Our governor announced the "soft closure" of schools, on a Thursday afternoon, effective the following Monday (which, in our district was a planned PD day for teachers). Our kids sat us down that evening and explained if the schools were closing because of the virus, they saw no good reason to attend on Friday.
We agreed.
Then, they each told us about the specific lessons they were sorry to miss.
It's not a small thing to be able to bank on teachers whose work inspires kids to learn.
Grief began.
Then Tuesday— first official day of remote learning—came with an earthquake and intense aftershocks, for a few days. If ever there were a living metaphor for this season of life, that was it.
As we settled in to the at-home learning life, I realized I could implement something our town had tried and failed—a later start of school aligned with teenagers' natural sleep cycles.
My socially-aware kids took care of the rest.
We agreed.
Then, they each told us about the specific lessons they were sorry to miss.
It's not a small thing to be able to bank on teachers whose work inspires kids to learn.
Grief began.
Then Tuesday— first official day of remote learning—came with an earthquake and intense aftershocks, for a few days. If ever there were a living metaphor for this season of life, that was it.
As we settled in to the at-home learning life, I realized I could implement something our town had tried and failed—a later start of school aligned with teenagers' natural sleep cycles.
My socially-aware kids took care of the rest.