Not as good, is well not as good

Not as good, is, well not as good.

Schools have shut down and shifted to online learning.  Kids who have struggled with in classroom learning will probably struggle more with online learning.  But there aren’t choices at the present time.  So what can we do.

Kids also miss the social piece of school so if families can use apps like Google Hangout to connect classmates that can help learning.   If teachers have time they can have private chats and hangouts with their students.  Facetime is important so that is good if it can be arranged.

Now comes the big BUT!   We have gone from record unemployment lows to some significant high rates of furlough and unemployment for our families.  Some teachers may see their own incomes fall from two salaries to one.  A lot of families are struggling to put food on the table and pay the rent.  Supporting online instruction may not be a first priority.  Additionally, some families may be shuffling to find online instructional support for more than one child on a limited number of devices.  There are a LOT of moving parts in this dilemma.   None of this had a lead time or time to plan.   People, parents and educators, are scared, overwhelmed and maybe even a bit impatient.  Technology is amazing until it isn’t.  For those with limited technology skills the frustration is worse.

What do to? First of all, as much structure as possible like a real school day will help.  If there is written material that arrived first, parents can prepare the kids for what is to come.  If possible, give the technology a dry run to make sure it is up and operating.  

Next breathe- deeply.  A child may miss an online lesson because he/she isn’t interested or technology failed.  Believe it or not that happens in a classroom too.  

Breathe

As a parent you just didn’t give the lesson your attention that you should have for whatever reason, other kids, your own online job, your lack of skill.  It’s ok.  A missed lesson or two will not change the trajectory of your child’s life.

Breathe.

Embrace the fun part of online learning, the neat videos, seeing what a teacher’s house looks like in the background, seeing yourself on “TV”.   No, online learning is not as good as in school learning, not for plain kids and certainly not for children with learning challenges.

But sometimes not as good, is good enough- Breathe