The Pandemic Journal is a collaborative product of the English department that I work in. We have been tasked to create universal lesson plans for each course and decided, as a department, to adopt and adapt journal prompts each week for students to consider during this global pandemic.
I have opted to write these prompts along with my students and reflect on the times we are living in.
Almost everyone around the world has been forced to change their daily / normal routine due to the coronavirus pandemic. With abundant amounts of free time, we have a choice about how we can use this time.
A lot of people have been comparing the experiences to a Stephen King novel, most notably The Stand. Stephen King recently shared his perspective on this situation and responded to readers on a recent episode of NPR’s Fresh Air.
I invited my students to read the podcast’s highlights and think about how a writer is choosing to use his newfound free time. They were then provided this prompt:
In life, there are things within our control and things that are out of our control. What do you feel like you can be in control of right now?
Despite feeling like things are out of my control due to the coronavirus pandemic, I feel like I am dialed in and confident with what I can control. Here is a list that is not in any order of what I am in control of during this time:
- Thoughts
- Actions
- Feelings
- Health
- Fitness
- Time/Schedule
- Money
During my normal routine, I am barely able to have complete control over, what feels like, one of these elements. The Stay at Home order has provided me time to reflect on priorities, needs vs. wants, and family. I feel like I am much happier and appreciative of the small things that I took for granted.
I’m looking forward to writing along with my students in our Pandemic Journals! Check out the other entries:
- Introduction
- Week 1
- Week 2 (this post)
- Week 3
- Week 4
- Week 5
- Week 6
- Week 7
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