So today was the “official” first day of online/virtual/continuous learning. It was a good day. Reflecting on the day though I had a thought (maybe two). The first is how much we are creatures of habit and need that structure and routine in our lives to feel grounded. The second thought was around the scheduled start time to school. In most countries around the world I would generalize and say that school starts somewhere between 7:00-9:00am, with probably the most common start time being 8:00am. Research has shown (this is the lazy cop out where I don’t actually want to dig out any studies but will claim that I remember them) that a later start date is more conducive to young developing minds (and happier parents maybe?) Further reflection makes me believe that one of the biggest challenges with this whole lockdown scenario we are facing in the coming weeks is that of sheer and utter boredom. Once upon a time the arguments for changing the start to the school day were many and varied: from parents to traffic patterns to busing. Since we are all home now anyway might this not be a great time to experiment with a later “virtual” start to the school day? I am sure there will be many pleased teenage parents that agree! Just a thought…
Alex Lancia 
March 18, 2020 at 9:31 pm
Good point (my high school son has yet to wake up — 9:30 a.m. – for his home/school schedule)
Kevin
March 18, 2020 at 9:51 pm
I would certainly be down for that!!
March 18, 2020 at 9:59 pm
A later start time is a great idea. We started at 8:15 until this week. Currently there is no plan for online teaching. I find the lack of schedule challenging. It’s too easy to lose focus and drift to the thoughts of our uncertain future.
March 18, 2020 at 11:45 pm
I always thought little kids are much better early in the morning, it’s just teenagers that reverse that situation. But either way being at home to teach or learn makes the day a whole lot longer, I think.
March 19, 2020 at 8:07 am
Synchronous learning is challenging but needed, however, a later time in the day would be good for it. Most of our classrooms are doing it after 9 because of this. Also, it’s interesting to watch the kids, most of the work is happening after 9 too. THey don’t have to be on a synchronous schedule to the kids. Would love to see some of your stuff for Grade 2. I am doing a whole coaching cycle with Grade 2 right now for enriched kids. Take care.
March 19, 2020 at 10:20 am
I keep thinking about all the ways this might make us rethink school – what does instruction look like? Start time? How can we tap into what kids want to learn? And how they want to learn?