Hey if Bob Ross could do painting on TV in the 1970’s they can figure out how to teach art online. A close friend works for Tufts. They sent art supplies to students in a huge box a few weeks ago. Not easy to teach ceramics but doable. Access to supplies is tough but dick blicks is a great resource if you need something. And everything is online.
Stanford online and homeschoolers in remote areas take Chem, Physics, anatomy etc. So hopefully people are using their best practices as an example.
I feel for parents whose kids left books at BS. Some of those books were pretty expensive ( like math) $435.00 Not to mention tough to find.
It’s great some of your kids are staying in shape. Mine are running but that’s it.
So, Mercersburg went home for spring break on Feb 28… no one saw this coming at that time, and thus DC came home with a small duffle of clothes appropriate for Florida (where she was going for 5 days) and not much else. Then the school closed, and they announced no one is allowed to go to campus to pick stuff up. Not even a drive-by to get a bike, which would actually be really helpful since she doesn’t drive yet. They will re-evaluate in a few weeks the plan for the remainder of the year. HOWEVER, re: the topic of this thread… distance learning… couldn’t be more pleased. Classes are scheduled, discussion is robust (I eavesdropped today), homework is meaningful, and materials are being posted as needed. And there was this bit of positivity as well: One of her classes this term was to be painting. (The term would have started last week.). If she wants to be able to take 2 sciences next year, she had to get this art elective out of the way, and she was very worried that painting couldn’t happen online. The school is proceeding ahead with ALL classes, even the arts and performing classes. And to facilitate painting, today she received two boxes in the mail from the school containing a large set of paints, several brushes, canvases and other supplies. Painting will happen.
ok…updates are posted @ online learning, community building via virtual events, and cooking classes?
We are happy so far with Cate! My son had an online meeting yesterday about chorale/camerata and a meeting with his college counselor, and had math and history today. He actually got to sign up for an extra history class he wanted to take, so that was a great thing. I’ve bought him some Kindle books and the school has provided scans. He brought his laptop and math iPad home - so that was good! He is working at our dining room table and my other kids start online learning with their local private school next week.
Y’all are so nice to make designated areas for your kids to school. DD has parked herself at our table which is in our open great room…people eat lunch next to her, watch TV, walk through for coffee, snacks. It is the hub of the house. I work from home and my husband runs his business from home. We converted the dining room to an office years ago for him. I have a dedicated office in the back of the house. If she wants other arrangements, she better make them.
DS is in the same boat come Monday…if he wants a different workspace, he better create it. Otherwise, it is eating table/congregation area for him, too. Or exercise room…he can sit on the exercise ball. Or his cycling trainer…and he could cycle while in class…hmmm, He could complete his athletics requirement and Pre-Cal at the same time.
My kid keeps asking me to quiet down while she does her homework.?
The way our house is set up allows sound to travel upstairs pretty easily. She has taken over the rec room. My husband’s company is making him go in to work so the office sits empty. ??♀️
Today I plan on lots of baking…biscuits, cookies, pumpkin bread. I have a feeling she will “take one for the team” today. ?
^lol. I keep giving my DD a hard time. Her LDS requires uniforms, so every day out of her uniform? I give her an infraction. Wait-did you get a hall pass to go to the bathroom?? Infraction! Eating while in class?? Infraction!!
She acts like she’s annoyed but I think it helps break up her day and it brings humor to the situation.
Well…until the infractions add up to detention ???
The return of the closed floor plan 
? Best online learning story of the week (so far), a mom on CC told me that her high school DS dressed up for virtual classroom on Monday. He wore a miners hat and had a background of Mine Craft behind him.
FWIW - down here in the swamp, Office Depot is considered an “essential business”…that’s a relief because I have a feeling we will need more supplies.
There are a lot of videos on youtube with lesson plans, etc. Time to encourage him to watch more youtube? LOL
Question: if your kid tells you that for ceramics his homework is to make an apple pie from scratch, with the “cool lattice top” do you believe him?
Don’t get me wrong, he had me at pie. We are so making it.
That’s excellent and I’m jealous, @CateCAParent. And I think I can see it as a hand-building related challenge, for ceramics? But mostly - jealous of your pie. 
Definitely roll with that @CateCAParent !!! Just make sure you use a ceramic pie plate to make it official school business!!!
@CateCAParent Did you have enough apples for a pie on hand?
We have six. Kiddo likes granny smith, and ate all but two. I like fujis, and have 4 left. I bought them on Friday.
Not ideal, but we will make do.
The real question is whether we have the a la mode. Alas, we do not.
^time for chemistry/physics class and make homemade ice cream!! A lesson in chemistry and thermodynamics is the ticket!!! ?
MA schools will not be able to start until May 4 per Gov Baker.
Have any of the MA boarding schools followed up on this news with parents or students? My kiddo is still optimistic that they will be able to return to school in late May for one last week - to have events and to pack up their dorm rooms. FWIW, we are not going to tell Kiddo anything that has not officially come via the school - just too depressing.
We officially heard that school will not resume on campus this year, but they are still holding out the possibility of holding graduation. Schools and nonessential businesses in CT are closed until at least 4/20. We haven’t heard yet about packing up DS’s room other than having essential school materials sent (DS has brought home his laptop and calculator). Distance learning has been designed to not require their text books.