From the Editor: If you’re interested in sharing a little bit of your life with the GYTO community and would like to be one of our weekly teacher features, you can head to our Teacher Feature form and fill it out.

This week I have the privilege of introducing you to Nikki Ortiz-Tatarka. Nikki is a veteran educator with almost a decade and a half experience teaching. Currently, Nikki is a 2nd grade teacher at an elementary school in Florida. During the COVID-19 pandemic Nikki has taught 100% virtually, but currently teachers virtual and in-person students concurrently, five days per week. In addition to being a teacher, Nikki is a Disney fanatic and loves spending time with her family exploring the Happiest Place on Earth!

What has been the most challenging aspect of teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic? How have you addressed it/adapted to it? “As teachers, I think we naturally want to give 100% to our students every day. The reality of teaching 2 different groups at the same time is that we cannot give 100% to virtual students and give 100% to our face-to-face students. That has been the most challenging aspect to teaching during COVID 19.

The idea of what my classroom functions has had to change and that has been a huge challenge. Adapting to it has involved throwing all "usuals" out the window. This is a very unusual year! So I am here to try all the things. What works on Monday may not work on Tuesday and that's okay. I focus on what my students need in that moment. If it means that my face to face students work independently for a bit so I can help my virtual students troubleshoot and get started then that's what I do.

There is no playbook for a year like this so I am making my own playbook.”

What has been your biggest takeaway from the experience of teaching during COVID-19? “Perspective is one of the greatest gifts and this year has truly given me a major dose of perspective! This is my 14th year of teaching and while I have faced many challenges, both personally and professionally through those years, almost nothing comes close to this year. The magnitude of how our lives have been impacted by COVID is significant and being a teacher during this time is unlike anything I ever thought I would face. Yet through it all so far, there has still been learning. There have been laughs. There have been students reaching that aha moment. Those things still happen. It may not look like what we are used to and it certainly may not happen on our timeline, but those moments are still happening and I am holding onto them!”

What does lesson-planning look like for you? What strategies do you use to be effective and efficient? How is it similar/different to teaching before COVID-19? “No matter what my plans are, you better believe they are written in PENCIL! Why? Because this year is all about flexibility. Teaching 2 different groups does not mean I am teaching different content, but the way in which I teach it and the materials that my students use does vary. When I plan, I try to incorporate a mix of hands on work with virtual work. When I come across a lesson or activity that is more hands on, I try to plan for a virtual version as well so that my virtual students are fully engaged as well. I am definitely planning twice as much as I normally do, which is the biggest difference from before COVID.”

What does collaboration look like at your grade-level/team, and in your building? What strategies for collaboration have been most effective during COVID-19? “This year, I moved to a new state and a new school. Collaboration at my new school looks very different than my old school so it has taken some getting used to. On my grade level team, we have some teachers who have just been face to face and two of us who have been virtual/hybrid. We work together in different ways to best serve our students. While we do meet and collaborate as a team, my fellow virtual teacher and I often take time to make adjustments for our students who are at home.

Communication and collaboration go hand in hand. Nothing good comes from sweeping things under the rug. It is so important to make sure that teams are communicating with each other. Don't be afraid to speak up if you have a different idea or are unsure of why something is being done. Nothing ever changes if people stay quiet. If you are new to a team, find your voice and do not be afraid to share it. New staff, whether new to the profession or new to a school, can often bring new ideas that may have never been shared before.”

We learn the most from our failures. I’d love for you to share a story of a time when you experienced failure but learned from it. Coming into a new school, I fully admit that I wanted to impress. I'm not a new teacher, I thought. I've got this. Two weeks in and I quickly realized, I did NOT have it. I was drowning. Trying to balance all these new things in the midst of a pandemic shortly after moving my entire family to a new state was NOT going well. I tried to hide it, tried to fit the mold of what everyone else was doing so I appeared "with it." It failed. I got to the end of a Friday, made it back to my room, and burst into tears. I called a friend who I work with, at my wits' end and about ready to quit.

"Just be you! Be Mrs. T! Stop trying to be a certain way and be you!" His words hit me like a ton of bricks. Not being true to myself as a teacher was just making everything else so much harder. I needed to hear those words in order to pick myself up and make a change!

What one piece of advice would you give to ALL teachers this year? “Coming into a new school, I fully admit that I wanted to impress. I'm not a new teacher, I thought. I've got this. Two weeks in and I quickly realized, I did NOT have it. I was drowning. Trying to balance all these new things in the midst of a pandemic shortly after moving my entire family to a new state was NOT going well. I tried to hide it, tried to fit the mold of what everyone else was doing so I appeared "with it." It failed. I got to the end of a Friday, made it back to my room, and burst into tears. I called a friend who I work with, at my wits' end and about ready to quit.

"Just be you! Be Mrs. T! Stop trying to be a certain way and be you!" His words hit me like a ton of bricks. Not being true to myself as a teacher was just making everything else so much harder. I needed to hear those words in order to pick myself up and make a change!”

Anything you want to add? “I will scream this from the rooftops - MAKE TIME FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND THE ARTS!

Both are even more vital now and yet they are often being cut from the school day. Being virtual does not mean that students cannot be engaged in artful learning. And with so many students at home, it is even more crucial that we are attending to their social emotional needs and building classroom relationships!”

We’ll end with some rapid fire questions!

• Favorite physical teacher tool? “Chimes! I use a 3 tone energy chime for transitions, call backs, etc. It is the best little investment that brings BIG rewards!”

• Favorite digital teacher tool? “Slidesmania!”

• Go-to for self-care? “Being in the sunlight! For some reason, standing or sitting in the sun reminds me to drop my shoulders and breathe.”

• Current favorite TV show/movie? “Oh, this is tough! I love television and film so much. I can watch The West Wing over and over again. New favorite show would have to be The Mandalorian!”

• Best thing to come out of this mess? “Friendships with teachers from around the country!”

Thank you, Nikki, for inviting us into your life. I am grateful for your presence in the GYTO community! If you want to follow Nikki on social media, you can find her on Instagram as @mrst233.