Students across the country are beginning this school year the way they ended the last one: with virtual learning. As students prepare for an unpredictable school year, flexibility seems to be a common thread. Not only for them but for their parents who are continuing to navigate an ever-evolving work-life balance.

Many parents are still working from home, and they have young children who are beginning virtual lessons this month. The key to getting kids ready for school is establishing a routine, according to Data Analysis Manager Daliyl Skinner.

“We’ve found it helpful to set a schedule to maintain the routine even if the kids aren’t physically returning to the classroom,” Skinner said.

Setting a routine is important for older students as well. Provider Enrollment Director Teresa Newton has one child entering high school and another in middle school.

“The biggest thing for us is making sure we still stick to a schedule. It’s all about having some structure around the school day.”

Preparing for next steps

Many students are beginning this school year with virtual learning, and their school districts will reassess the situation periodically to determine if students can begin in-person lessons.

With such a tentative school schedule, it can be challenging to prepare students for what to expect. Ryan Lewis, Statistics and Research Director, has two children in high school and one in elementary school. His students are also beginning their school year with virtual learning and two-week reassessments.

“I don’t know that you can fully prepare for it,” Lewis said. “Everything’s been kind of wait-and-see, so that’s been the kids’ approach as well.”

That tentativeness also has spilled over into extracurricular activities.

“Football has actually started back with my oldest. He’s been doing conditioning,” Lewis said. “They have to wear a mask until they get where they’re going ─ either the field or indoors if it’s raining. They’re socially distant, but there is a possibility that the high school football season might end up being postponed.”

Some parents are facing the reality of sending their students back to college. For many colleges and universities, decisions regarding students’ return to campus were being made within weeks of the first day of classes.

Heading back to campus

Creative Project Lead Liz Nettles initially thought her son, Jin, would have to quarantine for 14 days before returning to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland because he is coming from South Carolina, a state identified as a coronavirus hot spot. Instead, Jin, a rising sophomore, was notified that university officials had decided to limit on-campus housing to freshmen and seniors because of the increase of COVID-19 cases. So days before leaving for school and two weeks prior to the start of his classes, he needed to find alternative housing.

“It was just a roller coaster. You think you’re going to have to quarantine, but then no! Now you have to find a place to live,” Nettles said.

Being back on campus doesn’t mean students won’t be learning virtually.

“Some of Jin’s classes were originally a mix of in-person and online,” Nettles said. “Now all of his classes will be online.”

The university is taking precautions to protect students, including providing health kits with reusable and disposable masks, sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. Students also are currently being tested. Despite an unusual school year, there are silver linings.

“Jin’s glad he’s getting to go back and see some of his friends, even though it’ll be in a different capacity,” Nettles said.

Balancing working and learning from home

Working from home while students are also beginning virtual learning also presents a unique challenge. Interactive lessons can disrupt conference calls and vice versa. Making sure everyone has space to work is crucial

“If you are working from home too, it is very important that everyone is in their given space, working on their own tasks,” Newton said.

Skinner agrees and has ensured everyone in his family has space to work during the day.

“Each of the kids have a lap desk, and they’ll be working in their rooms virtually with their teachers,” he said. “We’re pretty spread out in our house, so everyone has their own dedicated space. What’s more important and what I think will be a lot more difficult will be actually going back to school.”