to be wearing masks indoors right now.

I don't know how well I got through to them; I sense an atmosphere of nonchalance. But I couldn't NOT talk about the pandemic and the importance of masking.