I have learned that we are very adaptable beings. The kids and I even though the way they have learned has changed they have just kept on going. I try my best to use this pandemic as a learning experience as well. Myself and each of the kids have been keeping daily journals of what life is like each day so we can look back on it years from now and grow from it. I have noticed the kids showing compassion as they want to help others who are struggling right now as it breaks their hearts. Together we have learned that family and friends are what is important as life is precious and we should live it to the fullest. 

We noticed with more people working from home and even more kids learning virtually or being homeschooled that it takes longer to get our assignments done during certain parts of the day. The websites do not load as fast as they use to and it has forced us to purchase and extra laptop to keep things moving along throughout the day. Other than that there really hasn't been much difference in their virtual classes.

We have a good amount on virtual learning going on in the house. We have math, science, history classes that we have signed up for virtually. The kids also have a website they can go to if they need a tutor which is great as math is my weakness and they can get all their questions answered there. 

Well homeschooling at least the way I do it is more old school in that not only are the kids learning about math and science and those basic courses. They are also learning real life skills like farming, balancing a check book, setting a budget and a little construction as we are currently adding onto our house. We do things fun as well like twice a week we have classes in Chattanooga one day it is at the Zoo and the other is at the Science museum and they get to learn from actual professionals first hand. We also meet up with other local parents and students that are homeschooled and go on field trips with the most recent one back in March to the Chickamauga Civil War battlefield. Its hands on learning and the kids really respond to it. 

My husband and I decided to homeschool our children about 5 years ago for several different reasons. The biggest reason was we had been dealing with bullying issues that the local school district for whatever reason could not put an end to. I also noticed that my older child who is now since graduated was in middle school and a straight A student at his school but he couldn't tell me the difference between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. It was as if I was speaking Greek to him. We at that moment decided to pull our children and educate them at home.

To say that 2020 has felt like the longest year on record would be an understatement. Since Covid-19 first hit our nations west coast back in February it has controlled how we live, shop, work, and educate. I have decided to speak to two educators in our public school district and a parent who has traditionally homeschooled her children. My purpose in doing so is to get a better understanding on how the pandemic has changed their teaching methods and to discuss some of the day to day challenges each face and what they have done to meet those challenges..