Our First Week of Remote Learning

THE ZAMP CAMP
Aug 22, 2020
5 min read

Well, it is that time of year again. The dreaded Back to School time only this year for many of us that may look completely different. My kids are doing complete remote learning for at least the first semester. Since many areas have not started yet I wanted to share our first week with you. Brayden is in 5th grade, Tony in 4th grade, and Sydney in preschool.

Monday: Okay, so let's talk about the first day. The first day of school is always the hardest but this was definitely a new experience for all of us. We live in North Carolina and the entire state was having issues getting the kids onto the server. Since all of us were trying to get on at the same time it definitely caused some issues and some setbacks. It took about an hour and a half to get everything sorted out but after that, it was mainly learning the platform and where to go to navigate all the different classes.

Tuesday: On Tuesday, we were able to log on with ease but it was still challenging trying to figure out the platform. I wish I had something to count my steps because I was constantly going back and forth between the boy's bedrooms trying to help them navigate through it all. It was definitely hectic trying to be Wonder Woman making sure that they had all the tools they needed while trying to also have my 4-year-old leave them alone during school hours. I did, however, occupy her with some apps like ABC Mouse so she could learn as well.

Wednesday: Well, on Wednesday we had some shared tears. I am not gonna sugar coat this. This is definitely challenging especially with numerous children. The boys have a few live Zoom meetings throughout the day followed by recorded videos with lessons. Each subject has its own specified area within their platform so it is pretty easy to navigate but I already am having trouble helping with some of the math because it is way different then what we learned when I grew up. I decided to try and make it a little fun and we decided to wear some masks to help alleviate some of the stress. It definitely helped lighten the mood so we could focus on the next subject.

Thursday: We seem to be getting the hang of this. The boys got up, got dressed, brushed their teeth, and actually made it to their morning Zoom meetings on time. That is a win in my book. One cool thing is that if they finish their schoolwork early they can be done for the day. Now, this can actually be a blessing and a curse. Brayden was done at 1 pm and Tony actually had to work passed the 2 pm time and we finished at 3:45 pm. Besides the daily Zoom calls that they need to attend you can pretty much work at your own pace.

Friday: HOORAY! We made it! Wow, this week was filled with a roller coaster of emotions but heck we have been on that roller coaster for the last 5 months! Things seem to be going smoother today and I hope it remains that way in the coming weeks. This is definitely a new way of learning and will take some time to get used to. I know my kids miss seeing their friends and being able to socialize from beyond a computer screen. I appreciate all the teachers and the schools for adapting to this new way of life. It is hard on us as parents but it is also uncharted territory for all the teachers as well and from what I can see they are all doing an amazing job so a big shout out to them!

So before I bid you adieu, I took to Instagram to ask what questions you all may have about remote/virtual learning so I am going to do a quick Q&A.

Question: How do you stay structured?

Answer: Great question. So the boys start "class" at 8 am so I make sure to wake them up around 7. This gives them an hour to get ready, eat some breakfast, and wake up enough to be able to function for their Zoom meeting. The school and the teachers have been great with providing a daily schedule and checklist that I can reference throughout the day to make sure they complete everything for that specific day.

Question: How involved are the teachers?

Answer: The teachers have been great. I can email them if I have any questions and they are quick to respond. They also have a mixture of pre-recorded videos that are instructed by different teachers. I like that they did this because I feel that is helping the kids stay engaged to see different faces throughout the day.

Question: What if the kids need additional help? Answer: Of course, each school will be different and each child is different. We seem to be lucky in that we can reach out to the teachers for support. Also, when the kids submit an assignment we have a comment section. I have hopped on a few times and left comments if we have any issues or need further guidance.

Question: How do you keep the kids concentrated?

Answer: Truthfully, this is the biggest challenge so far. While the boys have class I take away their phones, tv remotes, Playstation controllers, and pretty much anything that can make it harder for them to focus. I also check in on them about every 30 minutes (sometimes more) to see if they need anything and to also make sure they are still paying attention. I also have them tell me every time they have to submit an assignment to let me review it before they send it. This is keeping them honest on completing the work because they know that I will be checking.

Question: How do you manage to work as well?

Answer: Well, right now I am not sure on this one. I actually had to take some PTO and tried to work a little bit but pretty much as soon as I would clock in they would need my help. I did, however, completely have to change my work schedule to accommodate virtual learning. Make sure to tune into my Instagram stories where I will share more insights into this journey as I live through it.

In conclusion, this isn't going to be easy but we are all in the same boat. This is uncharted territories for not only us but for all the teachers, schools, and most importantly for our kids. There will definitely be stressful times but try to make it fun. We have all survived so many crazy things in the past few months that this is just another challenge for us to conquer. We've got this!! If you have any questions please leave me comments below and I will gladly help if I can.