2020 has been a year of challenges, changes, and adaptations…and not just for adults, but kids too. So many things that the youth of this country know as “normal” are very different now. That includes something as simple as getting an education. No one could have ever predicted that our children would be in a classroom one day, and not allowed back for five months after that due to the COVID pandemic. Nor could they have predicted that when students finally were allowed to go back to school, there would be new rules and guidelines that included face coverings and social distancing. That left some parents around the nation, including some in our own Eagle Grove community, looking at different options to educate their children while also being reassured that they were safe as possible amidst a continuing pandemic.
Laura Dicke is one of those parents who COVID pushed into looking at other options for her two children, Mason – a fourth grader, and Hailey, a third grader. Although she said her kids both had asked about being home schooled before the pandemic (for the last two years actually), the family just “kind of joked” about doing it. But after more requests from the kids, she and Grant Wadle decided to do a little research. In February of 2020, they came across a virtual ad for the Iowa Virtual Academy (IAVA). Out of curiosity, Laura clicked on it and watched a video. She learned that the program was 100 percent free, including all supplies needed for coursework – even instruments for music and laptops to do homework on. That’s when she decided to fill out an information form.
As you might have guessed, a rep from IAVA called her the very next day, and continued to call her, encouraging to sign her kids up by the March 15 deadline, telling her that even if they decided not to have the kids do online learning through their program, at least they would have a spot reserved. Laura and Grant decided it was a good back up plan just in case things weren’t cleared up about in-person schooling in Eagle Grove by the start of the 2020 – 2021 school year.
“I felt like I needed to make a decision so I could have a plan for their education, and my work schedule,” said Laura.
She also explained that in early August, she spoke with the elementary principal and asked if there was going to be an online option for Eagle Grove students come the start of the school year. She was told that at that time there was not.
“Once I got the Eagle Grove School newsletter stating that school would resume, but children would be required to wear masks/face shields, I decided home is the best place for my kids – mask free, and avoiding any chaos that was to follow the unknowns of COVID.”
In addition, she said she was attracted to the stable learning environment IAVA provided every day, no matter what COVID chaos was going on in their world, their community, and their home.
Just like an in-person school, IAVA students have teachers all from Iowa, classmates all from Iowa, and courses that include K12 curriculum. It just all takes place through a computer screen instead of the front of the classroom. Every morning starts with Daily 5 which includes making the bed, brushing teeth, getting dressed, and putting dirty clothes in the laundry basket. Then comes breakfast followed by “Hawk Hour” at 8:30 a.m. The rest of the day is filled with the typical STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Morning time after Hawk Hour is filled with math and English language arts. The afternoons alternate between science or history/social studies and art/music/or PE. One of the aspects Laura likes about the IAVA is that all of the coursework is provided that the students follow. Some of the courses are also interactive. There is also some flexibility to the programs allowing parents to incorporate their own ideas for such classes as art, music, and PE instead of doing what the curriculum shows. School is generally complete by 3 p.m., except on Fridays when the kids are able to be done by noon if they have focused hard all week long and accomplished their goals.
“While I was attracted to the idea of not being a teacher (while home schooling), after the first week, Grant and I definitely learned what it meant to be a “Learning Coach,” said Laura.
She explained that it’s a lot of one-on-one time with each of the kids. They are also responsible for administering quizzes, overseeing the online chapter tests, and grading their answers. They also have to submit the kids’ attendance each day for each session.
“I can see (the kids’) progress day-by-day and if we need extra work in a subject, we spend time doing that,” said Laura. “Sometimes we get extra help from Youtube videos. One time, we even called the City of Eagle Grove to ask questions about how our local government operates.”
One other benefit Laura has found for her kids…that school can happen anywhere. This allows them the flexibility to travel to Missouri to visit family without having to take the kids out of school.
While there are many benefits to home schooling her children this year, Laura admits it does not come without some sacrifice either.
“Mason and Hailey miss their friends. However, we are lucky to have a small town where we know just about everyone and we find ourselves reaching out to friends for play dates every week,” said Laura. “The kids and most of their friends also have SnapChat and/or Facetime so they call their friends regularly and hang out “virtually” after school.
Laura admits she misses things about being in the Eagle Grove school system as well.
“I miss that my kids don’t get to know their Eagle Grove teachers and perhaps make new friends.”
On the flip side of that, however, she said IAVA has given her family way more balance in work, school, and life. But that doesn’t mean she would choose the current situation over Eagle Grove if and when there are ever some changes.
“If Eagle Grove should offer 100 percent online option come Fall of 2021, I would probably opt for their program versus IAVA just to have local teachers and students in their life, opposed to teachers and students scattered throughout Iowa,” she noted.
Just like any flu virus, Laura said she’s not really sure COVID will ever go away. But likewise, if there were changes to how the public perceived it, she might send her kids back to Eagle Grove schools for in-person learning despite COVID still being a factor in the decision.
“If as a public we decided that it’s safe enough to go on with normal life, no mask, no vaccine, no social distance, etc., I would most likely send my kids back to school, based on their requests to be with their friends each day and preferring Eagle Grove teachers and staff,” she explained. “But I try not to get ahead of myself in thinking about the future. It’s day-by-day so far. Grant and I are extremely happy with the success of IAVA and feel lucky and blessed to have been shown this option that lets us be at home providing valuable and consistent education to Mason and Hailey.”
But she adds that she doesn’t want to “sugar coat” this experience in any way either. There are great benefits for her family choosing home schooling, but there are also challenges.
“Technology can be a hassle. There are days when the internet goes out for an hour, or the OLS system is down which delays classes. But we improvise and find other routes to stay on task and progress on the learning schedule,” she said. “I also want to point out that patience is a huge part of learning-at-home. Sometimes the kids are frustrated because they are bored, or don’t understand, or not listening, and we have to take a 10 minute breather and get in some exercise to get our minds going again,” she said. “Some days we take a lot of breaks while other days, we can work straight through the entire day.”
“Online school is easy, kind of,” said Mason about this new learning adventure. “It can be kind of really hard, and get us stressed out sometimes. Its different because our classes are on a screen.”
One of his favorite parts about online school – the break after Hawk Hour.
His sister, Hailey, has two things that she especially enjoys about attending school through IAVA: 1. Wearing her PJs during Hawk Hour, and 2. That her cat can be with her during classes.
“I like that (online school) is fun…but I don’t like that it can be really hard sometimes. It’s different that our school is on a computer. I miss seeing my friends,” said Hailey.
Laura and her family are taking this year for what it’s worth, and like most of us, are doing what they can to make the most of an unfortunate situation we are all dealing with because of COVID.
“We are making memories together, learning a ton, and we get to focus on what is TRULY important in life, which is the greatest thing we could even wish for,” she said.
