My name is Mojo Rose, and I am an elementary school teacher who draws comics about what life is like in the classroom. Lately, I’ve been drawing comics about what it’s like OUT of the classroom (thanks, Covid…).
When the pandemic first hit the United States and they closed down schools, they said we only needed to hunker down and quarantine for 2 weeks. I thought I was a realist and didn’t really believe them. A month of school closures sounded more likely. 11 months later, and it turned out I was actually an optimist.
As we approach the one year mark of the pandemic and online learning, I wanted to share these comics about what teaching during Covid-19 is really like. From the magic of the “mute all” button to the horrors of brown sink water, take a look at life in a school from the people who are trying their best to run the show as normally as they can (or at least not add more trauma to the children).
When you are done, read more of my comics in my previous post here.
More info: inksoupcomics.com | Instagram | patreon.com | twitter.com
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6 Feet Away At All Times
I hate it when people use the excuse "its america i can do whatever i want" because truth is there are basic societal rules. Plus, i don't think most people who use that understand the depth of what our ancestors fought for during the american revolution, and how many noble and true people died for us.
Wow how good of a teacher instead of doing something about it lmao
Mute, Unmute
My class uses Teams, not Zoom. For months, an unknown student has been muting teacher and excluding students just for fun... And we are in f*****g college !!!
my english teacher last year would swear all the time in zoom meetings.
Relaxed Distancing
Omg! I may be a student, but this is so me in class as i am silently going nuts about how no one is taking pro cautions!
Hopefully only their direct family faces consequences and gets sick and not other innocent people who had no choice but to be near them. Disgusting trash.
Cameras On
If there is a school rule that the camera has to be on... that's a horrible rule. It totally invades a kids privacy. There are all sorts of reasons for them not to be comfortable with other kids seeing the inside of their house. -- although I guess most "zoom" type programs allow you to blur the background or put in fake ones.
This reminds me that one of my gay friends had a poster hanging up when he was in quarantine on Zoom. I don’t remember exactly what the poster said but it had p***y on it and he got suspended. Personally, I think that it’s his room, and his parents allow him to have it and it’s his business. FYI it wasn’t even a teacher who noticed it, a student’s PARENT told the VICE PRINCIPAL. Anyways, have a good day!
I totally agree with this. Or if a student is on mute, there is almost always a reason.
Load More Replies...Grab The Headphones
yeah just a couple of swear words. Trust me, they've seen and heard worse
Once, my teacher forgot to mute herself while playing Hamilton music.
My Spanish teacher once told us that a music video we were about to watch was "sort of weird in an inappropriate way". The video wasn't weird at all, so now I'm thinking it was just a way to get us to watch the video.
In the second panel, the second kid is smiling. He's up to something.
i like that the kid on the left hesitated but then thought "better take no risk..."
The Problem Solver
But it's the school rules that you need the camera to be on 🤭
Load More Replies...I'm guessing this artist has trouble drawing hands. They are tricky.
Anyone else wondering how the bathroom reminded her of math homework directions??
that’s kinda weird but.....if one if my classmates did it and it was a girl then.....what can I say lol
Making A Mask: A Creative Exercise
Something similar happened... they had the same assignment and someone in my little sister's class drew some creepy intense eyes on hers... nothing 3d, tho!
FAQS
Yep that’s definitely me too except I’m on YouTube all day
Load More Replies...Mask Up
They're not Karens, they're just going at everything the wrong way.
Load More Replies...Yes, the government mind control. Very life threatening, and 100 percent real! Not a excuse to not wear masks! Nope, not at all!
DIY PPE
First I wanna say is them kids ain’t social distanced and how is she able to buy all of those lol
Pandemics Off
OMG this is exactly what happens in P.E, especially when we play football.
Assignment Posted
poor teacher I can just imagine how many kids bother them all day with emails.
You can’t blame the kids for that - they can’t do the assignment if it’s not there.
Load More Replies...I'm usually the organized type of teacher but, yes, that is what it's like for me. Home and mind a big mess
Stay strong teachers! You can do it! If not today, tomorrow is not far away. Also, anything worth doing is worth doing poorly!
Gosh the kids which r the students really give the teacher a mine grains everyday
Checkmate, Kid
God what brats. I remember that in school. The kids who weren’t smart enough to figure it out that they were just making everything take longer, preventing you from being able to play / leave.
Pull him into a breakout room and have a...nice little talk with him.
Social Distance Graduation
I do not like this teacher. She started directions for the math assignment wheb she knew a kid wantedthe bathroom, then was snarky with her check the faq (or at least how I want to pretend)....
The Days Fly By
I don't like it when I have free time because I will feel like I haven't done enough But I'll also be sad if I don't have free time.
Teaching pre-COVID was time consuming enough. I got out a couple of years before the pandemic, I can't imagine having to teach now. Teachers are really going above and beyond and parents should truly be appreciative that on a normal day educators have 28+ kids in a classroom, while parents complain about having to help their own kid stay focused. Show some appreciation for your teachers!
She doesnt HAVE free time. That's the point. A lot of people think they have more free time than they do.
Load More Replies...The Gum Chewer
He asked for it, so he has to deal with it. I had a teacher who required us to raise a hand when we wanted to speak and wait until she lets us do it. I needed to barf. It was really urgent. She did not let me speak. She needed a lot of tissues.
So just a few weeks ago I was chewing a piece when my teacher had asked me to spit it out what the girl just did is what i did to my teacher and got sent to the office for it.
Parents vs. Their Children
Zoom Meetings
I cannot spend an hour looking at myself on camera. My self esteem can't take that kind of hit.
Load More Replies...That’s why plastic surgery is up during the pandemic. So my plastic surgeon told me lol
Fortunately for anyone who worries about stuff like this, there is now a "touch up" feature on zoom
Oh, so when it happens to someone else it is normal, but when it is my, i have "severe body dysmorphic disorder" and need "urgent hospitalization" for "high risks of suicide attempt" ? I hate double standards.
Zoom Intruder
Fun fact: I was in the middle of sneezing, and then my camera froze.
We All Have An Eddie To Worry About
I had a boy in my childcare 3 years ago, as a 1st grader. I left and have visited a handful of times and he was there. Super friendly kid with a troubled life. I saw him today, a 4th grader now, while I had my kids at the playground at their new school (which is now the same school I worked at, and we visit after school hours) and he just started telling me he is doing really well this year, he is behaving. Whether or not he remembers me or how much I don't know; he says he does. His home life was really bad, and mom's custody was about to get pulled anytime when I had him in care. I never had an issue with him in care, he was very good with me but kept in close contact with the school and case worker. Reminded me when I saw this.
Update The Dress Code
I feel this. But I also really miss real clothes and still buy them hoping one day the world will be back.
On The Clock Nonstop
That's why I did all of my work that was given to me ASAP (after school hours started) and usually missed meals, and THEN I would have some kind of fun.
So selfish if I forgot to do my assignment, I will leave it like it is than disturb the poor teacher.
i know it really happens but this comic strip is supposed to be for comedic purposes
Load More Replies...VR
Setting Up Online Lessons
Social Distance Playground: Kickball
dang, that must hurt, but what about when it isnt a dig deal anymore?
Cleaning Student's Desks
That one kid is me... At the end of the year, we emptied our desks and when I tipped mine over... Like 50 pounds of paper came out :/
Load More Replies...this is a kid in one class and when I sit in the desk there s sunflower seeds ,tissues and other stuff
Just read your account description, and I just wanna say you are far from ugly
Load More Replies...Cameras Off
That hits home ... I took a photo of this precise situation only yesterday: a screen full of nothing but names and avatars and a classroom full of nothing but empty desks. Very depressing ...
Load More Replies...Dreaming Of Normalcy
Mask Project
No Child Held Behind
Ohhhhhh Alexander Hamilton!!! We’ve Been waiting in to wings fro you, you never backed down you never turned your back and rannnnnnn, ohh Alexander Hamilton!
Load More Replies...Where I live in Australia we are not in online classes anymore, and I got so friggin TRIGGERED when people would say "hah I just played video games instead of work lol" whereas I had spent most of my waking hours doing schoolwork
Literally me. I was in 5th grade. Instead, i was scrolling on my phone though.
The Confiscation Drawer
WHY would you take a kid's inhaler?? Tell him to put it up if he's messing with it, and if he doesn't stop then talk to him outside the classroom or take him to the principal's if he really won't stop.
Because breaking of your lesson and leaving an entire class unattended to take a kid to the principal is a pretty big deal and will influence the rest of your class/ day.
Load More Replies...Pacing Plans
Self Talk
My daily convo for homeschooling my daughter. I don't know what they're doing at school to know if she is at the same level, above, or below. But I won't stress too much - many kids are falling behind as well.
Digital Fluency
Online Recess
Mute
Social Distance Playground: Jousting
A Covid Halloween Spooktacular
In the 4th comic i think that kid's dressed as Jack Sparrow. *Ahem* Let me try that again. CAPTAIN Jack sparrow. Yes, much better
My dad was a pirate, but wore his Halloween-themed mask. I was a plague doctor.
Reopening Schools
Covid Safety Plan
Wash Your Hands For 20 Seconds
The End Of Group Projects
Social Distance Playground: Jump Rope
Been doing English lessons via internet for years and can really relate to "On the clock nonstop." The times students (and parents) phone with silly questions, often ones they have asked multiple times before, are rediculous.
awesome! i only just realize what teachers go through. but i hope they don't mind i browse panda with cam off and in my pj's.
Teachers teach so you can have the education you need to be the next leaders. So many kids don't get the opportunity and would switch places of they could. Don't take your education for granted. While much can be forgotten, there is a lot of important information out there.
Load More Replies...I have a story about virtual learning! So I was in my math class, listening to my teacher. My cat jumps onto the couch and rubs his face on my surface. He does it so hard, the surface closes, which causes me to leave the meeting. My teacher thought that it was hilarious when I explained why I suddenly left the meeting.
bad drawing ... hard to look at. What's with the hands? And faces? Take some lessons.
Been doing English lessons via internet for years and can really relate to "On the clock nonstop." The times students (and parents) phone with silly questions, often ones they have asked multiple times before, are rediculous.
awesome! i only just realize what teachers go through. but i hope they don't mind i browse panda with cam off and in my pj's.
Teachers teach so you can have the education you need to be the next leaders. So many kids don't get the opportunity and would switch places of they could. Don't take your education for granted. While much can be forgotten, there is a lot of important information out there.
Load More Replies...I have a story about virtual learning! So I was in my math class, listening to my teacher. My cat jumps onto the couch and rubs his face on my surface. He does it so hard, the surface closes, which causes me to leave the meeting. My teacher thought that it was hilarious when I explained why I suddenly left the meeting.
bad drawing ... hard to look at. What's with the hands? And faces? Take some lessons.
