), So, with this conflicting guidance and information, what should you do? More details about the rating systems used for the Common Sense Media ratings can be found here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-mission/about-our-ratings. We cannot control what this pandemic has become or is about to become or the ripple effects it may cause. Literally blocking it off on your calendar and communicating your schedule with your bosses and colleagues will make sure you are all on the same page and that everyone will respect that time. The last thing we need is to waste time searching for books, pencils, paper and other supplies while we are trying to work and homeschool. Making it clear that it was a big kid privilege to sit at the table with us to work on schoolwork was also helpful in motivating (relatively) quiet focus. 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. Retrieved March 16, 2020 from, Center for Disease Control (CDC). Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/, Common Sense Media. You dont have to wait until plans for the fall are released to figure out what you are comfortable (and not comfortable) with. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.k12.com/. Accountability involves all levels, including our children consistently being held responsible for their work. The activities in the basket could be anything from printed mazes, cut and paste activities, manipulative for counting, coloring books, etc. There are many misconceptions about homeschooling, in general, but especially with working and homeschooling. (n.d.). While you are on a conference call today, have your kids stand next to your whiteboard or sit next to you coloring or doing some additional activity, and work with them to complete a bingo card based on what is said or done on your conference call. Patrick Lencioni wrote a book called, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, which gives a simple, straightforward way to think about what is needed for teams to function well and to thrive. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-mission/about-our-ratings, Common Sense Media. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews, Focus on the Family. (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. (This is the option rated as highest risk by the CDC) (CDC, 2020). Digital Passport. K12. They already do for other meetings and for lunch, right? As homeschoolers, they worked at their own pace in different subjects, which was great for their education and learning, but made the transition to an age-based grade-level determination a challenging one. 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. Almost three years later, I can tell you that it was the right choice for both of them, without a doubt. Write a list of the equipment you used to make your fort. This can be important if you are deciding between temporarily homeschooling your children and opting into distance learning (especially in middle school or high school grades). Commitment is built on a foundation of trust and constructive conflict. An alternative is to make your own bingo card that might be more age-appropriate, like one with silly words or um and uh, for example, that might be easy for little ones to pick up on during the call. (2018). The state, on the other hand, wants to have as much control and oversight as possible, in many cases. (Note that this is not a comprehensive list.) You can research options for full-time online schooling, which some states offer for free (Digital Learning Collaborative, 2018). (2020). Game Reviews. 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. 2) Identify the subjects you would like to teach each of the children. 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. ), 2) Do you (and your student) want the ability or option to participate in after school activities? It is also very important to note, especially when you are reading and researching your options, that there are two extremes to the homeschooling debate or conversation, especially in Connecticut, but it is likely evident elsewhere, as well. There are so many options available to teach every subject, and many are free. 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). These options are completed at a time and location of your convenience and have assigned teachers for all classes, as well as providing official transcripts and grades, just like on-ground/in-person school options. 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. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://montessori-nw.org/what-is-montessori-education, Roblox. We homeschooled in many different locations, including a multifamily house where we had a full room dedicated to homeschooling, my parents house where we had an area in the basement, our family members kitchen counters, and even an RV, when we traveled around the US. I will gather and post a list of the supplies I always kept on hand soon. 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. 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. 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. Uncertainty and lack of direction and why can cause unnecessary stress and a lack of commitment. You will need to determine, based on the number and ages of children, your work schedule, and any other constraints, what subjects you want to teach and can manage to do so with minimal stress. 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. (2020). They are asking because they truly care about your children and your input. A big lesson learned in this transition is that no matter what homeschool curriculum you choose, there will be differences in what they learn there and what is covered in the public school curriculum, thus, some material will be repeated and there will be gaps to be filled in other places. For later years (grades 3-5 and 6-8) we elected to study math and language arts every day, and study science, history/social studies, art and music one day per week each, leaving the additional day (which happened to be Friday for us) for making up work we didnt complete earlier in the week. Either way, some people are going to be happy and some unhappy, regardless of the plan or approach that is taken. If you are teaching one child, you can skip this section. If you are unsure, Common Sense Media is a great place to start. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html, STEAMsational. Connections Academy. (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.) How School Closures Can Strengthen Your Family. (n.d.). The second is what is being referred to as remote or distance learning, or, in our district, cooperative distance learning, which I think describes this option very well. 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. Why not act like the dedicated school time is just another meeting? 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. The public school administrators where we are were extremely helpful in working with us to determine the best placement. Schedules created and posted in a common location provide clarity to everyone involved and help the parents avoid questions like what are we doing today? and what subjects are we working on today? There are many free printable planners and schedules available online. (Dont forget to include what you used to keep your fort together tape, staples, clothes pins, etc. Another point to consider is that you have every right to make the time spent educating your children as high a priority as any other meeting, so schedule it. It is also an opportunity for us to find ways for our kids to help around the house and to teach them new life skills that are no longer taught in schools. (n.d.). ), As you think through the answers to these questions and others, I would like to share about our personal experience with the transition from homeschool to public school in Connecticut only a few years ago. (2018). These can be accessed here: https://www.headspace.com/covid-19. 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. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.digitallearningcollab.com/state-virtual-schools, HSLDA. 4) *BONUS* You can also take an inventory of what you have for school supplies (paper, pencils, pens, markers, crayons, glue, scizzors, stapler, tape, whole punch, etc.). Will you and your children be ok with this or able to handle any repetition or boredom by supplementing with other activities? What Are the Non-Core Subjects?. 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. Having a dedicated space will allow you to put everything away in a neat and orderly fashion after every day, so that it is available and easy to access the following day. However, we can control our reaction to it by staying safe, keeping our family safe, and following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) (2020) guidelines posted here: In my experience homeschooling and working full time (from various locations and time zones), the biggest lesson I learned was that I needed to be organized, but also flexible. These are all considerations when building a foundation of trust in a remote or distance learning team with all parties involved. Carter, Christine. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/, Montessori Northwest. The key is not to be happy or unhappy about the approaches, but to be informed. Awake and Mindful. You can ask the school about options for continuing distance learning (if they dont already include that as an option in their fall plans). Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://hslda.org/content/orgs/, K12.com. We made a decision years ago to provide some independence and ownership of content decisions to our kids, specifically for movies, games, and apps. 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. A lesson I learned the hard way many times is that they cant both be done (effectively) at the same time. Organizing any extra items needed (for science experiments, for example) over the weekend for the entire week will also help make your work/homeschool days flow much smoother. Are you comfortable sending your children to school in the fall if they are physically opened for attendance? Current Homeschool Laws. 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. Retrieved March 19, 2020 from https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/, Bestow. To commit to common goals, everyone on the team has to be aware of the goals, understand why those goals are important, and be aware and accepting of their role in helping the team attain those goals. It will make your planning much easier and less stressful if you acknowledge right now that you are one person and cannot be an effective fulltime teacher for 8 hours and full time worker for 8 hours, nor do you need to be. Retrieved April 19, 2020 from https://grownandflown.com/soft-skills-for-teens/, Minecraft. If any of you are like me, you started your working and homeschooling balancing act by trying to explain to your children how important work is, and how you have to focus (and they have to be quiet) while you are on work calls. No one knows what the right answer is to any question or problem right now, BUT, we can all try things, fail, get back up, and try something else. Florida is more strict, but does have umbrella schools that allow for smoother navigation of the requirements. 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. The second option is for grades 6-8, called Digital Compass, which is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass. Decorating Amazon boxes and used soup cans make great arts and craft projects and excellent organizers! With everyone rushing around trying to figure out what they are going to do for the fall, it is important to also pause, step back, and consider how the plans you make for the fall fit into your future educational plans. Age-Appropriate Chores. Trust that everyone is doing their best (whatever their best looks like on a given day) and trust that everyone has the childrens best interest at heart are a couple of others. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://nu.libguides.com/CommonCore/ccss_publishers. One combined list of these is accessible on EarthCam.com, here: https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/. 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. CommonSenseMedia.org. For example, one was created by E. Gilliam, and is accessible here: https://www.conferencecallbingo.net/blog with the printable version accessible directly here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xbwyrg21rbg79fj/conferencecallbingo.pdf?dl=0. If you would like to explore this option, a great start is to review your state on both the CRHE and HSLDA websites, start searching for local and regional homeschool associations (the HSLDA has a great resource for this, as well), and begin searching for curriculum options (which can come in fully pre-packaged curriculum options to fully customized curriculum that you pick and choose from resources on publishers sites and Amazon.com book sales, for example) (HSLDA, n.d.2). Always be appreciative.). (n.d.). What Ill provide below is a brief overview of some of the options for planning the work, starting with four considerations for doing so. (n.d.). When I started homeschooling and working from home, we had one preschooler and one toddler. What we sometimes forget, though, is that our kids are, as well. Common Sense Media, for example, provides a list of Kid-Safe Browsers and Search Sides, accessible here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites. Homeschool Organizations. Then, your stress levels went through the roof when it didnt all go smoothly with calm, quiet kids and dedicated focus for you. (This is a big deciding factor that can save or cost you a lot of time and stress. On top of a foundation of trust is constructive conflict. (n.d.). The two most commonly tested subjects in standardized testing tend to be math and language arts, so when we homeschooled, we put the most emphasis on these two subjects, integrating the others as appropriate and as possible. Kid-Safe Browsers and Search Sites. There are a few things to consider. For states who are planning in-person school options, many are still providing distance learning as an option, and homeschooling is always an additional option. (2019). 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). In the middle of the fall, we collectively decided that it was time for the girls to attend public school. 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. Everything else is a bonus. (n.d.). If your remote/distance learning/homeschooling is only planned to be temporary, keeping as close to the curriculum their classmates are learning in school will make for the smoothest transition when the time comes for them to go to school and join their classmates again. If you want to really make it fun and engaging with everyone involved, you or the meeting organizer can make up a bingo card and send it out to everyone on the call. (2020). Here are a few suggestions of where we might start: 1) Develop (and ensure everyone knows and understands) clearly defined goals. For gratitude, an easy option to start your day would be to talk about three good or positive things. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html, Connectiond Academy. (n.d.2). 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. (n.d.). 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. The one thing that all of those spaces had in common was a dedicated space to store all of our supplies and work. (n.d.). While we await final proposals for opening of schools in the fall from states and local districts, we are all asking what if? What if schools open as usual in the fall at full capacity? You will need to decide, based on your family values and rules about electronics and screen time, your work schedule and flexibility, ages of your children, and learning preferences and styles, what modes are best for you for each student and each subject. Or, are you not comfortable sending your children to school at all until there is a vaccine, for example? 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. Bauer, S. W. (2016). Educators have never taught during a global pandemic, much less taught remotely or taught some students remotely and some in person at the same time. Our toddler also participated, at an age-appropriate level, in virtual field trips, science experiments, and other educational activities with her sister. How We Rate and Review. We have never parented (or helped our kids with remote learning) during a global pandemic. Just take one step at a time and focus on one goal at a time. There are so many different aspects and layers of trust, as well. For other jobs, like when I administered analytics servers, I had more flexibility to design my work day around the desired school schedule. Marc Zao-Sanders (2018) wrote an informative article on TimeBoxing, accessible here: Organizing your space is another aspect of your current situation that you have total control over. Free Printable Homeschool Planners. (n.d.). An example of this is a new kindergartener starting homeschool in the first year of school eligibility. 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. A template for this can be found on many of the CT homeschooling group websites or Facebook pages. (n.d.). Others may be planning their own lessons and activities. (The first is required if choosing homeschooling and not purchasing a pre-packaged curriculum or enrolling your children in a full-time online school. Coronavirus Closed Schools: 27 Activities to Keep Kids Busy During School Closures. 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. Digital Compass. 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. Headspace, a mindfulness and meditation app, is providing a series of their meditations for free in the midst of the current situation. Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/611770255064350720/remote-learning-with-khan-academy-during-school, Scholastic. (n.d.). Scholastic Learn at Home. The first major hurdle for the transition was figuring out what grade they should be in. 100 Things to Teach Your Teen While Youre Stuck at Home. 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!!! (2020). (Many states do not allow homeschoolers to participate in activities at the public school, but some states do. Best Kids Yoga Videos on YouTube. While the kids play, you can plan your day(s). If this was or is you, trust me, you are not alone. Ultimately, only you can decide what is best for you and your children. If you are teaching more than one child, you will need to decide, based on their ages, maturity levels and possibly reading levels, whether you need to plan separate work for each, or whether you can plan once and have them all working on the same work. 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. ), 3) Do you think you might want to send your students back to school in person either some time this year or in future years? School and schoolwork does not have to be an all-or-nothing situation. You will need to research your options in your area if this is a deciding factor for you. The standard subjects tend to include math, language arts, science, history or social studies, art, technology, health, physical education, and music. The rule for our girls was that they had to look at all movies, games, and apps up on Common Sense Media and bring them to us prior to asking the question of whether they could play, watch or download something. Remember the CDC guidelines and be innovative in your organization and space planning. Many other options exist, just be sure that you are accessing them through sites that you trust. What if schools open in a blended format, where schedules are alternating day to day or am/pm? With some states canceling in-person schooling for the rest of the academic year and others extending the closures for additional time periods or indefinitely, but messages coming from politicians that we need to re-open the country, we are in a state of wait and see.