Distance learning over

At the end of February for your county schools, along with most schools in the country, went to distance-learning. It was determined it was unsafe to continue having kids in school due to COVID-19. So, for the rest of the school year, the kids did online work from home with very little interaction between teachers and students.

This was a confusing increase in time for me. Each of the kids handled this differently. 

For Ellie, as a middle school her, she was very used to the online tools. I think middle school is actually spend most of their time online. Show the move to virtual distance learning was pretty easy for her. In fact, this was an answer to the challenge she have been facing with regards to having to get up early in the morning and feeling overwhelmed with her schedule route the day. I have an online school, even if she spent more time than the average kid doing schoolwork, it’s still meant she has an off a lot of time to herself to enjoy life and take it at Ellie speed. I don’t think she really missed the social side of it at all. She had text chats with some friends. She hung out with a neighbor. And she was satisfied. At one point she asked if she could be homeschooled permanently. I believe Ellie is an introvert.

For Max, the adaptation to the online tools took some getting used to. Max also really miss the interaction with classmates and I believe the teachers at the school. Max is an extrovert. It’s hard to entertain an extrovert at home, especially with two parents working. Reading as a primary tool for learning information at age 9 is not really Max’s cup of tea. And I’ll be honest, it’s not really my cup of tea either. So, I really did empathize with this challenge you face. In typical Meg spirit, there were some ups and downs, but overall he just persevered. We are still waiting to see the grades, but I am proud that he was able to push through. I know it’s hard for him when he doesn’t have friends to play with. Thankfully, he really enjoy spending lots of time with his buddy across the street. At this point in time they’re spending time together nearly every day. It really makes him happy.

The impact on Clair was also very evident. She needs structure in the engagement of staff and kids at school. I’m not sure if she’s an introvert or an extrovert, but what I do know is that we were not able to keep her entertained satisfactorily at home. Having to work full-time makes it really hard to be as engaging as Clair needs people to be with her throughout her day. She is good at doing things independently. She was fantastic and doing her work each day. I would show her what she had to do and then I would go to work. She did what she was asked every single day. And she generally did it perfect. She still has to work on organization, but she is only seven. The hardest part for Clair was when she heard that there would be no school on her birthday. That pushed her over the edge and brought her to tears. She was very much looking forward to her class singing her happy birthday. We tried to make her birthday special at home, but she missed that experience clearly.

We have no idea what the next school year will bring. I have mixed emotions about the kids going back to school. I know it’s best for their social health but they go back to school. However, I do worry about sicknesses and illnesses without COVID-19 being in the picture. With COVID-19 being in the picture I am cautious about the kids returning to busy compact environments such as school.

I didn’t do a good job of officially book ending their six grade 4th grade and first grade years. I should try to do that sometime soon. Here are a couple pictures of their at home desks.