Administrators need to be able to raise concerns when they see inactivity and absences, to agree or disagree with reasons behind them, and then for everyone to be able to constructively discuss options for solutions, and even test out different solutions (and yes, sometimes fail and try something else). Well, the best approach comes down to whether this is a temporary or long-term/permanent option for you and your family. 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. For those that had more meetings than others, I allocated the time for the meetings first, and then figured out what schoolwork I could fit in. 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. 2) Identify the subjects you would like to teach each of the children. (Also, in Connecticut, if your children were never enrolled in a public or private school, no notice of any kind needs to be filed. 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. 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? As parents, educators, and administrators, (and our children) we are all part of a team with a common goal of ensuring that our children are safe, cared for, and that their learning is promoted and supported in all ways possible. Considerations for Schools. 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. Some of the common misconceptions include: Lets attempt to address these one by one. These are accessible here: https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/. One option is for grades 3-5, called Digital Passport, and is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport. (n.d.). Accountability involves all levels, including our children consistently being held responsible for their work. (2020). Digital Compass. You dont need to go crazy buying organizing supplies. (n.d.). Below, I will provide a few options and considerations for finding content for your children that is age-appropriate and safe for them, as well as being safe for you and your computer. You can ask the school about options for continuing distance learning (if they dont already include that as an option in their fall plans). (Note that this is not a comprehensive list.) (n.d.). The key is not to be happy or unhappy about the approaches, but to be informed. Game Reviews. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.connectionsacademy.com/, CRHE. They are asking because they truly care about your children and your input. 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. Carter, Christine. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2218929/how-many-hours-homeschooling-per-day/. Smoothing the transition in our new reality. Focusonthefamily.com. SheKnows.com. (2020). Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://www.headspace.com/covid-19, Khan Academy (2020). For example, if you choose to homeschool or opt for distance learning to start with in the fall, will you want to send your children back to school (this year or in the future)? (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.) (n.d.). 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. In all honesty, because we got sick of answering the question of Can we watch? questions, we came up with a specific rule to guide their choices. We have never parented (or helped our kids with remote learning) during a global pandemic. What Are the Non-Core Subjects?. The state, on the other hand, wants to have as much control and oversight as possible, in many cases. Coronavirus Closed Schools: 27 Activities to Keep Kids Busy During School Closures. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/current-policy/, Digital Learning Collaborative. Just take one step at a time and focus on one goal at a time. 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? Its important that parents, educators and administrators clearly define what the goals are and monitor progress toward those goals. 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? The truth is that our kids (or any of us, for that matter) have never learned or gone to school (in person, hybrid or online) during a global pandemic. The options are so abundant that it can often be overwhelming, especially for those new to educating their children at home. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://nu.libguides.com/CommonCore/ccss_publishers. (Dont forget to include what you used to keep your fort together tape, staples, clothes pins, etc. Retrieved March 16, 2020 from, Center for Disease Control (CDC). The first consideration is the age levels you are teaching. 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.). 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. If you plan to homeschool long-term or permanently, focusing on this alignment might not be quite as important or impactful. 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. 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. What can your student do to promote these team functions also? 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. (n.d.). The fourth consideration is the schedule of the subjects you have selected to teach. Uncertainty and lack of direction and why can cause unnecessary stress and a lack of commitment. Being completely clear on goals, roles, and contributions can promote commitment and team cohesion. 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. (2020). 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. 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. 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. (2020). Kid-Safe Browsers and Search Sites. 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). Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub, Khan Academy. 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. Youre Probably Homeschooling Way More Than You Need To. 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. So, what options are there? Common Sense Media includes reviews of some books, as well. Common Core Resources: Textbook & Publisher Resources. Digital Passport. Either way, some people are going to be happy and some unhappy, regardless of the plan or approach that is taken. 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. What we sometimes forget, though, is that our kids are, as well. Headspace, a mindfulness and meditation app, is providing a series of their meditations for free in the midst of the current situation. 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. (n.d.). Coronavirus (COVID-19). Everything else is a bonus. It is important to remember this. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites, Common Sense Media. 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. In the middle of the fall, we collectively decided that it was time for the girls to attend public school. If yours has not done so, or you would like to supplement the work provided to your kids, there are many approaches to doing so. CommonSenseMedia.org. 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. There are many misconceptions about homeschooling, in general, but especially with working and homeschooling. These are legally optional. 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. Awake and Mindful. There are so many different aspects and layers of trust, as well. 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. Always be appreciative.). Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://montessori-nw.org/what-is-montessori-education, Roblox. 5) Choose activities to start your day off on a calm and positive note. For those who are not experienced or knowledgeable about publishers used for K-12 education, the National University Library System has a list on their website, accessible here: https://nu.libguides.com/CommonCore/ccss_publishers. Here are a few options, as examples: CDC. Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/611770255064350720/remote-learning-with-khan-academy-during-school, Scholastic. Are you comfortable sending your children to school in the fall if they are physically opened for attendance? The CRHE and HSLDA do a great job of keeping up with the current state regulations and how they are implemented (along with your legal rights and options as a homeschooler) (CRHE, n.d.; HSLDA, n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass, Common Sense Media. 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. You will need to determine what is best for you and your children. Homeschool Organizations. If your student is overloaded with work, have them work with their teachers and administrators to request extensions or accommodations where needed. The second consideration is the subjects you wish to teach. 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 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. 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. Why not act like the dedicated school time is just another meeting? Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html, STEAMsational. 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. Common Sense Media. Lets face it, we are all in survival mode right now, and trying to claim anything else would be misleading. What Ill provide below is a brief overview of some of the options for planning the work, starting with four considerations for doing so. 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. One is that everyone (or nearly everyone) you work with is in the same boat right now, so they understand the need to balance, and you shouldnt be shy about sharing what you are trying to accomplish. (n.d.). In Connecticut, the only thing you are legally required to do is file with your local board of education a letter of Notice of Withdrawal. 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. 30 Gratitude Games and Activities for Kids to Practice Thankfulness. There are actually more options than you would think, and you are your and your childrens best advocate. 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. https://medium.com/taskworld-blog/lencionis-5-dysfunctions-of-a-team-330d58b2cd81. 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.