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Students share opinions of online learning

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There are many aspects that come into play with today’s changes in learning due to the pandemic that everyone wants to see the end of. Some believe the online changes are for the better and some do not.

Three Northern Essex community college students were interviewed on the topic at hand.

Alicia Russell, is a mother of 3 and currently in the nursing program at NECC.

Her perspective was different and unique compared to the normal community college student entering after high school due to the changes in learning over the years and her busy schedule she is used to.

She reported that it is actually better for her learning online for multiple reasons. With working overnight shifts at a hospital and helping her youngest son Max Russell in second grade she finds there to be not much time to herself.

With everything being online she has a better time doing things on her own time usually “during when work is dead and or around the afternoon when everyone in the family is all set.

” “It is good that I am able to work around my own schedule and not on the schools preset schedule every week,” she said.

This understandably makes sense for any mother putting herself back through school and throws a different perspective of a college student into the mix. When asked if she struggles with not being able to succeed without face to face learning she stated “most teachers nowadays simply throw a power point up and read it to the class while we take notes. I feel I can do that on my own no problem online unless the teacher decides to put some more thought into the lecture, but beside that I’m all set.”

She did state that for certain classes she took in the past of pre-covid-19 that she enjoyed the face to face help as she did in her anatomy class with a “wonderful teacher” by the name of Professor Noel Ways.

The second person interviewed was Brian Benjamin who has just graduated high school and is taking communications at NECC in hopes of one day becoming a sportswriter.

Him being from a different generation and having different responsibilities gives him a different perspective. He does not very much enjoy the change to online schooling but prefers it to the remote learning that some other colleges are taking the opportunity to pick instead of taking class online in zoom.

When asked why is online learning better then remote learning he stated that learning through zoom can at times be “annoying staring at a computer for that long trying to pay attention to a lecture about a power point I can read on my own time.”

He also stated that “at least with just online learning I can take a break, so I don’t have to burn my eyes out.”

While making the situation comedic during the interview he speaks facts while “growing up people have always been told not to stare at screens all day.”

Staring too long at screens can cause eye strain, headaches, and even neck pain, etc. The next question was as to why just regular online learning is worse than in person and he stated multiple reasons. The first being that when attending a class teachers are there to remind you as to when something is due and you will always be there in class to get that reminder while as to online you have to keep up to date with course announcements on your own which makes it a little harder to remember.

“I can remember I had to do something for a certain day when I have to actually physically show up to class with it,” he said.

Another reason he stated put simply was just that he is a face to face learner as many are. Some people just cannot read something and be ready for a test, some need the in person teaching to help them get through something.

Lastly, Sara Levesque of Northern Essex is taking accounting. She is another fellow 2020 high school graduate but is trying to get a very different degree then Brian Benjamin. Most of her classes will involve math while most of his writing. She on the other hand enjoys the online learning. She enjoys this due to being able to do her work at her own pace with assignments being posted ahead of time more often then not to get them out of the way. She also had said that she considered herself to be a “self-learner in high school behind the computer so I’m fine with it now as well.”

If she has any problems with the work, she already had taken online to it anyways, she said.

These 3 people had very unique answers to each other due to different backgrounds and considering very different majors between all three and one being an adult mother student taking classes once again. This affects whether you like or dislike the online learning and shows three good angles of such to consider for what position you are in as a college student.

Features, Slider

Staving off cabin fever in the time of COVID

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In a world on pause, what is one to do? Americans are resorting to an assortment of various activities to stave off cabin fever during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Have people been able to stay productive, healthy, and happy during the quarantine? Can people have benefited from the pandemic, whether it be a new skill picked or a personal achievement they have reached?

Find out how locals such as yourself have remained entertained during this deadly outbreak.

One 15-year-old, Julia Isabelle has decided to embark on a time travel journey, through her writings that is. “I am currently writing a story on a women who has to travel back in time to save the one she loves from dying in a duel, it is sort of going to be like Groundhog Day,” Isabelle says about her story.

Without the extra time afforded to her by the pandemic, Isabelle does not know if she would have even thought about writing the story otherwise.

Merrimack College Junior, Carissa Whittemore has spent her time by painting and creating more artwork than she has ever done before. Whittemore said that “I never really painted before the pandemic, or at least not nearly as much as I am now.”

When asked how they have been able to stay in contact with their friends both Whittemore and Isabelle responded by saying social media apps, such as Snapchat or Instagram have played a great role in staying connected with one another.

During this pandemic, many of us have seemed to retreat to the indoors, but Kristen Doringer has resorted to rather chilling walks. Doringer has started new walking routes through the cemeteries to find key figure’s graves.

Doringer said “I lost 30Ibs by walking to key figures resting places such as John Greenleaf Whittier.”

During the pandemic it seems that many of people have learned a new skill, perfected a preexisting skill, or reached personal milestones. But when asked if they would say they enjoyed their time during the outbreak, not even one could say they did, despite the new ventures each have delved into. At least the skills learned during this time will carry on, almost as a token of remembrance of our time away from our daily grinds.

Arts and Entertainment, Home Page Featured News

Creative outlets help NECC students during COVID-19

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Since March of 2020, the spread of COVID-19 has forced NECC students into the isolation of their homes.

Despite these difficult times, many students have found the use of creative outlets to be extremely beneficial for their creativity and mental health. Creative outlets are unique to everyone and can be any interest or hobby that releases anxiety and stress—a break from everyday life.

Isa Grullon, 33, is a journalism and communications major from Lawrence who loves writing poetry, singing alone in her car, and choreographing popular cultural dances for her friends’ quinceañeras. She is also a Features Editor for the NECC Observer. Writing allows Grullon to release all negative thoughts and express her true self. She explained that without writing, her negative thoughts would fester inside, leading her to become an angry person. Having a creative outlet brings her happiness, as she states, “if you’re happy, you get to share that with other people,”

Gyani Wasp, 18, is an international student and film major from West Newbury who enjoys filmmaking, movie-watching, photography, and writing film reviews for critical thinking. He explained how the isolation has affected his movie-watching experience by restricting him to appreciate films alone instead of at a theater with his friends. Wasp has been making films for four years, and when asked about his love for creating, he responded “I want to make people feel the way I feel [while watching movies].”

Lastly, Erik Terrio, 24, is a journalism and communications major from Haverhill who strongly believes in dedicating at least one hour of the day to himself.

“We [everyone] totally forget about ourselves. You need something fun to look forward to in order to be productive,” he said.

Terrio enjoys movies, video games, drawing, painting, and writing in his journal. He describes writing for him as a form of meditation and makes a daily “Gratitude List” of everything he his thankful for despite adversity. Terrio also implores students to spend time with their families.

NECC students’ use of creative outlets have contributed a positive effect on their lives, creativity, and mental health during COVID-19. Isa, Gyani, and Erik all encourage other students to find their own creative outlets, interest, or hobbies, as they feel it will be a beneficial resource for those battling with mental health and struggles of everyday life.

 

Features, Home Page Featured News

College in the era of COVID: Students navigate remote learning

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Since March 2020, NECC students have found themselves enrolled in a crash course in remote learning.  For many students this would be their first experience taking classes exclusively online.  Erika Rivera, 19, a journalism and communications major from Lawrence, had never taken an online class before the coronavirus outbreak as she prefers to learn in person.

Mirrorajah Metcalf does schoolwork on her laptop in her bedroom.
Mirrorajah Metcalf does schoolwork on her laptop in her bedroom. Photo by Mirrorajah Metcalfe
“Being at home makes it harder to concentrate.” she said via FaceTime.
Rivera is also an elementary extracurricular teacher and says it is difficult for young children to sit still in front of a screen for hours at a time. She tries to keep her classes lighthearted and fun by “joking” and “not being too serious” with her students.  
Remote learning has certainly put students’ organizational skills to the test. 
Freshman Mirrorajah Metcalfe, 19, of Haverhill says that planning her own schedule and staying organized has been the most difficult part of online learning. 
Metcalfe, who has had previous experience with online learning in the 8th grade, took a year off school and was “hoping to have a real college experience” this year.
She has been working hard at owning her autonomy and is taking the whole process much more seriously now that she is in college. She is making a habit of writing out her schedule every week and has found it helpful to do so even when she isn’t able to follow it exactly as written. She appreciates the weekly reminders sent by some of her professors and wishes all her professors would send reminders as well. 
For Andrew Venditti, 21, a journalism and communications major from Haverhill, having a tangible tool that is not on his phone has helped him stay organized, “It’s made me a better student,” he said via Zoom.
For those who might be struggling with staying organized he recommends using a table calendar, planner, or agenda where you can write down important information about your schedule and keep it in sight, “Staple it to your forehead if you have to.” he joked. 
Communication has been another area where remote learning has caused students and teachers to adjust from what was previously normal. Students long for the days when they could have face to face discussions with their peers or wait until the end of the class period to ask their professor a more personal question.  
“In person conversations, it’s not the same,” says Venditti.  
Metcalfe also feels communication is hindered with remote learning. “Hate to email to communicate,” she says.  
Rivera says that methods of communicating is her least favorite part of remote learning because “it takes longer to communicate.”   
Students also find it difficult to separate school from other parts of their daily lives.  
"Online classes require a surplus of coffee" says Andrew Venditti.
“Online classes require a surplus of coffee” says Andrew Venditti. Photo by Andrew Venditti

“I do all of my homework on my computer that’s in my bedroom. I’m finding myself feeling fatigued by spending so much time at home because of COVID most of the summer, and now because my classes have me confined to my workspace,” says Vendetti in a text message, and added, “…COVID, current affairs, and the election are taking up a significant amount of headspace. That combination can be stressful.” 

Rivera is still trying to figure out a designated spot for her schoolwork. “Whether it’s my kitchen table or my basement, I just need to find a place that works because my room is a no go…I feel super tempted to sleep; my productivity is super low there.” she says via text message. 
Remote learning isn’t all bad. Vendetti appreciates the freedom of having more control over his own schedule and has noticed that teachers are more organized, “they’ve had time to prepare,” in comparison to last spring when schools initially went online full time.  
As far as the spring 2020 semester, NECC has decided to continue with remote learning.
Students understand that NECC is making decisions with everyone’s best interest at heart. 
“They are seeing the forest through the trees,” says Vendetti. 
 However, students are still disappointed about not being able to return to in person classes any time soon. “So bummed.” says Metcalfe. “I was nervous but it’s working out.”  
“It’s got to be weird doing performing arts online.” says Rivera who will be graduating in the spring, “I just want to be done.” 

Throughout the pandemic NECC has maintained lines of communications open to students, faculty and staff with weekly updates via email every Tuesday. NECC encourages everyone to sign up for the school’s Emergency Notification System and follow @NorthernEssex on Twitter and Facebook for the most updated information.  

Home Page Featured News, Sports

Pandemic impacts fall sports schedule

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The fall sports season looks different this year for NECC’s athletes, coaches and fans.

Cross country and esports are participating in regular activities this fall but other sports have had their seasons adjusted or moved because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 “In the fall semester, all of the NECC’s athletic programs will be permitted to practice and hold their non-traditional seasons, while only the cross country and esports teams will participate in regular season competition,” according to the NECC Knights website.

” The men’s soccer and women’s volleyball regular seasons have been shifted to the spring semester. The start of competition in basketball will also be delayed to January,” according to the website.

With the news of all the sports coming back eventually, athletes can now prepare themselves for a resurgence of sports. 

With COVID still around the athletic department is following strict guidelines with sports coming back to play in which to keep the coaches and players as safe as possible. 

“As a department we are following specific guidelines for masks, disinfectant, sanitizers and other PPE. We purchased a couple of small disinfecting machines that assist us with sanitizing. We’re following recommendations of the national governing body and the U.S. Council for Athletes Health,” said NECC Athletic director Dan Blair. 

With how important sports are to athletes the athletic department is doing what they can for the athletes to be able to play. Besides esports and cross country the other sports will be allowed to practice or take part in their non-traditional season during the fall semester. 

Northern Essex Community College competes as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and sponsors 12 varsity intercollegiate sports including baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, softball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s soccer, Esports and men’s and women’s track and field. For more information on Northern Essex Community College Athletics please visit the official website of Northern Essex Athletics (www.neccknights.com). If there are any questions about sports, in what will happen or in need of anything alongside that you can contact the Director of Athletics, Dan Blair at (dblair@necc.mass.edu).  

 

Opinion

A pandemic sort of poem?

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How do I keep myself grounded when the world keeps spinning out of control ?

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, I begin to lose my balance.

It was finally supposed to be my year.

This wasn’t what I had in mind.

All the empty halls that I was supposed to be walking through. Reminds me of all the opportunities that have been removed.

I’m losing track of the days , somehow they all feel the same.  Wake up, thank god, sit, and rest.  Wishing I was the hole in the wall, at least it’s free from this anxiety induced mess. Don’t get me wrong I love my home, but too much of something can make you feel sick.

 Once throughout the day I let out a big smile as if everything was normal, but then I quickly remember.

I wish I could forget. I wish I could go out and not think about the consequences.

Just take me back to those moments that I took for granted.

That distant memory that keeps cascading in the burrows of my mind. Have we always lived this way?

With this much fear of the unknown. I guess we all have problems of our own. Tik tok. I’m reminded of the time.

Months go by and no good news insight.

Tired of turning the news on at night and hearing that the  death tolls , and infections have risen.

I just wanted to be a reckless teen, to actually know what college freedom is.

Guess I’ll test my luck next year but for now I’ll just wake up, thank god, sit, and rest.

Arts and Entertainment

The best A24 films to watch

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A24 is an independent entertainment company that produces films. Over the years their selection of films has expanded and reached different platforms. These may be some of the best movies coming out now in terms of screenplay, creativity, and cinematography.

If you haven’t taken the time to watch an a24 film I highly recommend you do. They have movies ranging from horror to coming to age etc. You will not be left disappointed by their catalog.

Out of all the films, these are the ones that truly caught my interest.
Lady Bird (2017)
Greta Gerwig’s’ Ladybird is a coming of age story about a high school girl who’s tired of her small town in Sacramento. This film gives an insight into what it really means to grow up.

Florida Project ( 2017)
Monee and her struggling mom live surrounding” the most magical place in the world” but are living a completely different reality. This movie showcases the harsh reality that some of the residents in Florida endure.

Mid 90s (2018)
Jonah Hill’s directorial debut; is a story about a 13-year-old skater-boy growing up in the 90s. This movie delivers the pressure of growing up without parental figures.

Amy (2015)
Although A24 is known for its creative films, they have also been successful with their documentaries. Amy is a celebration of the remarkable Jazz star Amy Winehouse’s life, and career.

Home Page Featured News, News, Uncategorized

Speechapalooza goes online, collects donations for student relief fund

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Northern Essex Community College students hosted an online public speaking event, called Speechapalooza, on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube from Wednesday-Friday, April 29-May 1. (Pictured is Dylan Musgrave participating in the event.)

The event helped collect donations for the college’s Student Emergency Fund and was attended by hundreds. The fund provides laptop and/or internet access, tuition assistance and stipends for students dealing with food insecurity, the costs of remote learning, as well as other needs connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Tuesday, the fund had raised at least $15,099, according to the NECC Institution for Advancement. 

 This year brought the sixth annual iteration of Speechapalooza, the first ever to be held online. It is organized and presented by students in the Principles of Public Relations course taught by David Rattigan this semester.

The show is split up into three episodes that were released over a three day period. 

Throughout its production, the event gained press attention all across MA; it was picked up by reputable, widely read outlets like the Eagle Tribune and Merrimack Valley Magazine. Speechapalooza was promoted by the NECC Newsroom, the college’s official communications division, the NECC Observer and the Lowell Association for the Blind.

Former Executive Planning Committee Co-Chair Amari Butler of Methuen is a member of the LAB. She says, “Being one of the co-chairs of  Speechapalooza has taught me to be more of a leader. It has given me more confidence despite my disability.” 

The Executive Planning Committee coordinated the entire event and wrote and disseminated the press releases which were run in the aforementioned outlets. The committee was entirely student-run.

 “Especially in a challenging time like this, we want to give students an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions,” says Jasmine Sanchez of Haverhill, another former co-chair of the Executive Planning Committee. “We don’t often get to hear what students want to say, so adapting rather than cancelling the event is a no-brainer.”

 After stay-at-home orders and school closures were effected by MA Gov. Charlie Baker about halfway into their semester, students of NECC’s Principles of Public Relations class converted Speechapalooza into an online event so that student speakers could be celebrated in spite of COVID-19 and so that money could be raised for fellow students in some way affected by the pandemic. 

Students were gathered from the numerous public speaking classes and asked to record themselves delivering a speech at home. Nine willing students were featured in the event. Student speeches exhibited a wide range of subjects, with one student’s speech constituting an examination of the nuances of biomedical engineering and another’s presentation recounting a personal story of beating drug addiction. 

John DiBurro of Haverhill, a student of Principles of PR, proudly states, “Our team worked incredibly hard to make this event happen. Through our efforts, we achieved a greater audience than anticipated and raised a substantial amount of money for those in need.” 

“Our lineup was a wonderful reflection of the students who come to our school,” says Andrew Venditti of Haverhill, an Executive Planning Committee co-chair. 

The Executive Planning Committee consisted of Butler, Venditti, Sanchez, Jessica Kramer of Haverhill and Jonas Ruzek of Amesbury. 

Wednesday’s episode was co-hosted by Alyse Festa of North Andover and Cole St. Jean of Plasitow, NH,  Thursday’s episode was hosted by Trey Cruz of Lawrence and Friday’s episode was hosted by Dylan Musgrave of Plaistow. Cruz says, “The tenacity with which our PR students pursued this event shows a lot about how hard-working NECC communications students are.”

Other students involved in coordinating the event included William Tapley of Sandown, NH, DiBurro, Rachel Anderson of Haverhill, Evan O’Connell of Reading, Julia Matos of Groveland, Dilenia Martinez of Lawrence, Finbarr Arsenault of Amesbury and Katherine Townsend of Merrimac.

In Speechapalooza’s first online-only event different challenges arose. Speaking at home is much different than in front of an audience according to the host of episode two, Cruz.

 “There’s a certain energy exchange that was lost in having to take this to the web. It doesn’t feel natural speaking to a laptop camera. I think hosting is largely about interacting with the audience, and when deprived of a direct, visible audience, my role did feel a bit superfluous,” he said. 

Venditti had this to say of the event: “Easily the biggest challenge in organizing this online was coordinating. Sometimes, emails make it easier to reach someone, but trying to get a large group of people to work on the same project with little face to face communication was a challenge and a half.”

 Though Venditti did have a positive outlook on the online version of the event.

 “Despite the coronavirus situation, I think Speechapalooza did pretty well for it’s first time being held online… It’s especially rewarding because that helped spread awareness of the school’s emergency fund, and plenty of students could use some help right now.”

“I think hosting Speechapalooza online was a success, and it made it much easier for people to see the event,” said Musgrave.

According to Youtube statistics, Speechapalooza attracted over 400 views over the three episode event. The videos can be accessed from the Speechapalooza social media accounts and can be found on youtube for years to come.

To view the three episodes visit the Speechapalooza YouTube page.

Arts and Entertainment

Creative ways to wellness

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What a time to be alive. With our go-to places, like restaurants, malls and bars closed or reserved for take-out, and social distancing keeping us at least six feet away from our friends and extended family, some of us have found ourselves with extra time on our hands and combating our lust for our usual activities that have temporarily come to a halt. While some of us may remain content or unbothered, others may find themselves struggling with the changes that have fallen upon us. It’s important to not only stay active and healthy in body but in mind as well.

Art therapy is one way to combine fun and health. Practicing self-therapy through artistic expression does not require a degree. According to GoodTherapy, a blog dedicated to providing mental health resources to people in need of them, art therapy is “a specialized area of mental health that uses art materials and the creative process to explore emotions, reduce anxiety, increase self-esteem, and resolve other psychological conflicts.” 

These art materials can include anything from paints, markers, colored pencils to cameras. You can get creative with these tools in a variety of different ways, making your to-do list a whole lot longer.

I will highlight five art therapy activities to try at home to help yourself de-stress, relax, and artistically express yourself:

The first activity on the list is collaging. The art of collaging traditionally involves the cutting and pasting of different images to make a whole new creation, representative of whatever the artist chooses.  If you have a collection of magazines that are no longer of use, here is your chance to use them.

The collaging technique can be used in a variety of projects. One example is vision boarding. A vision, or dream-board is a collage consisting of images, affirmations, pictures, symbols, etc. representing an individual’s dreams or visions. For example, a college student may decide to include an image of a diploma, cap or gown on their board to represent graduating.

Vision boards can help to develop or identify your vision, provide clarity, and give you a visual to focus on to help you achieve your goals. If you believe in the law of attraction it’s possible meditating on these images could aid in their manifestation in your life.

So, find an empty, open area, perhaps by an open window, grab your board – a piece of paper, cork, or poster board – scissors, glue, and that stack of magazines, maybe some markers, gems, patterns, or stickers to jazz it up, and get to work on creating your future.

If you’d rather a less messy, more modern, tech-savvy option, vision boards can be created online as well. Using the handy dandy cut and paste tools on whatever program you choose to use, and the billions of images available on google.

Another activity that aids in the quieting of the mind and calming of the nerves is coloring mandalas. With the mention of coloring, some adults may have already looked away, finding the activity to be reserved for children. But coloring is certainly an art technique reserved for those of all ages.

Mandalas are intricate, geometric designs. If you’ve seen one, you know how detailed and complex they can look in black and white, never mind in color. Mandalas themselves are important in various traditions and religions, like Hinduism and Buddhism, as they aid in meditation and spiritual guidance, among other practices.

Coloring mandalas helps to improve focus and concentration, de-stress, and reduce anxiety. It’s circular designs help to provide clarity in the mind, creating space for new thoughts and feelings. If you don’t believe me – just try it. Mandala designs can be found online and printed out, in hundreds of coloring books dedicated to them, or can even be drawn from scratch.

This is an activity children can easily participate in, possibly adding some additional peace of mind for parents and guardians alike.

The next occupation is that of painting. In case you’re unfamiliar with this art, painting consists of applying pigmented liquids to a solid surface. Usually these pigmented liquids are applied using brushes but there are other creative ways to do this as well. From acrylic to oil to watercolor paints, using brushes to hands to sponges, applied to surfaces including paper, canvas, and brick, there are a plethora of tools you can use to create.

Painting does not just have to consist of putting paint to paper. If you’re looking for a bit more excitement, there’s a couple ways to spice things up.

Music can make anything more fun. Turning on some relaxing tunes, upbeat hits, or old slow jams, you can either use the music as background noise or include it in your painting process. Listening to the beats, notes, and instruments of the music, you can allow them to serve as a sort of guide for your hand while painting.

If you’d like to take a break from the brush, perhaps get more primal or bring out your inner curious child, try using your hands and fingers – maybe even your feet too! – to create your next masterpiece. Stepping outside traditional tools can create something more innovative and meaningful than you would’ve imagined.

Additionally, setting can also influence one’s enjoyment of painting. Rather than staying inside, painting outside with nature as your muse can add a new level of excitement and inspiration to your painting.

 Painting, in common with the other activities listed, can help to relieve stress. Additional benefits include creative and emotional growth as well as the boosted self-esteem that comes with the finished product.

Paints, brushes, and other supplies can be found at art supply stores like Michaels and Joann’s, but also at retail stores like Target, Walmart and even Dollar Tree. If you’re especially crafty with plenty of time on your hands, you can make your own paint as well as brushes and stencils with instructions found online.

As some of us are quarantined at home with family, seeing a lot more of them then we’re used to, this could be the perfect time to consider painting a family portrait.

Another expressive art form, one I find is often forgotten to be considered art, is photography. Photography, simply put, is the art of taking pictures using a camera. The process is not as simple as it sounds though, as photographers use different cameras, lenses, filters, framing, among several other tools, to capture their intended image.

With this being said, not everyone is or is expected to be a professional photographer. You don’t have to be to take pictures and enjoy the art of photography. If you aren’t particularly skilled or invested in this, you can simply use the camera on your phone to take pictures.

Believe it or not, photography does have therapeutic benefits. Photography is not only a fun activity, but something that can allow you to express yourself, reflect, and connect with others through the sharing of  your art with others who indulge in photography or simply enjoy viewing it.

You can take photos of anything – yourself, friends, family, nature, objects or structures you find meaningful or that help you stay grounded. You can look back at these photos when seeking comfort, or use them for inspiration in your other artistic endeavors, like say, painting.

The last, but certainly not least, art therapy activity to try at home is writing. Yes, I know– as a college student, all you do is write. But try taking a break from writing essays and embark in some personal, free-writing.

Journaling is an almost ancient method of therapy. Writing down your feelings, thoughts, and experiences allows you to channel yourself onto paper and can help you to clear your mind, find new perspectives or just express yourself.

There are numerous subjects and topics to write about – yourself, your life, the tree that grows outside your window or the bird that is nesting in it. Within writing lies many genres – narrative, mystery, horror, drama – the list is long, as well as different writing styles. The combinations and possibilities are limitless.

With this unique time in mind, it could be the perfect moment to start a journal to document your life or write about this experience. Some of the best documented personal writing comes from times of peril and change.

If you struggle with topics to write about, a quick google search can provide you with thousands of different writing prompts and ideas. Put your pen (or pencil) to paper!

There you have it – five new activities to add to your list of things to do while quarantined – although all of these activities can be done even when your favorite places do re-open. Enjoy the beauty of art and self-expression combined and bring out your inner artist, which lives in us all.

News

Children face homeschool blues

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In these troubling times, education for the young has taken a new form to accommodate the circumstances, though not all of it is welcome. Some students find themselves using new online tools to learn while others find their parents becoming their teacher.

Alicia Togue, who has children in both fifth and sixth grade, has had experience in teaching, which she believes offers them an advantage and a unique experience compared to most kids.

Togue says that her children’s education is going well with her being able to teach them all of the core subjects, though she notes that it would be far harder if her kids were older. That being said, Togue did comment that her children miss the social interaction with their peers.

Alida Carter also has children in fifth and sixth grade, as well as one child in first grade. They meet with their teacher online, the first grader meeting three times a week while the fifth and sixth grader only meet their teacher once a week. Carter said that the first grader seemed to be enjoying remote learning, but her other children were not. Carter believes that her children are not getting all of the education that they need.

Suzanne Binkney, who has children currently in pre k, believes that education is not as productive during these times, with academics progressing slowly and her children not getting therapy. Her children also have the benefit of having a parent who was once a teacher. Binkney’s children are communicating with their teachers via email, with the option of video chat. Their teachers record lessons for their students and post work online. In terms of core subjects, Binkneey’s children are learning math, ELA, and social studies just fine.