First Day of School... 2020 Style

The first day of school looked very different this year due to the fact that COVID is still a thing and our school district has decided to play it safe and keep all students and staff out of classrooms and schools. That means all four of my kiddos are learning from home - virtually - until at least 2021. I think it's going to be a very LONG semester!

Everyone started off with smiles, excitement and anticipation as the morning began. Ella and Brooklyn had to join their classes online starting at 8:15am. By 8:45am, Brooklyn was in tears because her Chromebook had already kicked her out of her first live meeting with her teacher and classmates several times. She had to keep logging back in only to get kicked out again. Ella had the same problem on her Chromebook, and while trying to get back on the call, she ended up missing the instructions and link to her first break-out small-group meeting. So, she basically missed the whole class and pretty much every class after that. By lunch Brooklyn was a complete mess and Ella was like, "well, I pretty much missed the first half of my first day of school." We ended up moving Brooklyn to Ryan's old laptop and scheduling a time to pick up a new Chromebook for Ella.

Kendall and Hudson had a much better start with their live calls starting at 8:45am. Hudson's Chromebook had no sound off and on throughout the day, so he was only getting bits and pieces of first-day instructions and expectations. Kendall and Hudson both struggled to figure out where they were supposed to be and at what time, so I was walking back and forth between "classrooms" all day trying to help. Plus, they both had 15 minute breaks ALL THE TIME throughout the day and then they had to be back online for live calls! Keeping track of the time was annoying!

With that said, I think things could have been worse! We swapped out Ella's Chromebook yesterday (and it's working!) and will swap out Brooklyn's and Hudson's today. I'm so grateful I'm home and can help as needed, and that Ryan is here as backup when technical difficulties and emotions hit the fan. This school year is going to be different for sure... Ella won't be starting her first year in high school, Kendall won't be finishing up her last year at her elementary school, Hudson won't be attending 2nd grade, and Brooklyn won't be attending 7th grade, but we are so blessed!

First day pictures look a little different this year, too...