Pandemic Homeschool Diaries – Week 2 Wrap Up

What a different two weeks makes. On a normal Thursday morning, I would go to yoga before work; the kids would both be in school; and their dad would be at a meeting downtown. Thursday March 12 was the first day my kids were home from school. Exactly two weeks later, Thursday morning found me doing yoga in the living room, following my teacher’s instructions on Zoom and choking on bunny fur. My oldest was at the kitchen table solving geometry proofs, and my youngest dragged her laptop to my office so she could listen to her math video without the distraction of overlapping audio. My husband took his meeting online from his office in the basement.

High School

Two weeks in, we’ve got a bead on how things will work, but we’re still working out the kinks. Some teachers are right on top of the digital world. Her math teacher posted half a dozen printable packets online. The first one has taken her a full two weeks, and will last at least through Monday next week. So she might be set for math through the end of the school year. Chemistry has regular office hours on Zoom, and posts 2-3 days’ worth of work on Schoology every 2-3 days. English, History, and PE are figuring things out – posting activities every few days, but not always at the promised time, and with variable success. Fortunately, those are classes for which we’re better equipped to fill the gaps.

For theater tech we can indulge her love of musicals, encouraging a critical eye. And I’ve felt compelled to throw in some extras. After seeing her handwriting I’m requiring cursive writing for all notes. Pained by watching her hunt and peck, I’m making her use Typing Club. We’re also completing the Naviance college prep exercises, journaling, and practicing driving, but not every day.

Fifth Grade

I’m still struggling to figure out the work load for the fifth grader. She is a master of procrastination and passive resistance, but also capable of intense focus and hard work. This week she has consistently not completed the work we set out each day, and I’m not sure whether it’s because she’d dawdling or I’m assigning too much. The Mystery Science projects and Mr. M’s Math both seem like a solid hour of work, and should be doable in one day. But maybe I need to alternate math project days and science project days. I’m worried about getting behind that way, though. It’s a work in progress.

We’ve finished the ReadWorks in the packet her teacher sent home, but we’re still working on memorizing the states. Further guidance from the teacher suggests continued reading, journaling, and writing stories, which we’re doing. We haven’t been taking notes on the books she’s reading, but will with whatever she picks after Caddie Woodlawn.

She’s been playing outside, but it’s not the same as running around with friends, and Zoom kung fu is not as good a workout as class at the studio. Plus, spring soccer is unlikely to happen and the ski resorts are closed. So we’ve started doing three kung fu classes per week instead of two. Her principal sent out a fitness challenge that we’ve just started as well. That will have to do for now.

Time Management

I’m realizing that even more than spending time at the table with them while they work, I need to make time to look at what they’ve finished (to confirm it’s actually done and give feedback). And I need to spend more time planning out the work they do. The dry erase board is back. I’ve added the date because time was starting to get fuzzy for the kids.

It’s tricky, because they don’t always finish and then you have to move things around. I’m also starting to get a sense for the rhythm of including things you don’t do everyday without forgetting about them entirely. Next week I’ll combine those two lessons and spend time planning out the semi-regular activities like typing and meditation.

We kind of [totally] let meditation slip this week. I got obsessed with the K-drama Crash Landing on You and hurried them off to bed every day so I could watch it. Since it’s long, they stayed up reading late every night, and the only fixed point in our daily schedule – 9am school start – started to slide. I regret nothing. I’m starting Memories of the Alhambra this weekend.

Even with certain lapses in judgement, (I may have also completed watching My Lovely Sam Soon this week) I made all four work deadlines this week.

Lessons Learned

I’m sure that over the long term, the girls will get lonely for their friends, and even if everyone else’s competitive edge in soccer and figure skating is getting dull, it’s a loss for them not to be able to practice. I’m also saddened at the hopefully temporary loss of live ballet, opera, and theater. But it’s nice for a change to not have my introversion and FOMO in constant battle. For now, at least, the stay at home life is not so bad.

I’ve learned anew that we are incredibly privileged. I read and travel, so I already knew that as a fact. But these two weeks, both my husband and I have been able to continue our work (and therefore receive our incomes) almost without interruption.

We have a house with just enough space for everyone to do their own thing, and a yard to play and garden in when we really need to go outside. We all get along pretty well, and (so far) haven’t really gotten on each other’s nerves. We’re mostly comfortable being together all day.

So far none of us has gotten sick, and neither has anyone very close to us. Though there is a risk of health care system collapse if this thing keeps growing, we all have insurance and are less likely to be turned away if we do get sick. I’m not naturally inclined to gratitude.

But during these weeks I’ve been hearing about friends whose relatives are dangerously ill. I’m wondering if the artists I enjoy will be able to continue their work next season and if the indie bookstore down the street will reopen. I think about the woman who cuts my hair and the salespeople and food servers who always give me a smile and who are all now laid off. And for once in my life, it’s easy to be grateful for my copious good fortune.

Covid Count

On Thursday, the Washington State Department of Health recorded 1577 cases of COVID-19 in King County, with 109 deaths. Friday statistics had not been posted as of this writing.