Day 112 in 2020 (isolation day 7,412)

Since the first day of public schools on lockdown six weeks ago (can you believe it? Back on March 16 for us), Calvin and I have been tuning in to facebook every weekday at 2:00 for a live art class with a kind, vibrant teacher from Kentucky. Each class is a mixture of lessons on technique, style, and how-to with a little bit of introductory art history thrown in. They are a highlight in my day, and have produced a pretty hearty portfolio for our homeschool file.

Here we are learning about real egg tempera and illuminated letters during a lesson from Make.

Day 106 in 2020 (isolation day 32)

We are still homeschooling as usual. My mom asked me the other day if Calvin was disappointed that his studies had not been interrupted like those of most of his peers. Because our district has a large rural population there is disparity in the accessibility of internet that even distribution of computer equipment to students won't address, so most kids are receiving for the remainder of the school year "enrichment opportunities" that it is "suggested" they spent two hours on, daily, for four days a week. Having been a homeschooler for nigh ten years now, I know that's actually plenty of learning time, especially if the remainder of their days are filled with household learning and a healthy dose of invigorating boredom, that great seed of ingenuity.

I don't think Calvin is disappointed by the continuation of his regular schedule, though. Routine is helpful in a time of high anxiety and generalized grief, and for the most part he enjoys the things he is learning. Plus, he's gained free time out of the two hours that used to be spent at the public school every day, and though his extracurricular activities have now all moved online, meeting times are a little shorter, and we've all gained a lot of extra time in the day now that we aren't driving to all those places over and over and over again, so there is still plenty of time for the fun and games that are helping so many kids (and adults) get through this unprecedented nightmare.

Day 97 in 2020 (isolation day 23)

Monday, school day. We covered all Calvin's courses today, enjoyed an relaxing hour of art class together via Facebook Live, he played both his main instruments, practiced dance with videos from his teachers, and attended an hour long Zoom Choir rehearsal, Jon and I went for a run, I took Gimli on an hour-long, sun-filled walk, and we all still had time for some Animal Crossing play together while dinner was simmering on the stove. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but today counts as a really good day.

Day 95 in 2020 (isolation day 21)

It's the first weekend of the month, the last weekend before we would have returned to school after spring break. For us that still stands, and we will return to a full homeschooling schedule on Monday. I look forward to that, and I think Calvin might, too. The fluidity of lacking a schedule is enjoyable for only so long before ennui sets in. This weekend, like all first weekends of the school months, I am spending a morning filing the last month's school work, recording grades, and setting up print outs and resources for the coming month. The only real challenge is that, after spending weeks last summer carefully choosing resources for the coming year, with the libraries closed the majority of those resources are no longer readily or cheeply available. That is a bridge I will have to cross in the coming week, but it's a short bridge and only a minor irritation. 

Day 90 in 2020 (day 14 of isolation)

That's two full weeks of isolation, though now I realize my math is off because it was actually two weeks as of Saturday. But who's counting?

Today begins our school district's scheduled spring break, which even for Calvin means a significantly lightened work load. We'll be spending the week practicing geography drawings, taking daily art classes live online, practicing dance to the videos sent by his teachers, and attending virtual choir. In all the extra free time there will be some reading, some getting outside with the dog, and some playing Animal Crossing. It's a week for being gentle with ourselves. 

Pictured here—sitting down to our live art class online only to be interrupted. Can't blame this on the pandemic, this is what homeschooling parents face on a regular basis.