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Toddling Through the Silicon Valley

By Cheryl Bac

E-mail Cheryl Bac

About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons incl...  (More)

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Adapting to Virtual Learning

Uploaded: Aug 27, 2020
Our older kids are starting to figure out their new virtual learning routines. We spent a lot of time talking with them about how it would be different from the spring. We set up desks in their rooms and we went over the basics of using their devices. Although we prepared as much as we could, we also talked about how everyone will be learning and that there will be a lot of ups and downs.

If I could go back and change one thing, it would be to spend more time preparing our youngest for her siblings being home but unavailable to play during school hours. She is constantly reminded that they are home when she hears them talking to their classmates, music from their devices and other classroom noises. Our play together is also more frequently interrupted because I’m “on call” for any technical issues her siblings encounter.

Right now we are all taking virtual learning one day at a time. We are trying to focus on the positives. That we are healthy and safe. But it is definitely a learning process for all of us. How is your family adapting to virtual learning? Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
Community.
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Comments

Posted by Native to the BAY, a resident of Old Palo Alto,
on Aug 31, 2020 at 9:12 pm

Native to the BAY is a registered user.

If it were not for being emailed bombed from both my two kids schools teachers, principals,, the district office, PTA, eNews, i'd be better able to focus on my hands on Zoom supervision now required of me as a parent (willingly!). Challenging times. I used to ID school staff from their lanyard badge or a Visitor/Volunteer name tag. I actually miss signing in at a front office and getting a friendly acknowledgement from admin. Now I have to figure out by shear guess work where and of for what purpose & importance to read, synthesized and respond or not. These are coming at me like a freight train from: PAUSD District office, assorted staff, faculty, IT support.

Navigating Zoom, Schoology, Infinite campus and now individual email communication styles / approach is something else entirely. This is when a subject line and signatures with job titles IS really important for all PAUSD associated entities might help us in prioritizing importance of content. Like. At home w school age children should be that. Not wading through emails . I get it. They are working from home. Yet I am working with my kids IN my home. And please. Don't make time sensitive material needed for parents to figure out and complete deadline end on a Sunday! Weekends are reserved for no tech time but face face family time! I would almost consider this SPAM if it were not for seeing the pausd.org designation . It feels like my home is being invaded by email blasts. I know everyone is working triple time to get it all right. Stay safe, stay well!!!


Posted by Cheryl Bac, a Palo Alto Online blogger,
on Sep 1, 2020 at 9:06 am

Cheryl Bac is a registered user.

Native to the BAY - Thanks for sharing your experience with virtual learning this year. I hope the emails die down as everyone gets more used to the new routine. It is definitely a learning experience for everyone.


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