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Pens, paper and laptops at the ready, lessons are about to start. The extended Easter holidays are coming to an end and remote-homeschooling will be the order of the day for the next five weeks, and this mum is veering between embracing it and dreading it.
I never wanted to be a teacher. If I did then I would probably be one now.
I wanted to work behind the camera on TV - very briefly, before realising it was the actual news that held my interest, and my wonderful teachers encouraged me to follow that dream and lo and behold, 20-odd years after first doing work experience I am still working as a journalist.
I have always been very open about the fact that it was work experience*, organised by my teachers, which gave me a pathway to a career which I have loved. So I am well aware of the all-round importance of teachers. They don't just teach us to read and write, they nurture our dreams. But in reality the academic stuff counts for an awful lot, and most of it is really hard to teach.
Year 8 maths is beyond me. History and Geography I can figure out. My French and Latin skills surprise me. English is easy. I can decipher some of the science. Art and music? I never could, never would and never will be able to achieve any sort of academic achievement in either area. But I do see how important they are, so how on earth am I going to oversee lessons in these subjects for the next five weeks? All the while, doing my own job and overseeing the work of others too?
This mum is finding life a bit easier than the mum above, but she still found it funny.
The guidance has been sent out from the States telling all parents and guardians what is expected as school resumes this week on a more formal setting remotely. The private colleges have followed suit and issued their own guidance alongside the States documents. All looks good, and achievable. There'll be lots of support available from everywhere. All of the work is online, parent and student can access it, there are going to be Team lessons and teachers are available via dashboard, email, telephone.
Before Easter, I know some of the Year 8 girls at my daughter's school were having group chats via some sort of App and doing their work together. That lasted two days in our house before the alarm was switched off and school work fell to second place behind Tik Tok and learning a One Direction song on the guitar (it's actually very good and I'm hoping it covers music for the summer term).
Over the Easter holidays there's been a lockdown diary, a bit of reading, some maths revision, a bit of science, and a hell of a lot of baking and a new subject I have deemed 'home economics' - ie she's learnt to use the washing machine, how to do dishes, and she writes the lockdown shopping list.
From tomorrow morning though, there's an expectation that school work is the priority each day. My friends are tackling it in different ways. One of them is working full time from home, while her husband has taken charge of the homeschooling. Their boys will be in their uniforms at 9am for a day's learning. I've often thought a 'rent a husband' scheme could work - and this is one of those times.
Another friend has done a colourful timetable and is letting the children choose which topic they do and when.
Another will be doing group lessons with fellow friends' children all linked up online so they can keep learning together.
However it happens, and whatever works best for you, I think the key for all of us is to just get through it.
I keep seeing posts about how what children will remember from this time is the bizarre freedom that lockdown is giving them. More time with their parents, more time to relax and let their creativity run free, the removed pressure for everyone without rushing between after school clubs and remembering that costume, that project, that book, that sponsorship, that everything for school.
Aside from the children for whom home is not a safe sanctuary (please do speak out if you are worried about a child - details HERE), there is a definite benefit to the lockdown for some. However, there is no avoiding the fact that we have to educate our children.
Deputy Matt Fallaize, the man politically responsible for education said last week: "...all children have a right to education and Distance Learning has been designed to provide some structure and opportunities for purposeful learning. We of course recognise that most parents are not teachers and so we do not expect them to step into this role. In fact, the learning that schools will send has been specifically designed to help students work as independently as possible."
Phew - the kids can do it all themselves. But wait a minute...there are times when mine can barely find the tap to get a glass of water without asking for help, so how is that going to work?
I'll share with you a line that was within an email from my child's headteacher:
"There will be inevitable hiccups, please contact us directly so we can work with you to overcome any glitches."
Reassurance again that we are all in this together, whatever the glitches and how ever many the hiccups.
Lessons start at 09:00, don't be late.
*If you are interested in work experience in a newsroom, or on the production side of a news website or business magazine get in touch and we'll book you in for after the lockdown ends. Laura (Guernsey) and James and Fiona (Jersey) can be contacted via editor@bailiwickexpress.com
