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I taught remotely outside of my school building today in protest of my district’s ( @ChiPubSchools) plan to reopen schools. Here’s how the day went... a thread 
Today felt like the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Since I haven’t driven to work in almost a year, I got the first-day butterflies & jitters, had a sack lunch prepared for me (thanks, @MonieFreshh), and I even took “first day of school” photos. 
When I arrived at the school I had 2.3 minutes to finish my breakfast before my virtual class was set to begin (some things never change 
). I sat right in front of the school building, placed my laptop on a wooden lap-table, connected to the school’s WiFi, and opened the meet.
). I sat right in front of the school building, placed my laptop on a wooden lap-table, connected to the school’s WiFi, and opened the meet.
Immediately upon entering our virtual classroom, my 5th grade scholars began to express how surprised they were to see me sitting outside of the school! A got tons of, “You not cold?” questions, and “Mr. Reed, you need to go home!” answers 
but most of kids loved seeing me out
but most of kids loved seeing me out
I asked my kids this Q: “Why do y’all think I’m sitting out here in the freezing cold?” Some of their answers were as follows:
Kid: Because of Corona.
Kid 2: Because you’re protesting.
Kid 3: Because you crazy!
My scholars were so engaged and ready to talk about PROTESTS!
Kid: Because of Corona.
Kid 2: Because you’re protesting.
Kid 3: Because you crazy!
My scholars were so engaged and ready to talk about PROTESTS!
“If I feel something is not just or equitable, what can I do? What are my options?”
After discussing advocacy, injustice, Covid-19, civil disobedience, and peaceful protests, my scholars and I then began our ELA lesson for the day. Everything was going swell until...
MY COMPUTER DIED
I guess really cold weather drains your battery super quick
MY COMPUTER DIED
I guess really cold weather drains your battery super quick
Thankfully, I purchased a car inverter yesterday night, so when my laptop battery died, I ran over the car, charged it, used the internet from my phone’s WiFi hotspot, and kept things pushin’ 
My Moms always tells me to, “Keep being a trooper, baby,” so that’s what I did 
My Moms always tells me to, “Keep being a trooper, baby,” so that’s what I did
My principal came out to greet me (masked up, of course 
) and see how I was doing! I showed her my scholars (who were now in breakout groups) and they were happy to see her! She then offered to get me an extension cord powered from the building.
MY PRINCIPAL IS THE PLUG
) and see how I was doing! I showed her my scholars (who were now in breakout groups) and they were happy to see her! She then offered to get me an extension cord powered from the building. MY PRINCIPAL IS THE PLUG
I transitioned from my car back to the front of the building and finished up the last bit of class. As part of their social studies lesson, I offered my scholars the choice to create a poster if they/their caretakers agree w/ my protest. Some said they’d drop them off tomorrow 
I also reminded them that they didn’t HAVE to agree w/ me. That’s totally fine, and they won’t be penalized in any way if they chose not to make their favorite teacher in the world a dope poster to show if @ABC7Chicago , @nbcchicago , @cbschicago, or @fox32news happen to roll up
Ended class, then prepared for my 4th graders. By this time, it’s snowed a little bit, and it was cold, but not too cold. I felt GOOD because I just successfully taught my 5th grade class remotely, and I didn’t even have to be in the building to do it.
Day 2 Summary: Today was MUCH colder than yesterday. The wind was blowing so hard that I had to put my blanket around my computer so that my kids could even hear me! Computer also died TWICE. Haha. Had GREAT conversations about homelessness, John Lewis' "Good Trouble", & TikTok!
