Can you put yourself on MUTE?!

Week 2: Remote learning, Anywhere, USA

Hello, how is everyone? Can you hear me? Can you see me? You are on mute. You and NOT on mute. Can everyone PLEASE put yourself on mute. Sara, is that your Grandmother in the kitchen? Can you ask her to put pants on? Stop touching your sister, please. Alright, before we get started lets stand up, move around and stretch. Ok class, it’s time to come back. Class? Please sit down. I need to share my screen. How do I share my screen? Am I doing it? Sorry, I’m trying to put some of you in a break out session. Don’t touch anything! Did I do it? Can you see me? Where did you go? Wait, where did I go? Can you see me now? You have to take yourself off mute. Ugh, lets take another break.

Are we having fun yet? Just remember…..We are all in this together. Be patient. Be kind. Help support each other. Rise up to the occasion. Think positive. Give grace. Forget PANdemic – we CANdemic. Gag….me…please!!!! I can’t even get through reading that without rolling my eyes.

Give it a week, they said. Just a few hiccups. Zoom was down but now it’s back. Think of online ticket sales for a Bon Jovi concert – every red-blooded American logged on at the same time and crashed the innerweb. If you are a parent to a school aged child, you are in virtual hell right now….virtually 5 days a week for HOURS. Ok, to be fair this is only Day 5 of Week 2. I’m nothing if not dramatic. I wanted to add in some stats about how many children are learning remotely right now because of continued Covid-19 safety measures but I don’t think anyone reading my posts comes to me for numbers and stats and pie charts. You can do your own research but it’s like a bajillion at least.

My son Nathan is a sophomore. He is your average, run of the mill, easy-going, smart kid. He can organize his To Do:’s, take notes, ask questions, and is tech-savvy. If he has to ride this virtual wave through the entire semester, he will be fine. Sure there is the social aspect but academically it will be ok for the short term. He has a roof over his head, internet access, food in the fridge, school supplies and parents vested in his success.

Unfortunately, not all students have this. Schools here are still working out the kinks to get kids computers and help everyone get internet access. The struggle is real. Buses are being used to deliver meals and teachers and staff are spinning on overdrive to keep all the gears turning. I heard this soon after the quarantine began; “We may all be in this together but we are not in the same boat.” Well said. If you can afford private school tuition, your child is most likely getting in-person live lessons in a school building with desks and chairs and books and smart boards. The rest of us are just trying to get by and make the best of Education: 2020. Not every student has a parent that can work from home. They may not even know where rent money is coming much less how to orchestrate an in-home school environment. Many are not familiar with technology and may be confused by all the links to access the information necessary to learn. Perhaps they have multiple children of different ages and abilities all trying to have zoom meetings around the kitchen table. All the while with a new baby crying in the background and an elderly parent that also needs attention. Distractions and clutter galore. Complete mayhem. Mission impossible.

My 7th grade daughter’s virtual experience has been quite a learning experience for both of us. Katie is in an Exceptional Children (EC) classroom with only special needs children and trained special needs teachers and aides. Lord, pray my strength. These children may have physical disabilities, social and emotional problems, learning disabilities, chronic medical issues or overall global delays like my daughter.

Thankfully, I am able to be here for her. She can’t logon to the computer, use the mouse, or get herself on to her virtual lessons. She has no idea if she is on mute or not or even what that means. Once I get her logged in, the challenge continues. Not every parent is able to sit side by side for their child’s lessons. In addition to having special learning needs, these kids may be alone in their room trying to access learning by themselves. Some families experience a language barrier that only increases the learning gap more. Special needs children especially have trouble paying attention and staying engaged watching a computer screen for hours a day.

In addition to receiving synchronous and asynchronous (stay with me) virtual lessons, these kids get related services that may include physical or speech therapy to name just a few. A speech therapy session isn’t so hard to imagine as a virtual lesson but other therapies take on a new set of obstacles. Katie receives physical, occupational, vision therapy and orientation and mobility sessions. Simply put, an example of what one of these sessions may look like could be an 8 minute Zoom meeting. Physical therapy over the computer. I’ll be honest, I’m still sitting on 2 emails from school therapists because I know what they entail. Remote therapy sessions. Graphics of how complete a strength exercise with a caption under each picture. Translation: Mom therapy. Mom is now teacher, friend, disciplinarian, school nurse and therapist.

The most critical therapy for Katie right now is physical therapy because of her new leg orthotic. Thankfully I have the means to take her to outpatient therapy so she doesn’t fall behind in mobility during this unique time we are all living in. Make no mistake: not all kids have this option. These kids need to be in school. They need staff trained to work with their unique needs. They crave seeing their teachers and friends. The can’t wait for the bus to pick them up. They can’t wait to “order” from the cafeteria lady and throw away their own trash. They can’t wait to raise a hand and answer a question or tell a joke and get a laugh.

This is no one’s fault. It is what it is and we are all doing our best. I don’t know the right answer and I am so glad I am not in charge. It’s a balance between keeping kids and staff safe and getting back to in-person learning.

Just to mention, I personally know some of you are loving remote learning so much that you have decided to homeschool. Your kids are thriving and you found a new love of teaching your kids the curriculum you want on your terms. My hat is off to you! I have a couple students to drop off on your doorstep. Just kidding…no, really.