extra time and effort my team and I have put into providing rich and engaging learning opportunities. Still, there are some who think we're not assigning enough and others who think we're assigning too much. I'd be willing to bet your children's teachers are receiving the same conflicting feedback.

Trying to find a balance is the goal, but it is impossible to please everyone. The task that the teacher plans will take 30 minutes might take one student 5 minutes and another student an hour. Differences in ability, focus, and working pace are that vast.

Are you sure all the work is "required"? I know in my case, we have said our goal is to provide the opportunities, and the parents need to do what works best for their own family. I had one parent send me an email that was clearly written in a state of frustration, where he thought we were expecting way too much of the kids (and thus the parents) during a pandemic.

The accusatory tone rankled me a little bit at first, but I took some time to let that pass and thought about the specifics of his situation. His child is a student who wants everything to be just right and needs frequent reassurance to reduce anxiety. Of course he would be frustrated and overwhelmed.

So I responded by explaining (again) that our expectations at this time are VERY flexible. We want the students to continue learning, and we design assignments and activities to promote that. But we only expect each family to do what works for them. Once I reiterated that fact, he was very appreciative and ready to move forward.

Have your children's teachers communicated what they actually expect? Just because an assignment is "graded," it doesn't mean it necessarily has to be done. I will be assessing my students' work to check for learning, not for assigning points or grades. If a student doesn't complete an assignment, I'm not going to think less of them or their parents. And even if they are assigning points or grades, who cares? It's elementary school.

If I were you, I would politely let the teachers know that you appreciate the learning opportunities they are providing, but you need to do what's best for your family, and right now that means picking and choosing which assignments your children will complete.

Anyway, this got a lot longer than I anticipated. But I do think if you communicate this to their teachers in a polite, non-accusatory way, the teachers will honestly be grateful for the feedback.

Good luck!