Question

3 of 4 of us were in tears by 10am with online learning today. Then a required video at noon was how to make animals out of foil. Am I missing the importance of this shit or are most people appreciating this? Sincerely, I think I’m missing something here.  

Answer 1

OMG I feel the same way! I have 4 school-age kids. I've been reducing all the schoolwork to the very basics. We are spending more time learning other things right now. Like baking, gardening, new games, patience, kindness, and lots of reading. You're in charge, do it your way that makes sense for your family. Harvard is accepting pass/fail grades for this semester- it's ok for us to approach schooling like that too. This is crisis schooling, not true homeschooling. Be easy on yourself and your kids! Hang in there.  

Comments

@lenoir7 Amen to that! I think Harvard would want kids that can think outside the box anyway  

---

Omg thank you! And thanks for the ideas. I’ve taught 2 to sew and we started seedlings and a greenhouse! I feel like we are doing a lot and really got upset by the stupid foul video! ‍♀️

Answer 2

I'm right there with you. Zoom meetings, reading, reading, reading, worksheets on reading, paper math (take photos & send to teacher! ), online math, social studies (watch video & make a comic! ), science ( don't forget to submit your Google Doc on all of this! ) and while you're at it, with all the extra time you have, pick 2 out of music, art, Learning Center or PE. And don't forget to take a break and do the morning homeroom question! Meanwhile, I still have to do my office job and my daughter cannot do this independently even though she's in the 3rd grade. She has a math/reading disability so she needs hands on direction. As @lenoir7 said, this is crisis schooling, not true home schooling. I don't want to short-change my daughter by not doing the majority of this, but I don't want her to get so frustrated by forcing her to do it that she totally gives up on enjoying school.  

Answer 3

I was witness to a 2 hour tantrum today. Time out/take a break and use your words/ good choice/ poor choice were in no ways helpful. Then I couldn't keep up with my threats which included: no special 10 minute video; no movie on Friday; no fun for the rest of your natural life; go to bed now - at 11AM. It was not a win. The sad part it that this was only day 2 of my awesome/I can totally do it all schedule.  

Answer 4

I hope teachers feel like they can dial it back too! I'm sure many are in the same boat, trying to work and juggle their own kids being home. It's probably too much for them! We are all under ambient stress, and it's ok to not be functioning optimally.  

Comments

@lenoir7 not a teacher but a school psychologist and only have a kid in pre-k. I can’t even imagine the headaches with older kids. I didn’t get to my son’s school work until 5:30 pm due to nonstop work.  

Answer 5

The district typically outlines the learning plan that teachers need to fulfill, and that is typically driven by the state. Teachers are all trying their very best to meet the demands of parents, those of which who want 5 hours of learning a day and those that would rather have none. If it doesn't work for your family, there isn't any harm in taking a break and meeting the social emotional needs of your family.  

Answer 6

I saw a post recently that said, children aren't going to remember their online lesson plans/homework during this time, but they will remember how they felt. This is their 9/11 (my generation) feel free to sub whatever big event happened during your childhood. Don't be too hard on yourself mama. I'm sure you are and they are doing great. I'm a big believer in children need to learn life skills. Since they got rid of Home-EC, shop, etc. Maybe teach them some life skills you think would benefit them. I've asked my stepkids what is something you've always wanted to learn and haven't, yet. Even myself, I'm taking this down time to learn new things.  

Comments

@jawbreaker31 thank you,  I appreciate the support

Answer 7

This is by the ISBE. If your child is doing more than this, contact your child’s teacher and come up with a more appropriate plan.  

Comments

Thanks @polychromy65611. Where did you get this?  

---

@lenoir7 Im a teacher. It is from a 60 + page packet from the Illinois State Board of Ed. Let me find it for you.  

---

@polychromy65611 Thanks so much!  

Answer 8

Don't even worry about it, just do what you can. My husband teaches HS and of their mandatory videos/classes, maybe 10-20% show up. The teachers aren't allowed to lower their grades, so kids will get at a minimum, what they had before his started. If they have that much grace for high schoolers, I would expect a lot more leeway with littles! We only have a toddler, but even that is a mess. She is losing her little mind without daycare schedules and we can't keep up. Today I let her eat dirt while I did conference calls from the patio. It is what it is.  

Comments

"Today I let her eat dirt". classic! :-)

Answer 9

I’m a first grade teacher. Just do the best you can! We are all struggling. The last thing you want is for everyday to be a battle and everyone is miserable. Try to create a doable schedule so your kiddos know what is coming next and feel like they have a sense of control over their day. Build in lots of down time/snacks and focus on the important stuff like reading, math, and writing. And definitely use the ISBE guidelines for time spent learning. Hang in there mama! You are doing a great job.  

Comments

@windermere thank you  

Answer 10

I tend to loose it by 11:30 lol  

Answer 11

What if? ❤️❤️❤️ If they cancel the rest of the school year, students would miss 2. 5 months of education. Many people are concerned about students falling behind because of this. Yes, they may fall behind when it comes to classroom education. But what if. ❤️❤️❤️ What if instead of falling “behind", this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this? Hear me out. ❤️❤️❤️ What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing. ❤️❤️❤️ What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet. ❤️❤️❤️ What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower? ❤️❤️❤️ What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well run home? ❤️❤️❤️ What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less? ❤️❤️❤️ What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home. ❤️❤️❤️ What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday? ❤️❤️❤️ What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place? ❤️❤️❤️ What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life? ❤️❤️ What if they are AHEAD? ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (Copied and pasted from a friend but too good not to share! ❤️)

Comments

@bosco thank you kristy morae!  

---

@katz259 I refuse to stress about school work on top of stressing about everything else! We get it done but on our schedule not the teachers! We are all just trying to get through this the best we can! Hangin there I’m sure you’re doing great !  

---

Amen! Beautifully said. My hopes with all this, is people learn what really matters in life and slow down. We were going too fast. Too hard. Too much.