I don’t really know how to write about just one thing when a whole bunch of things are going on, but I am going to try to do it anyway:
I don’t think teachers or parents or students need to worry about schedules and learning objectives and keeping pace.
This is a stressful time and I give you permission to let it all go. If it’s not working, let it go.
I get it. For many people, children and adults, structure liberates. Making a daily learning and activity plan, posting it, and abiding by it is working. So by all means, go for it. Do what works.
In fact, as a teacher, it is my job to guide families in this new endeavour of working together in harmony while being trapped at home against our wishes. And I look forward to engaging curious children and building community. This is important work. I hope to soon “meetup” with my math groups each day. I miss them.
But making sure Opal is a fluent reader (or at least knows 1000 sight words by the end of first grade) and Zola has facility with fractions and decimals? By the end of this lock-in? Not my priority. Spending 2 hours on specific, prescribed academic tasks? If they want...
It isn’t going to be easy on the frontlines--at kitchen counters and on bedroom floors. Learning at home will mean sharing devices and lots of technology troubleshooting. At our house suddenly our phones and ipads are always about to die and all of the chargers are missing. No school start time means my children stay up later and wake up later. And, of course, they need a snack every minute of the day.
But experience has taught me that sometimes how we school our children stops working. So we change schools or homeschool or transfer to a better-fit teacher or drop a class. We advocate. We flex. And so if what your school has on offer is not working, it is okay to take a break and reboot. Call in sick. Take a mental health day. Listen to your children. Follow their lead.
If a kid does a little reading (or is read to or listens to an audiobook) and plays some sort of game and moves a little, that kid is winning. That kid is learning. If you just do one of those things, you’re totally punk and I bet your kid chops their own vegetables and can dress themselves with flare. It is ok to email your dedicated teacher and tell them you will be doing “this, but not that” or “none of it at all” for a bit. They’ll probably get it.
Phil reminds me that we’re kind of far out there as far as this is concerned. We are also very privileged. We’ve never been too worried about coverage or the cannon or days of school missed. Our son went to college without a high school diploma, but nearly enough credits for a minor in philosophy. He’s an art major who would like to be a preschool assistant teacher when he finishes. My daughter graduated a year early and (gasp) didn’t complete a college prep program and yet has been accepted to six great colleges anyway. Guess what? She doesn’t even know her state capitols and she’s still not sure she wants to go to college. And that’s ok.
So, if you need it, I give you permission to let go of the relentless push to get something accomplished. Kids will learn anyway.
I love y’all.
