Remote, Blended Plan, or Homeschool... How Do I Decide?

The 5-question registration survey about instructional preferences for next year made me feel like I was choosing a hidden showcase on The Price is Right. What is really behind each curtain? How can I choose when the details are so unclear? Anyone else as confused?

After teaching for 35 years at multiple grade levels, earning a Masters Degree in Technology Integration for grades K-12,  teaching under the district's Remote Learning Plan this spring, homeschooling my sons for a year, and helping my 9th grader with online learning this summer I have a unique perspective on what is happening, the possibilities that exist, and the pros and cons of each choice. So here is my take:

First of all, most families have not experienced true remote learning, so please don't make decisions for this Fall based on what you saw during the emergency of the Spring. The identical packets of worksheets, lack of grading parameters, minimal interaction with teachers, and optional completion of assignments were merely stopgaps intended to stem the inevitable academic slide of our students. Learning wasn't the goal and schools really didn't have much choice. The state required that grading could not harm students and every teacher was forced to bow to the digital skills and knowledge of the colleague with the least expertise at every grade level. In an emergency, you can't expect a non-swimmer to forge the English Channel! Teachers did not have time to hone new digital skills or collaborate on best practices either. As a district, we didn't drown, but treading water is not the same as swimming. 

So let's look at each of the options for next year. Which one will be best for you?

Door #1: Remote Only Instruction should include all of the following to be acceptable.

1. Digital Instruction: All students need a teacher. As a teacher, I like face-to-face interaction that allows me to see the telltale signs of frustration, address misconceptions instantly, and remediate individually. Remote learning can and should provide personal interaction in some fashion through virtual meetings or other means. A worksheet is not instruction! Even with minimal freedom to hold virtual meetings this Spring, some teachers found ways to interact daily with their students. We messaged through Hapara when students logged onto their Chromebooks, commented on student projects, scored assignments using Google Classroom, requested revisions, sent Bitmojis for encouragement, had virtual contests, and even tutored a few students on difficult math concepts using our document cameras. It is possible for quality instruction to occur remotely if teachers are equipped with training and digital tools. Students need real interaction, though, not just video recordings of generic instruction. Even proponents of flipped video instruction herald the necessity of class time for application, reteaching, and personal interaction with a teacher. Research shows that quality teachers are the number one predictor of student success! So, live instruction with a qualified teacher should be expected.
2. Upgraded Communication:  Communication is more difficult during remote instruction, so upgrading communication with students and parents will be imperative for success. It doesn't really matter what app or program a teacher chooses, but every classroom or school needs a streamlined way to share with parents and bond with students who are learning remotely. I think classes need a photostream, text messaging capabilities, small group chatrooms, video discussion portals like Flipgrid, and the ability to audio comment on work. When a student doesn't "show up" they have to know that the teacher will contact them immediately and the feedback on classwork needs to be consistent and prompt. Remote instruction means we must find more creative ways to interact.
3.  Best Practices: So often I see teachers "digitizing" instruction by copying textbooks and worksheets. That is not true digital instruction. Technology, used properly, can transform classrooms with immediate meaningful feedback, targeted remediation of skills, virtual travel, interactivity, and individualization. Teachers should be doing more than assigning worksheets on Google Classroom if they are instructing students remotely, right?  If parents choose this option, you should not be expected to teach your child at home. The word "instruction" implies that there is an instructor. I hope that is the plan.

Door #2: Blended Learning should include the digital components of Remote-Only Instruction with the opportunity for face-to-face interaction part-time. So these are my top considerations:

1. Safe Practices: This seems to be the million-dollar question these days: How will you keep students safe? Until the district answers logistical questions, this causes me some anxiety.  Will other students wear PPE? What about those with medical mask exemptions? Will teachers be at risk since they are meeting with multiple groups? What happens if a child or teacher gets sick? What kind of cleaning will be done? No one wants to put their children at risk, so district preparedness will be of utmost importance for any attendance.
2. True Instruction: This pandemic hasn't changed the fact that teachers and schools provide stability to many students. Teachers alter instruction to meet the needs of the specific students in their classrooms and support students emotionally and academically. I want that for my child!  This blended option would allow for more social distancing, with smaller classes and personal relationship-building since class sizes will be reduced.  I envision teachers engaging with small groups, having fruitful discussions, and offering high educational productivity during these hours. However, teachers cannot fully engage with virtual and in-person groups simultaneously. What will virtual students be doing at home? Will teachers be expected to teach a class during the day and a virtual class in the evening? (A nearly impossible feat!) Once again, teachers need the time and training to expand their teaching toolboxes for this option to work. 
3. Stressful Routines: I know that students are adaptable, but the idea of keeping children sitting at their desks as long as possible, wearing masks, and social distancing is going to be stressful for teachers and students. I hope there are plans for this, too.

Door #3: Homeschooling is different than most people think. My oldest son, Adam, attended traditional Kindergarten before we moved to Cairo, Illinois for one year.  I homeschooled him and his twin brothers who were 5. So, I am not an expert, but I have a little bit of insight. Is this an option for you?

1.  Lifestyle Change: Homeschooling is a lifestyle change that requires dedication and determination. Some days, you just don't want to do it! To be effective, you need to be able to clearly set goals, reorganize your priorities, work effectively with your children, and do some research on curricula, especially if you are wanting your children to return to traditional education at any point in the future. For me, relaxed mornings and daily life skill practice were rewarding. The children helped to plan meals, grocery shop, clean, and cook.  We started the day by reading a chapter in the Bible and went to the library every Wednesday. Video games and screen time were not considerations for us 29 years ago, so reading and family time dominated our days. Although this sounds idyllic, some days this introvert mom craved solitude and adult conversation. Before you choose this option, think about how you feel on those first days of school in August. If you are thrilled for the "me" time, homeschooling probably isn't for you. 
2. Accountability: I have seen students who returned from homeschooling well-prepared and others who have fallen severely behind in many skills, especially written expression. Knowing that your child's academic growth rests on your shoulders alone can be intimidating, and as we all know some students are more cooperative than others. If you are choosing this path, please join a group of parents who are homeschooling, purchase a curriculum that will help to ensure that you are not skipping skills, and follow-through. After one year of homeschooling, my son, Adam, entered second grade and was reading well above grade level, but even to this day, his penmanship (which would have been a focus in grade 1) is the poorest of my sons. Is that a coincidence or a lack of practice in that crucial year? I will never know. 
3. Standardized Tests and services: Although most teachers are not fans of standardized testing, they are a reality to consider. If your child tests poorly or has an IEP think carefully. Passing the GED exam may have to replace an actual high school diploma if they don't earn transferrable credit, and someday your child may need to take the ACT test if they want to go to college. Some districts test home school students who return to public schools to determine correct grade placement, too, so a year off could put a student behind his peers. 

And that is why I can't decide which showcase to choose.  Like all of you, what I really want is for this virus to disappear and to go back to the naive, pre-2020 world where I felt safe sending my child to school.  Instead, I am going to pray for our school board members and teacher-leaders, while I shop for cute back-to-school masks...just in case.