Well, the best approach comes down to whether this is a temporary or long-term/permanent option for you and your family. Uncertainty and lack of direction and why can cause unnecessary stress and a lack of commitment. KEY POINT: You do not have to replicate your full workday and the full school day, so give yourself a break and get rid of that expectation right away. Remember that you have options and that considering the short term and the long term will help smooth any future transitions for you and your children. As of now, you at least have an idea of how much time you want to allocate to work and to homeschooling and have identified an area where you can store and organize schoolwork and related supplies. (n.d.). (n.d.). Here are a few suggestions of where we might start: 1) Develop (and ensure everyone knows and understands) clearly defined goals. As part of a successful, high-performing and well-functioning team, we have to work together as a team toward common goals, just like a sports team or a project team in an organization. You will need to determine the best balance and schedule for your family based on the ages you are teaching, the subjects you have selected, and the modes you have chosen to use to teach those subjects. The activities in the basket could be anything from printed mazes, cut and paste activities, manipulative for counting, coloring books, etc. However, with everything clearly defined and with trust, constructive conflict and commitment, holding each other accountable for their respective parts becomes much easier, and does not need to involve finger pointing or other negative non-constructive behaviors. (n.d.). Many parents are waiting for the school or school district to provide the details of the lessons your children will be assigned while they are out of school. Enjoy! Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.roblox.com/, Wiess, S. R. (2020a). Commitment is built on a foundation of trust and constructive conflict.
Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://welltrainedmind.com/a/what-are-the-non-core-subjects/?v=7516fd43adaa, Common Sense Media (n.d.). 30 Gratitude Games and Activities for Kids to Practice Thankfulness. Yours will too. (2020). (Various factors played into our decision, but one major factor for us was for the girls to have the option to participate in sports, clubs and other activities, and we were living in a location where they were districted into good schools.). 3) All members of the team should remember that discomfort leads to growth and work on being ok with being held accountable, with hearing feedback that they dont really want to hear, and with giving honest, constructive feedback to other members of the team when things arent working well. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://hslda.org/legal, HSLDA. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/, Common Sense Media. 3) Clear out, setup and organize your dedicated storage area for your schoolwork and related supplies. Small wins go a long way. What Ill provide below is a brief overview of some of the options for planning the work, starting with four considerations for doing so. These can be accessed here: https://www.headspace.com/covid-19. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/, National University Library. Hopefully, you have found this content helpful, and are on your way to planning a (relativelythey are our awesome kids, after all) calm, fun and enjoyable adventure educating your children at home while working. For example, Connecticut only requires a notice of withdrawal, legally, but does recommend (only a recommendation, not a legal requirement) a notice of intent to homeschool and portfolio review. When you get stressed or overwhelmed, just remember that surviving is all you and your family need to do right now, and the rest will all work out eventually. Your child or children will be perfectly fine with a couple or a few hours of school-related work and other fun, educational activities while you focus on work. Connections Academy.
Although Im not fully convinced that this is the best approach to managing your time, the concept of Timeboxing is similar to the approach Ive recommended above. Common Core Resources: Textbook & Publisher Resources. If you have chosen to homeschool instead of opt into distance learning through your school, and the option is temporary, you may wish to file the notice of intent to homeschool and proceed to work closely with the school to ensure the smoothest transition back into the school when the time is right.
The reality is that we need to accept that nothing is going to be perfect in this imperfect situation, so for the perfectionists out there (like myself), if we are surviving and our families are surviving, we are doing the best we can, and that is good enough. (Note that this is an unpopular opinion and not promoted or frequently supported in the traditional, long-term homeschooling community, though, so questions about this option in these traditional groups or distribution lists may not be met with the most positive reactions.) As you wrap up the day, after allowing your kids to play and relax for the first day, take three deep breaths and smile, knowing that you completed some planning and organizing, and that you are on your way. Administrators have never run schools, districts or boards of education during a global pandemic. (n.d.). This is when choosing distance learning through the school, working with the school on curriculum or even taking advantage of optional portfolio reviews, or employing a certified teacher in a pandemic pod could work out better than doing what we did with creating a custom curriculum. We ended up placing them in lower grades than the work they were working on as homeschoolers, both because of their ages and because we knew the work would be easy for them, allowing them to focus on the major personal and social transition with less stress. Many of our kids had packed schedules of school, sports, and other activities, with barely enough time to grab a sandwich in the car for supper. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://www.steamsational.com/free-printable-homeschool-planners/, The new challenge to keep the kids occupied during conference calls is: FORT MAKING!!! (This is in no way intended to imply that they wont help you, since we have always experienced the exact opposite, especially when in direct contact with teachers, administrators, etc. It is important to understand the risks and the comfort level you have with those risks, and, depending on the approach taken, the health risks for your children and for you (and for everyone in your household). On a sports team, each team member (player, coach, manager) has to understand their role in the teams success to be committed to being the best in that role that they possibly can, thus maximizing their contribution to the team and the teams progress toward that goal. How might this impact your childs motivation to do their schoolwork? You are the parent, and you know what is best for your children. For parents looking online for content for their children, who may not be familiar with different websites, movies or apps, or unsure how to tell what might be safe or age-appropriate, this post is for you. (2020). ), 2) Do you (and your student) want the ability or option to participate in after school activities? If you are homeschooling on your own, you and your children might be the only members of the team, but for others remotely schooling via distance learning options provided through their school or district, there are many other members of the team, as well. It is important to be fully informed of all legal and regulatory requirements prior to making your choice, so that you are making a fully-informed choice. One combined list of these is accessible on EarthCam.com, here: https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/. Looking at these from a more positive lens, as opposed to negatively identifying them as dysfunctions, the list of what teams need to thrive include: The foundation of working together as a group, especially in a stressful, unclear, unpredictable situation like remote learning during a global pandemic, is trust. They already do for other meetings and for lunch, right? Weathering the Storm. Decorating Amazon boxes and used soup cans make great arts and craft projects and excellent organizers! AnimalCams. Youre Probably Homeschooling Way More Than You Need To. The fourth consideration is the schedule of the subjects you have selected to teach. I present to you the conference call activity challenge for today (03/17/2020): Conference Call Bingo (with your kiddos)! If you want more information prior to pursuing this option, your best bet is likely to reach out to the school or district directly for more information about what the portfolio review might look like, what kind of support and guidance you can expect from them, etc. Making sure others respect your time is actually easier than it might seem at first. If your student is overloaded with work, have them work with their teachers and administrators to request extensions or accommodations where needed. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://hellobestow.com/blog/gratitude-games/, Headspace. ), Have your parent/guardian take a picture of your fort, with the list of equipment used and post it to Twitter using the hashtag #fortchallenge and tag @HomeschoolWork. A few of the things that are currently within our control are: 1) our reactions to the current situation, 2) our attitudes, 3) our schedule and 4) our space.
(n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://nu.libguides.com/CommonCore/ccss_publishers. On top of a foundation of trust is constructive conflict. It is important to remain aware (and equally appreciative for any help they provide) that the schools and school districts are not required to assist homeschooling families, and that submitting an intent to withdraw (and/or an intent to homeschool) does have a direct impact on their budget, as they are funded on a per-student basis. Will you and your children be ok with this or able to handle any repetition or boredom by supplementing with other activities? Write a list of the equipment you used to make your fort. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-mission/about-our-ratings, Common Sense Media. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://www.headspace.com/covid-19, Khan Academy (2020). Attention to results is the top and smallest portion of the pyramid. (n.d.). The ability to have an open and honest discussion with their teacher, administrator, or even boss, is a skill that will only help them in their future. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews, Focus on the Family. (2020). Trust that everyone is working toward a common goal, for example, is one type of trust. In my personal opinion, consistency in accountability, especially for online learners, is fundamental to their success, I believe, but it takes everyone involved being on the same page to maintain an appropriate level of accountability. You can choose to homeschool your children with you being the primary teacher (as opposed to distance-learning where you are assisting your children with work assigned by their teacher). At this point, state and local boards of education are doing the best they can with the little information they have to plan for something none of us have ever had to deal with before. They had to tell us the recommended ages by Common Sense Media, parents and kids and were only allowed to watch movies, play games or download/use apps that were 2 years over the lowest age recommended out of the three. (Many states do not allow homeschoolers to participate in activities at the public school, but some states do. But, there is also so much that is fully within our control. Calling it schoolwork for the toddler made her feel like she was getting to do something cool that her big sister was doing, while really just doing what she would have been anyway. Bauer, S. W. (2016). Our children need to be able to disagree and question things when concepts or instructions arent clear to them. You dont have to wait until plans for the fall are released to figure out what you are comfortable (and not comfortable) with. One option is for grades 3-5, called Digital Passport, and is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport. Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/611770255064350720/remote-learning-with-khan-academy-during-school, Scholastic. The answer to this question can provide further guidance for what choice might be best for you and your family, on top of the obvious comfort level with sending them to a physical school building in August or September. There are actually more options than you would think, and you are your and your childrens best advocate. The first consideration is the age levels you are teaching. Thats all any of us can do, and the only way we are going to figure out what will work is for everyone to be comfortable communicating and providing constructive feedback when things are not working. At those times, my kids were at the ages where they needed more hands-on help and their school workload was higher, so it worked well for us. You can make, download and print your own bingo card at sites like BingoBaker, accessible here: https://bingobaker.com/ Yet another alternative is to keep your call off speaker, but let your kids mark off the square on the bingo, and you tell them when the criteria has been met. If you are teaching one child, you can skip this section. Then, your stress levels went through the roof when it didnt all go smoothly with calm, quiet kids and dedicated focus for you. What if schools open in a blended format, where schedules are alternating day to day or am/pm? Parents need to be able to bring concerns to educators and administrators when things arent working for them and their children. How We Rate and Review. Our girls were homeschooled since Kindergarten, and I chose materials for each individual subject for each girl, and planned the curriculum and lesson plans myself throughout this entire time. This is not true, legally. 
Or, are you not comfortable sending your children to school at all until there is a vaccine, for example? Coronavirus Closed Schools: 27 Activities to Keep Kids Busy During School Closures. While the kids play, you can plan your day(s). While you are determining how much time you want to dedicate to your work, also consider if there are specific days or times of day that you have regularly scheduled meetings, deadlines for regular work, or other time-specific restrictions. ), So, with this conflicting guidance and information, what should you do? When you are planning your days, you will first need to decide how much time you want (or need) to spend with your focus dedicated to your work (in meetings, for example), and how much time you want to spend homeschooling your child (or children).
(n.d.). The second option is for grades 6-8, called Digital Compass, which is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass. Awake and Mindful has collected five yoga videos for kids that might be one option for a calm activity to start off the day. Retrieved March 19, 2020 from https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/, Bestow. Welltrainedmind.com. There are a few things to consider. Smoothing the transition in our new reality. K12. Retrieved March 16, 2020 from, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html, https://responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/current-policy/, https://www.digitallearningcollab.com/state-virtual-schools, Common Misconceptions about Working and Homeschooling, https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2218929/how-many-hours-homeschooling-per-day/, https://welltrainedmind.com/a/what-are-the-non-core-subjects/?v=7516fd43adaa, https://montessori-nw.org/what-is-montessori-education, https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/slideshow/2173553/coronavirus-school-closings-keep-kids-busy/1/, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews, https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/age-appropriate-chores/, https://grownandflown.com/soft-skills-for-teens/, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-mission/about-our-ratings, https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport, https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites, https://nu.libguides.com/CommonCore/ccss_publishers, https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic, https://www.steamsational.com/free-printable-homeschool-planners/, https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/611770255064350720/remote-learning-with-khan-academy-during-school, https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub, https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html, https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/, https://hellobestow.com/blog/gratitude-games/, https://www.dropbox.com/s/xbwyrg21rbg79fj/conferencecallbingo.pdf?dl=0, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html, https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_school_closures_can_strengthen_your_family, https://hbr.org/2018/12/how-timeboxing-works-and-why-it-will-make-you-more-productive. Focusonthefamily.com. Khan Academy has provided help and getting started pages for their content here: https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/611770255064350720/remote-learning-with-khan-academy-during-school, and the lessons themselves are accessible here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub, Scholastic has provided schedules and lessons here: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html. (2020). With the quick pivot to distance learning in the spring, and the large disparities with technology access and related issues, the schools and districts are still working to get some students caught up on their work from the spring. Carter, Christine. To avoid things becoming disorganized, piling up, getting dirty during meals, etc., it is best to dedicate a shelf or whole bookshelf to the schoolwork, books and all related equipment. Khan Academy Schedules for School Closures. Other paid options exist for states which do not offer state virtual schools, like K12, ConnectionsAcademy, although many others exist, as well (Connections Academy, 2020; K12, 2020). Examples of delivery modes include DVDs, online learning games, online video lessons, printable lessons, workbooks and textbooks, fully online classes, and instructions posted online that allow you to create your own. (n.d.2). They are asking because they truly care about your children and your input. (2020). You can ask the school about options for continuing distance learning (if they dont already include that as an option in their fall plans). What we sometimes forget, though, is that our kids are, as well. Roblox. that you will be bound by? In fact, they have created a launch page for the current times, accessible here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic, Common Sense Media. Yes, movies sometimes work, but how about something possibly more fun (for you and for them)? The second consideration is the subjects you wish to teach. Retrieved March 16, 2020 from, Center for Disease Control (CDC). 2) Identify the subjects you would like to teach each of the children. Others may be planning their own lessons and activities. (2019). 5) Understand and be honest and open about what you (and your student) can and cannot reasonably take on and complete given everything you have going on outside of school responsibilities, and be open to working with your student and their teachers and school administrators. The one thing that all of those spaces had in common was a dedicated space to store all of our supplies and work. Stay home and stay safe. (n.d.). Some organizations group activities in the following age groups, for example, Kindergarten to grade 2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.