Mary Angel

(9/2020) Here we go! We are entering into more uncharted territory. Most students are gearing up for online learning. Parents are preparing for kids to learn from home. Teachers are making arrangements to teach from home and some from their empty classrooms. Coffee is being brewed and plans are being made. Some questions remain: are we ready, are the school systems ready, is this for the best, and what can I do to make this transition easier?

As most of you know, this article is just opinions, suggestions, and hopefully encouragement. Those opinions and suggestions are definitely based on experience and always research. I have a degree in anthropology so research is in my blood. As this pandemic has unfolded, I have seen a plethora of comments, opinions and copies of articles and scientific studies that are against all of this. That includes returning to school in person, not wearing masks, and throwing social distancing out the window. Putting aside the comments and opinions, when I look into the citations in the articles that are against mask wearing and social distancing, I have found a combination of outdated scientific research from the 1970s and later, current research that has been misquoted or taken out of context or research studies from disreputable sources. All of that being said, as I do not want to get into another mask debate, the bottom line is that school is online for the foreseeable future and we need to figure out how to navigate that.

This isn’t as big an issue for parents of older children or parents of younger and older children. My kids are in 8th grade and older and therefore are able to stay home and work fairly independently as my husband and I both search for jobs. If one or both of us are blessed enough to find jobs during all of this, my kids have enough wisdom and responsibility built into them to complete the work that is placed before them. Furthermore, if the youngest has any questions, or needs any sort of assistance, she has a sister in high school and two college-aged brothers who will be at home completing their classes. Many people are in this same circumstance and have the blessing of older responsible students at home. However, many of you are trying to navigate a different situation altogether.

For many of you, besides the impromptu, rushed introduction to homeschooling you received in the spring, this is your first experience with homeschooling. For those of you who already have one parent staying home or working from home, this transition might be easier. Many schools are attempting to do part of their classes as a live online class through a source like Google Classrooms or Zoom. If this is the case for you, then you are in luck. Assuming you have the appropriate internet connection, this means that your child’s teacher will be teaching them the basics and your job will be to make sure they complete their work and turn it in. This does not mean that your student won’t need your help to explain or guide them through something with which they are struggling. This simply means that the core instruction will be given by their teacher. Some schools, however, are continuing with the format that provides the student with their assignments for the week and all assignments are due on one day (usually Friday). If this is your situation, you will have a bit more work ahead of you. In my experience, it is best to spend about a half hour every evening reading over the work you expect to be completed from your child the next day. This will help you be more prepared for any questions that might arise the next day.

If your child is in elementary school and much of middle school you probably won’t have any problems helping them with their work (except for maybe common core issues, but that is a whole other argument). Please do not forget that your child has a teacher who is being paid to help them and in most cases is totally willing and available to offer that help. If you look over their work at the beginning of the week, you will be able to email a teacher with any concerns or questions you might have for that week. At this point, it is just about making sure your little students finish their work and turn it in on time.

So, what happens when both parents work outside of the home and have small children? There are a few options (and probably more I am not even thinking of). Some people are utilizing a family member, close friend or neighbor who is already home and there are daycares that are still running. I have also seen many ads for nannies to help with the children who have to return to work and those that have to work from home. This is the most difficult of all the situations. I truly sympathize with anyone who is trying to navigate these specific circumstances. A final thought, and probably a long shot, would be to mold all of these together. Go to your employers and see if you and your husband could each work longer hours a day and consequently each get a day off every week. Or, perhaps you could each work from home a day or two every week. See if you can find a relative to watch them for a day or two every week. Maybe your solution will be in finding a combination and balance for your family.

Lastly, everyone needs to have activities and chores for their at-home students. There will be down time and none of us want it to be spent completely on video games and television. Have chores for them to complete on a daily or weekly basis. Have websites that they can use to play learning games or get help with topics of which they do not have a solid grasp. I keep reading that these are unprecedented times and there could not be a truer statement. I will be praying for all of the parents who are trying to navigate their new teacher and assistant teacher roles.

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