Through the eyes of a parent: Virtual School w/ Ciara Walker
Everyone wants their child to have a fair chance at being successful. From choosing the best schools, to hiring a tutor; there are plenty of resources available to ensure a child’s academic success. Even as a busy nursing student, now nurse, my children’s educational journey has been one I’ve been extremely active in. What I have learned is that many of us parents/guardians deal with the same challenges no matter the varying demographics.
When it was announced that the United States officially declared a pandemic in March 2020, I thought that virtual school would be so much fun for my family. I used to be the big sister that loved playing school with her siblings to help them with homework. Now, I get to do it with my own kids! What I did not take into consideration was the fact that it would be difficult for an 11 and 17 year old to suddenly not see their friends every day.
I did frequent check-ins to see how they were holding up emotionally. I suggested Zoom calls, but they were too cool for that. I offered grace where it was due, set reasonable goals, and defined clear expectations. “I understand that this is extremely hard, but we will get through this together. I am here for you and available whenever you need me. Although, this is a different platform, my rules are the same. There is no excuse for missing assignments or poor performance.” I was firm, but fair.
One of the positives I saw right away with this new transition was improved focus. There were no class comedians demanding attention. No outfit competitions, school crushes or cliques. Whenever my children became distracted, I would redirect them back to their school work. Since they were already on their computers for an entire day of instruction, I limited their personal electronic use. I encouraged taking frequent breaks. They had to get up and stretch between classes, or do a quick exercise. I also added electives: Home-economics, art, music, and a student newsletter they created. I really tried to make what was an extremely stressful time in our country, feel safe and enjoyable in our home.
I’ve learned that my children thrive best when they are in a structured environment. So, even though everything they knew had suddenly changed, I quickly established a new routine and made it fun. I came up with a homeschool name for our house and went as far as dressing up in different outfits to make up the school administration. I found an app on my phone to ring the school bell in between classes, and I served school lunch, complete with “lunch lady” gloves and a bonnet. It was hilarious, but it was also the best way that I could think of to provide some sense of normalcy. Since they were at the end of milestone years (5th and 12th grade), we held virtual graduation ceremonies complete with decorations, certificates and refreshments.
Parenting during the pandemic also allowed me to take a closer look at their learning styles and come up with ways to supplement their education. Since I knew what would be the most beneficial, I could tailor different ways to reinforce the lesson plans their teacher already went over. We did practice problems, used the teach back method, and studied for tests together. They never had to fear asking questions whenever they needed help.
My son was probably the most impacted because he spent his senior year virtually. While it is not what either of us expected his last year of high school to be, we made the best of it. He earned a 4.0 and was able to enlist in the military shortly after graduation. I asked my daughter what was beneficial to her, and how could I better support her as a middle school scholar. She responded that checking her grades was helpful. It holds her accountable and reminds her that she cannot slack off. Following through on consequences for missing assignments, etc… is a big part of that accountability. An additional help for me is consistently checking in with her teachers on how she is doing. This way, parent teacher conferences aren’t necessary.
To sum it all up, a successful education in my home requires collaboration between the dedicated students, parents, and teachers. Tutors, and other outside support can also be a tool to bridge the gap when there is a disconnect between the child’s comprehension and a teacher’s style of instruction. I think we’ve learned that academics do not have to be intimidating. There are plenty of resources available to better equip us, as parents, along this educational journey.
