There are actually more options than you would think, and you are your and your childrens best advocate. The best resource we have found for determining age-appropriateness of movies, games, applications and some websites is Common Sense Media, accessible here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/. 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. If you have decided that you are not yet comfortable physically sending your kids back to a school building, thinking through some of the following questions might be helpful in deciding between distance learning (assuming this option is available/offered through your school) and homeschooling: 1) Do you want to choose your own curriculum, make your own lesson plans, etc., or do you want to assist your children in completing teacher-assigned activities? 
Are you comfortable sending your children to school in the fall if they are physically opened for attendance? (This is the option rated as highest risk by the CDC) (CDC, 2020). 1) Draw out a rough daily schedule (or weekly, if your daily work schedules vary), allocating specific times for work and for schoolwork. 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. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html, STEAMsational. Its important to have an honest conversation with your family and make the decision that is best for you, and to communicate that through these surveys. 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).
One combined list of these is accessible on EarthCam.com, here: https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/. Before you start, identify an award they will earn if you get a bingo and/or if they black out the entire card by meeting the criteria of each bingo square on the entire bingo card. If you are teaching one child, you can skip this section. ), 4) If you choose homeschooling instead of distance learning, are you fully informed of any reporting requirements, regulations, etc.
(n.d.). Welltrainedmind.com. 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. 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. (2018). We also chose to provide our girls with education regarding proper behavior online, rather than feeling the need to constantly police them and their online activities. It is important to remember this. Accountability is the forth level in the pyramid identified by Lencioni, and aligns closely with constructive conflict and commitment.
Small wins go a long way. 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. The state regulations say that families MAY submit a Notice of Intent to homeschool and participate in portfolio reviews. Free Printable Homeschool Planners. We cannot control what this pandemic has become or is about to become or the ripple effects it may cause. Then, your stress levels went through the roof when it didnt all go smoothly with calm, quiet kids and dedicated focus for you. All movies, for example, have ratings from Common Sense Media, as well as a kids rating and a parents rating, but even more helpful are the details provided by Common Sense Media behind their specific rating. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html, Connectiond Academy. These are accessible here: https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/. This includes finding appropriate websites, movies, games, and applications, teaching your children about online safety and digital citizenship, and knowing how to distinguish between free, safe content and free, unsafe content. So, how do we, as a team of parents, educators, and administrators, work together as a high performing team and not fall into the 5 dysfunctions of a team identified by Lencioni? 
Retrieved April 19, 2020 from https://grownandflown.com/soft-skills-for-teens/, Minecraft. I was in the same situation as many of you, having to figure out what to do to keep the toddler busy while working with the preschooler. 
What is Montessori Education? 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. Your next steps are: 1) Identify the age groups of the children you are educating and whether they need to be planned separately or if the plan and content can be the same. In sports psychology, life coaching and other venues recently, youve likely heard the term locus of control or phrases like control the controllables. Situations like the pandemic we are currently experiencing bring to light the true meaning of these phrases, as there is so much that is truly out of our control. A lesson I learned the hard way many times is that they cant both be done (effectively) at the same time.
Remote Learning with Khan Academy During School Closures. Montana requires a notice of intent to homeschool to be submitted to the local Superintendent of Schools, but does not require any other forms or portfolio review, etc. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://hslda.org/content/orgs/, K12.com. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/age-appropriate-chores/, Grown and Flown. The first major hurdle for the transition was figuring out what grade they should be in.
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. (n.d.). Educators need to be able to express concerns to parents and administrators when things arent working for them, their class, or even particular students. Enjoy! Administrators have never run schools, districts or boards of education during a global pandemic.
Homeschool Organizations.
The third consideration is the mode you wish to use to teach the subjects you have selected.
No year, and no day, to be honest, looked the same for us, even when I tried to plan it to be the same, and my kids turned out just fine. Common Core Resources: Textbook & Publisher Resources.
(n.d.). What if schools are opened in a virtual-only format to start the school year and transition to blended or alternating schedule formats, or even full capacity later in the school year?
What Are the Non-Core Subjects?. Everything you need to organize your area is probabily already in your home. You will need to determine what is best for you and your children. Coronavirus Closed Schools: 27 Activities to Keep Kids Busy During School Closures. Minecraft Official Site. (2020). (n.d.).
They also expect to have to make up for missed learning in the fall for this last spring, especially for the younger students in lower grades. 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). Smoothing the transition in our new reality. We have never parented (or helped our kids with remote learning) during a global pandemic. (Also, in Connecticut, if your children were never enrolled in a public or private school, no notice of any kind needs to be filed.
Common Sense Media.
You dont need to go crazy buying organizing supplies. 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. (2020). Are you comfortable sending your children to school in the fall, as long as CDC guidelines for schools are followed (CDC, 2020)?
Or, are you not comfortable sending your children to school at all until there is a vaccine, for example? 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. So, what options are there? 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. Here are a few options, as examples: CDC. 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. Decorating Amazon boxes and used soup cans make great arts and craft projects and excellent organizers! schoolwork has to follow the school day/week schedule, the schoolwork has to only include academic subjects, the kids have to be working on academic work the entire time, socialization is an afterthought when homeschooling, the kids are responsible for schoolwork and parents need to continue all of the housework. How Timeboxing Works and Why it Will Make You More Productive. (n.d.). The one thing that all of those spaces had in common was a dedicated space to store all of our supplies and work.
Harvard Business Review. These are all considerations when building a foundation of trust in a remote or distance learning team with all parties involved.
When we homeschooled, for earlier years, where I had many conference calls, and the kids were younger, we used videos for most of the elective subjects and studied each subject almost every day. Either way, some people are going to be happy and some unhappy, regardless of the plan or approach that is taken. There are also many online tours of national parks, zoos, and aquariums.
Always be appreciative.).
See below for our experience transitioning our kids from homeschooling to public school and considerations/lessons-learned that you might find helpful. Roblox. Some states and districts are surveying parents to find out their comfort level with the options listed above (or others, depending on the state and district).
Best of luck with this years educational adventures. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass, Common Sense Media. (Dont forget to include what you used to keep your fort together tape, staples, clothes pins, etc. Commitment is built on a foundation of trust and constructive conflict. You will need to research your options in your area if this is a deciding factor for you. What we sometimes forget, though, is that our kids are, as well.
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. 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. For gratitude, an easy option to start your day would be to talk about three good or positive things. To this day, we stand by that rule and have had very few issues. You are the parent, and you know what is best for your children. They are asking because they truly care about your children and your input.
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. 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. The standard subjects tend to include math, language arts, science, history or social studies, art, technology, health, physical education, and music. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.roblox.com/, Wiess, S. R. (2020a). 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. The activities in the basket could be anything from printed mazes, cut and paste activities, manipulative for counting, coloring books, etc. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://hellobestow.com/blog/gratitude-games/, Headspace. There are a few things to consider. ), 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? (Note that we do still have the requirement that they add us on all social media accounts so that we can monitor their activities there if we choose to do so.) If your student is overloaded with work, have them work with their teachers and administrators to request extensions or accommodations where needed. (n.d.). Kid-Safe Browsers and Search Sites.
You can ask the school about options for continuing distance learning (if they dont already include that as an option in their fall plans).
It is nice to have a separate table, countertop, or other area that you could leave your work out on all the time, but in most cases, this is not an option. 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. 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. Digital Compass. Many other options exist, just be sure that you are accessing them through sites that you trust. Just take a few deep breaths and enjoy the time you have with your kids, because they really do grow up so fast, and this pandemic and chaos will eventually pass.
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). This is not true, legally. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites, Common Sense Media. Youre Probably Homeschooling Way More Than You Need To. 4) Ensure that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and identify how each will be held accountable and how opportunities for improvements will be identified, evaluated, and implemented. These are legally optional.
The public school administrators where we are were extremely helpful in working with us to determine the best placement. Attention to results is the top and smallest portion of the pyramid. Others may be planning their own lessons and activities. 30 Gratitude Games and Activities for Kids to Practice Thankfulness.
There are so many options available to teach every subject, and many are free.
(2019).
Common Sense Media includes reviews of some books, as well. These extreme stances come with equally strong language, which can be misleading to the new or uninformed, so it is important to make sure you fully understand the true requirements before making decisions, finalizing your plans, and submitting any notices or documentation. 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. ), So, with this conflicting guidance and information, what should you do? These can be accessed here: https://www.headspace.com/covid-19.
They already do for other meetings and for lunch, right?
Well, the best approach comes down to whether this is a temporary or long-term/permanent option for you and your family.
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. How might this impact your childs motivation to do their schoolwork? State Virtual Schools. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://montessori-nw.org/what-is-montessori-education, Roblox.
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.
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. Also, be sure that you are fully informed about what activities are offered or not offered for any who opt into remote or distance learning through the school, as this likely differs on a district by district or school by school basis. (n.d.).
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. https://medium.com/taskworld-blog/lencionis-5-dysfunctions-of-a-team-330d58b2cd81. (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. 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. 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.
When trying to decide what is best, there are always multiple considerations. Connections Academy. (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.). Uncertainty and lack of direction and why can cause unnecessary stress and a lack of commitment. There are many misconceptions about homeschooling, in general, but especially with working and homeschooling. One way to focus and be able to sift through all of the options is to decide what modes you wish to use to teach each of the subjects you selected, and limit your searches to the selected mode for each subject. In these times, I found educational videos that could fill the spaces, where my children could still be learning, but I was able to focus on the meetings and my work. 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. Our children need to be able to disagree and question things when concepts or instructions arent clear to them.
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