Home and school are suddenly the same place

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Homeschooling is receiving mixed reviews from Mon Valley parents.

While some parents say it has been a breeze, others are cracking open a beer as soon as an imaginary last bell rings from inside their living room or kitchen.

Most schools in the area implemented virtual learning plans that launched last week.

Chelsey Fleming of Fallowfield Township has a son, Lyric, who is in first grade at Charleroi Elementary Center. The district began virtual learning March 30.

For Fleming, it has been difficult providing for, caring for and now teaching two young children while stuck inside during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This whole transition has been so different,” Fleming said. “For us especially because they don’t usually have computer classes until they are in a higher grade. So the only knowledge of technology he has right now is from using his tablet at home. So working on a computer has been new for him.”

She starts the day normally, waking both kids up and giving them breakfast before “school” starts.

“The first day it was fine, he seemed excited about it, but every morning after that it has been a fight,” she said.

While she can sign Lyric in at any time, teachers are only available during set hours throughout the day to help with subjects such as reading, spelling and math.

“I am trying to keep Lyric focused while his little brother is running around the kitchen table screaming,” she said. “I could not imagine if both of my boys were in school. I have no idea how I would do this.”

While she has her hands full, she said the projects have been creative.

“You can tell the teachers have been doing different things to try to keep it interesting for the kids, so that has been nice,” she said. “And the school itself has been really helpful trying to help us figure out how this works because we have never done this before and neither have they.”

She said not seeing teachers and learning from home has been difficult on both her and her son.

“He is used to going to school and coming home to tell me all about it,” she said. “Not being with me from the time he wakes up until the time he goes to sleep. I’m being his teacher on top of being his mom and it has been stressful  for both of us.

“He gets frustrated with me because I am his mom, trying to be his teacher is hard because he thinks he can tell me no.”

Michelle Branthoover has two young children in the Ringgold School District, which began virtual instruction April 1.

Eli, 11, is a fifth-grader at Ringgold Middle School. Levi, his younger brother, is in kindergarten.

The first day of homeschooling, Branthoover admitted she opened a beer at 12:30 p.m. because of math.

“I am sure this will get easier, but it has started out a little rough for us,” she said. “All I can say after day one is that teachers deserve so much more money.”

The process was easier for her younger son.

“He did very well, obviously it is not quite as intense as the things his brother is working on,” she said. “He was done in about an hour and a half, but you have to remember we are going over shapes and numbers and things along those lines, and that is more my speed than Common Core math.”

She said the school year was already challenging for Eli before COVID-19 hit the region.

“He was transitioning into middle school, so this year has been tough from the start,” she said. “I have always felt moving fifth grade to the middle school was too much for kids that age, so throw COVID-19 on top of that and it has made things a lot more difficult.”

It has been nearly two decades since Branthoover was learning in a classroom.

“They learn so much differently than we did,” she said. “So it’s kind of like I am trying to teach both of us. I’m trying to learn how to go back to school and make sure my kids are getting good grades and learning everything they need to know.”

While math has proven to be most difficult in the Branthoover household, there are some perks.

“There have definitely been more fun times than bad for us so far,” she said. “He built a skyscraper using things from around the house and drew a picture of a picture of a roller coaster for his STEM class, which was a lot of fun, but then we got to the math and neither of us are very good.

“He is a lot like me and does better with hands-on learning. And I have no idea about Common Core, so when he asks for help I have a hard time showing him how to do things the way he is supposed to.”

Branthoover went part-time at work when virtual learning was implemented to help with the transition.

“My boss has been so understanding through this, and it makes me feel so bad for the parents who are still working and might not have the opportunity to carve out time to do this. I don’t know how they would get through this and also keep working eight hours a day or longer. It’s intense.”

She has gotten a lot of laughs out of homeschooling.

“My 5-year-old wants to have breakfast and a coffee at his computer like he is in a business meeting,” she said. “He is absolutely tickled to be able to do his school work in his underwear. It’s been his favorite part of this whole thing, not having to wear pants. But it’s the little wins at this point.”

While some of the school work has been challenging, the school has been helpful, she added.

“The teachers deserve their own parade,” She said. “Every single one of our teachers has been exceptional through this, keeping the lines of communication open and answering all of our questions.”

She plans to take it day by day.

“I want my kids to get their education and I am going to do my best to make sure that happens,” she said. “Up to this point, I think there was a lot of us that took the school district for granted, because our jobs as parents for a long time was get them up and get them on the bus. We went through the motions, did the fundrasiers, but none of us realized how much hard work goes into making sure your kids get an education, at least to the states standards.

But we will be all right, as long as we are putting in an effort I don’t think our kids will have anything to worry about.”

Marie Younker, who has a sixth grader in the Belle Vernon Area School District, is in a similar situation.

“I’m trying my best but it has been difficult,” she said. “The first day was hard, but it is seeming to work itself out the more we get through it.”

She was surprised by how little work is being assigned.

“I feel like this is doing the bare bones of what needs to be done for classes,” she said. “He does not have a ton of homework or reading; it seems like it is really the basics.”

She feels fortunate compared to others.

“I only have one child who I am having to help through this and he can read on his own, so that all makes it easier,” Younker said. “I’m also lucky to be able to be home to help him because my husband works in an essential businesses. So most days I spend a lot of time explaining things to him and the things I need to get done are set aside, but I am thankful one of us is home to be able to do this.”

She said the COVID-19 pandemic is probably happening at the best time of the year for students.

“Usually at this time students are reviewing lessons they learned earlier in the year,” she said. “But still I worry about the bigger picture. What he is missing out on, if he will be behind other students, but we will see how it goes and until then will keep pressing along.

“We’re going to make the best out of it because we know this is new territory for all of us. I still honestly can’t believe we are living through this and I hate to say that I think this is something that will have a long-term impact on everyone.”

Homeschooling has been a breeze for Michele Wallace, who has a senior, Marcus, in Belle Vernon Area School District.

She said her son took her advice earlier this year when he was making a schedule, which proved to be helpful when COVID-19 broke out and learning changed.

He is taking honors calculus, college prep English, Microsoft Excel, graphic design and computer science.

“He is not having any issues with getting his assignments or showing his work,” Wallace said. “I think I was more apprehensive than he was, especially with him being a senior, we are at the home stretch. But he has used Google Classroom before, so it has gone smoothly. And he does not need much of my help.”

She is happy that her son was able to take elective courses during his senior year that will help him reach his goal of becoming a computer programmer.

“I think it is probably a lot easier for me than it is for other parents who have younger kids,” she said. “My heart aches for them because I can’t imagine how difficult it would be.

“I am more worried about all of the things he is missing out on, what will happen with prom or graduation. He wanted to have those experiences and those are things you look forward to as a parent, too.”

Though her son is self-sufficient with home school, the administrative team and educators at BVA have kept her in the loop.

“Even this morning I received emails who check in asking if we have questions, a total open line of communication,” she said. “Being that he is 18 he can handle it pretty much on his own, but it is nice they are checking in on us parents, too, and keeping us informed.”