The New York Times– We asked students, from kindergarten to 12th grade, what it’s like to learn from home. Here’s what they had to say, in their own words — and drawings.
Kids are getting more bored by the day. We wish we could go back to school to see our friends. But some of us are also really scared about getting the coronavirus, and we don’t want our friends and family to get it either.
That’s what kids across the country told The New York Times (where my dad works) when they were asked about learning from home during the coronavirus outbreak.
Some are having fun with their parents and their brothers and sisters, but most are missing their teachers, their friends and their normal lives. (As Dahlia Stringer, who is 11 like me, said in her letter, “Everyone knows little sisters are annoying” — little brothers sometimes are, too.) And a lot are frustrated about missing out on things like spring break, field trips and graduation.
“I’m hoping that things will be back to normal someday,” wrote Sasha Udovich, 9, from Los Angeles.
Same. Home-school is definitely boring, but I really hope we can make it through this safely and return to how things used to be. I miss my friends.
This New York Times piece was written by an 11 year old child, Henry Dodd. He gathered quotes from students around the country and compiled them to offer us an outstanding first-hand prospective on how “school at home” feels. It was awesome reading these quotes because it provided me with unique insight into remote learning due to the Coronavirus. If you have children, you probably know how they feel about their own experience, but it’s very enlightening to widen the lens and see the world through the eyes of other children from all parts of our country. Hearing from kids directly really helps us understand the breadth of the current situation. Experts, teachers, and parents have spoken about the consequences that this period of time will have on children and education, but these quotes are a sight to behold…
The positive thing about being home during the coronavirus pandemic is that I get to spend time with my family and share with them what I’m learning. I get to involve my parents in activities that I have only done with my friends. I also get to see what my siblings are learning and help them.
— Miabella Capote, Denver, N.C.
It gives me time to work and complete assignments on my time throughout the day. Rather than sit in school for six hours, I can break up the work throughout the day and use the extra time to work around the house or go outside.
— Ana, 15, Southbridge, Mass.
I enjoy staying home as long as I don’t think too much about why I’m not at school. I actually have more time on my hands than I know what to do with. I’ve been trying to use that extra time for productive things, like learning how to cook.
— Charlie, 17, Kirkland, Wash.
It’s really easy to get distracted at home. I like going to school and using the time at school to do schoolwork. Now all schoolwork is done at home, so my brain thinks there’s more homework because my brain hasn’t adjusted to staying home the whole day. Learning is difficult because before you were jogging and now you are crawling.
— Juny Tranel, 11, San Francisco
It’s hell. My teachers think what a responsible amount of work to be assigning is 40 minutes (about a class period) plus half an hour plus of homework. This is from EVERY teacher, so it adds up real fast. Over the last few days, I’ve had more work than I would usually have if schools weren’t closed — and I have to do it all sitting in the same spot for hours.
— Jasper Smith 17, Brooklyn
Because the work is optional, and the homework is not for a grade, I know many friends who choose not to work on it. Along with that, the assignments do not go along with what I’m currently learning at school. The homework is assigned to the entire grade, the levels of students academic-wise are different. Some students may be taking geometry, while others may be taking algebra or math. The assignments are often easy for a certain group of people, while for others it’s difficult.
— Bryan, 14, Pennsylvania
I’m a visual learner, and so I prefer to take a hands-on approach, including marking up and annotating the work before me on actual paper. However, with online learning, it’s difficult, and I find myself writing much more than I usually would. My phone is right next to me, so it’s so easy to pick up my phone and text my friend, who I see on the screen, or check the newest post on Instagram and TikTok.
— Daniella Ojugo, 17, Burlington, N.J.
It’s harder to focus at home as there’s no one to discipline you for playing on your phone or talking to a friend. It’s harder to grasp certain concepts, specifically those that are more hands-on. It’s harder to ask questions since there’s no way to virtually raise your hand. And it’s harder to keep a smile on my face, because I don’t know if or when I’ll see my teachers and classmates in person again.
— Josephine Dlugosz, 18, Woodstock, Conn.
Most schools in America have senior prom, Senior Ditch Day, senior prank, senior banquets, and most important, graduation. No one signed a contract giving me the right to any of that, but then again, I feel entitled to my senior year.
When I walked out of school on March 11, I didn’t expect that to be the last time I would see the people and the places that helped me mature into the person that I am today. Now when people ask what high school taught me, I can honestly say that I learned something outside of math and science: Nothing in life is promised.
— Rachel Osband, 18,San Jose, Calif.
These are just some of the quotes from the article, I encourage you to click The New York Times link to read all of the quotes and look at some drawings that students sent in.