When COVID started affecting more people, they closed schools and completely changed their curriculum. This left many students confused, and parents not understanding how to help. Due to the confusion, stress and anxiety levels rose and it became harder to finish all of the school assignments that continued to pile.

First and foremost, when we are at home, we don’t want to do anything. We want to sleep or binge watch shows. Nobody wants to complete assignments, especially when we are surrounded by distractions. This could mean siblings screaming, electronics, or even just chores. When asked how hard it was to concentrate at home, Trinity Mell, a distance learner at PVHS, answered with this, “Extremely, you have to be your own teacher in a way. You have to make sure you don’t get distracted by electronics and family is no help either. They think that because you are all online that you can leave school whenever which isn’t the case.” This shows me that parents can be the issue as well; they might get annoyed or mad that you aren’t finishing your school, then ask you to do something while you’re in the middle class. As for being your own teacher, sometimes you have to teach yourself how to do something. This is because teachers aren’t always available or are just as confused as you. 

Everyone is new to this and just as confused as the next person. Not only did we start doing class at home, we switched from Google Classroom, to Canvas. It’s set up completely different but easier to navigate at the same time. Teachers have limited in-person class sizes, and the students alternate between days. Students have more classwork even though there are less classes in one semester. When asked about how confusing distance learning was, a friend of mine, Michael Scoggins also a distance learner at PVHS, answered with this “It was confusing in the beginning but after a couple weeks it got easier and easier.” This is true in multiple ways. As we get further into the school year, we start to understand our teachers and even the classwork so school gets at least a little more tolerable. However, it is different for everyone because we all learn at different paces and in different ways. A lot of kids and teachers are struggling because we are new to this and we are all still trying to figure it out. Yes it takes a lot of patience and self assuring but we will all get through this.

Lastly, routines are hard to establish. Most of us probably haven’t left the house in a couple of days, maybe weeks. Since we do everything from home, the days fade into one another. When I asked my little brother, who does hybrid learning at Floyd Elementary, what his routines were like he simply answered with this, “It is harder for me to do hybrid because sometimes I wake up early to get ready for school and I can wake up later to do online.” His sleep schedule is messed up because of times he goes to bed, along with maybe every other person I know. Even if a routine is somehow established, they’re very easy to break. Routines all tie into being focused, because without routines your brain gets distracted thinking about other things you need or want to do. 

With all of the challenges this school year has presented, we can find different ways to overcome them. Simple ways to start doing this is, trying to create a routine. This can help you feel more in control and relaxed. Another way is to get dressed before class, it will prevent you from falling asleep, resulting in you, hopefully, being able to focus better. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for help. They will try the best they can. For parents, the best way to help your student in distance learning is to let them do their own thing so they can focus. You can also just ask roughly once a week if they are doing okay, or if they need help. Other than that don’t overwhelm them. One day this will all pass and we will all be able to say, “yeah I survived that, I can do anything!” It will be okay.