Well, this wasn't how I pictured this school year starting. The entire last school year I stressed about what to do about this year. Ellie starting middle school - which one?? Would it wreck her sweet innocent spirit? What was a reasonable drive length to drive her there? Could she take the bus? Should we move so that she could take the bus without question?
Miriam was easy. Keeping going to the same school, although we were disappointed to find out that her anticipated gifted teachers were leaving that school.
Then, there was Holland. What to do about Kindergarten? I want to do half day, but is it reasonable to have 3 kids in 3 different schools plus a new baby? Would she do okay with full day? Would I not have any time with her? What would I do with just a new baby during the day? Was it reasonable to go to Erica's house everyday?
A couple of thoughts about all of these questions. First, it just goes to show you how useless worrying is. I agonized over these questions. I am sure my friends and family were sick of hearing about them. So much stress and worry all for nothing. I don't have any control over what is going to happen in the future. I would have been so much better to just make a decision and not spend my energy or time worrying.
Also, I would be a lot more caught up on this blog if circumstances weren't what they are. :)
Well, I never thought that this pandemic or social distancing thing would last so long. Haha, I bet the whole world is saying that. But when we had Darcy in the middle of June, Covid was spiking in Arizona. Like worse than anywhere else in the entire world! This is when our school district came out with its options for the coming school year. We had a choice between three options: normal in person school, a flex option where you could choose in person or online every quarter depending on what was going on, or all online.
We didn't have a fabulous experience online for the fourth quarter of the previous school year. The teachers and district were just trying to throw something together to make it through the year. So initially we thought there was no way we were going to do online. But when we learned more about it, we decided that the consistency would be vital. We didn't want them to start, have to switch to online if there was a outbreak, then back to school, or the same idea with the flex.
We also just wanted to protect our family from covid. We didn't think there was anyway that we could trust our kids or other people's kids to maintain good mask wearing, hand washing, or social distancing.
It helped when we found out that the district would provide devices that the kids could use to do school on.
So we decided to do digital academy, which for the most part we have been pleased with. It has definitely been the softest landing into middle school ever. Eliza will occasionally pop in to talk to me between classes or just read in her room. She and Miriam have been awesome about doing what they are supposed to be doing for class and with the chromebook in their rooms. They have been so responsible and we really appreciate it. I am a little sad that math hasn't been going as well for them. They either seem bored or confused. But we are making it. Ellie has just liked math so much in the past that I was hoping it would continue for her. She has loved her other classes though, especially art and the cooking unit in FACS. She spends a lot of free time doing extra art projects. It has been pretty fun to see her enjoy it that much.
I have been impressed with the creativity and ingenuity of their teachers in their assignments and class projects. I love that it is all mostly live instruction. No "watch this video and answer questions." It has been surprisingly good for these girls. It is important for them to have their own space during this time though. So I am glad that for now they can have separate bedrooms.
Unfortunately it has not been as pleasant of an experience for Holland. Online kindergarten is no good. It doesn't help that there is no half day option. And she's at home so it turns into us making her sit there and do it while she wants to escape and play. Fortunately John has been working from home so he has been able to keep an eye on her, which I wouldn't have been able to do. If she were in a school she would have no parents there to complain to or her normal activities around to play with. I hate it is something that we have to make her do.
This was her first day of PE. You can see how it is going.
But her teacher tries so hard. I can only imagine how difficult it is. A couple of months into the school year though, and everyone seems to be settling into a rhythm of sorts. It is still a fight with Holland, but we give her lots of breaks during the day and don't make her participate in the ELA stuff that is below her level.
It is helping with her math skills I think. I like the online program she has access to, to practice her math. It is called IReady.
The main issue we are having is that it seems like it just makes Holland grumpy. She is constantly being told to sit down or do something, and I think it is wearing out her good will towards us. By the time I need her to do something she has a major meltdown about something small (like throw something away for me or go put this book away). It is frustrating to have her be constantly mad at us. Especially John has been on the sad end of some very grumpy notes. We have tried to come up with all kinds of positive rewards for her compliance with various small tasks (including making a time lapse video like you see below), but nothing seems to be sticking. Hopefully this is just a phase that she'll grow out of soon.
I have to laugh at this picture of Holland with her headphones, Darcy sleeping in the swing, and John behind the camera trying to get work done.
We brought the little bookcase from Holland's room downstairs to organize all of her Kindergarten stuff.
This is when she was practicing writing letters. We take pictures of assignments and turn them in through google classroom. It works pretty well.
Eventually we landed that this was the best place for her to do Kindergarten on a little bigger table, where John could see her but have her not be right in his face.
She's already so good at reading a writing.
KDA tries to do some traditional school activities like a spirit week with crazy hair day. My girls were all in for this day.
Except Darcy who doesn't have enough hair to participate.
This is what they look like doing school. I am glad we have this option to keep our family safe. The other schools got delayed because of covid and are closing again after Thanksgiving because of so much community spread. It is nice to not have to worry about it.
