It has been almost two full months of the off-school site for the kids, the immediate introduction of Distance Learning, or Remote Schooling. Something new for all, the parents have to be full-time teachers at home. This is somehow similar to Self-study homework packets when one travels and needing to be out of school during regular days. Similar in a way that a lesson is planned ahead and being worked on in accordance with the student’s absence. The school has provisions and preparations for remote schooling though not with this scale.
Recalling how classes were called off last March, it was when Spring was just about to start. Kids were anticipating a celebratory first day of spring ice cream treat after school though it never happened. Spring came, and schools closed down. Little by little, all extracurricular activities involving any number of people gathering in any location were canceled. A lot of things slowed down all of a sudden. Immediate temporary closure of schools became the big thing. Parents had mixed feelings about the closure; some were very excited having to experience “homeschooling” while some were enveloped with fear of not coping with tending to the kids and working from home.
Schools didn’t have a solid structure right away for the Distance Learning, provided whatever possible resources for the families to assist the kids with their continuous learning. Roughly two weeks after the Shelter-in-place order, a more structured and teacher assisted remote schooling was provided. The revolutionary Distance Learning was properly integrated into the kids’ schedule. As weeks went on, the system became more streamlined and felt more natural on the way. They were waking up day to day to attend class zoom meetings, checking in for assignments, YouTube videos of lessons, and other online learning programs.
Not everybody can get used to the new normal life, school at home being with the kids day and night, and even having to direct them with the studies—much respect to the teachers who wholeheartedly educate the kids when they are school. Staying home is one thing; having to do things at home is another, being able to work from home and become a teacher is a new level of tolerance. It can be draining at some point; it can be frustrating, satisfying, and fulfilling should be, but most of all, it can be very challenging. If one’s life has always been outside the home doing everyday things with structure, this whole new home set up can never a walk in the park. Other parents may ace it like it’s something they can naturally be good at, isn’t that great?
So, is this new form of homeschooling working for you?
*Kaita Hito*