Family works hard as 5 learn at home
LEARNING CURVE
Adria R. Walker and Shawn Dowd – Rochester Democrat and Chronicle USA TODAY NETWORK – in the D&C on 2/14/21
Note: This story is part of the third installment of Learning Curve, a yearlong series of stories following six families whose children are attending public schools across New York state during the pandemic. Start from the beginning here.
The distractions came first. Then the missing assignments.
Ten-year-old Jacob Sepulveda needed to focus on his virtual learning. And his mom had the solution.
Zumarie moved Jacob from the main table where his older siblings work — but not so far that he’s totally isolated. His new workspace, complete with lamp and headphones, separates him from his four brothers and sisters by using a large room divider that’s decorated with images of New York City: a city street, the Statue of Liberty, an American flag.
Above him are math times tables, his Zoom class schedule and images of his family — a reminder, perhaps, that he’s not in this alone. Like many families coping with remote learning this year, the Sepulvedas face challenges, but Zumarie and husband Reinaldo are not quitters.