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. 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. If you are teaching one child, you can skip this section. 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 last thing we need is to waste time searching for books, pencils, paper and other supplies while we are trying to work and homeschool. CommonSenseMedia.org. For other jobs, like when I administered analytics servers, I had more flexibility to design my work day around the desired school schedule. 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. 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. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport, Common Sense Media. For gratitude, an easy option to start your day would be to talk about three good or positive things. Greater Good Magazine. 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). 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. There are many misconceptions about homeschooling, in general, but especially with working and homeschooling. Either way, you will need to allocate time for schooling for your children and for your work. 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. 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. K12. 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. 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. 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. All item(s) must be returned to FASHIONPHILE within thirty (30) days of the purchase date with tags attached and in the original condition in order to receive a full refund. (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. CHANGE LANGUAGE We made a decision years ago to provide some independence and ownership of content decisions to our kids, specifically for movies, games, and apps. Retrieved March 16, 2020, from, Zao-Sanders, Marc. 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.). Item(s) must be postmarked within thirty (30) days of the purchase date. 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. 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. An example of this is a new kindergartener starting homeschool in the first year of school eligibility. FASHIONPHILE is not affiliated with The second consideration is the subjects you wish to teach. Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub, Khan Academy. Taxes: Sales tax will be charged on all items shipped to AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, NE, ND, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI and WV. Almost three years later, I can tell you that it was the right choice for both of them, without a doubt. You can use an existing bingo card, plenty of which are posted for free online. 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. Common Sense Media. 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. 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? To this day, we stand by that rule and have had very few issues. (2020). 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. There are actually more options than you would think, and you are your and your childrens best advocate. Free Printable Homeschool Planners. 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. These are accessible here: https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/. The activities in the basket could be anything from printed mazes, cut and paste activities, manipulative for counting, coloring books, etc. Express & International shipping prices are determined by item size & destination so please add this to your cart and refer to our shipping page for a specific price quote. Weathering the Storm. Starting your day with gratitude and calm activities has been said to start your day off on a positive note. Everything you need to organize your area is probabily already in your home. (n.d.). Khan Academy Schedules for School Closures. (Parents, dont be jealousyou can make forts, tooand even take your conference call from inside your fort, if you want to.). 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. You can then try to save each others sanity by intermittently saying or doing the things you know are on the card, so that everyone has a chance to keep their kids engaged, but quiet (because shhhwe have to hear what is going on, so we dont miss out on a bingo square!). 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. Yours will too. Learn about the Lyst app for iPhone, iPad and Android. ), So, with this conflicting guidance and information, what should you do? SHIPPING IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR LOCATIONS NOT LISTED ABOVE. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://hslda.org/content/orgs/, K12.com. 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 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. If your student is overloaded with work, have them work with their teachers and administrators to request extensions or accommodations where needed. A template for this can be found on many of the CT homeschooling group websites or Facebook pages. (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.) How might this impact your childs motivation to do their schoolwork? (n.d.). Patch pocket at back face. 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). Awake and Mindful. Will you and your children be ok with this or able to handle any repetition or boredom by supplementing with other activities? (n.d.). 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. 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. (PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL BE REDIRECTED TO THE HOMEPAGE OF THE SELECTED LANGUAGE). 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. Sign up for an alert and we'll email you if this item comes back in stock. 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. Foldover flap with logo at flip-clasp fastening. Just take one step at a time and focus on one goal at a time. (2020). Instead of trying to convince your kids why they should be quiet and calm during your conference calls and hoping for the best, you might try giving them specific activities to keep them busy during these times. I will gather and post a list of the supplies I always kept on hand soon. What Are the Non-Core Subjects?. This chic shoulder bag is crafted of crocodile embossed white leather. (2020). Harvard Business Review. What Ill provide below is a brief overview of some of the options for planning the work, starting with four considerations for doing so. 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. Yes, movies sometimes work, but how about something possibly more fun (for you and for them)? Being completely clear on goals, roles, and contributions can promote commitment and team cohesion. 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. (2020). Retrieved March 19, 2020 from https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/, Bestow. (2018). (Remember: If you dont know where you are going, any road will get you there. 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. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass, Common Sense Media. Either way, some people are going to be happy and some unhappy, regardless of the plan or approach that is taken. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.k12.com/. The options are so abundant that it can often be overwhelming, especially for those new to educating their children at home. Current Homeschool Laws. How might it impact their learning? (n.d.). A lesson I learned the hard way many times is that they cant both be done (effectively) at the same time. 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. Please remember that most of the items that we carry have been previously owned. Decorating Amazon boxes and used soup cans make great arts and craft projects and excellent organizers! (This is the option rated as highest risk by the CDC) (CDC, 2020). While the kids play, you can plan your day(s). What is Montessori Education? IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ITEMS IN YOUR BASKET, PLEASE NOTE THAT THEY WIIL BE SHIPPED TO THE COUNTRY YOU WILL SELECT. Accountability is the forth level in the pyramid identified by Lencioni, and aligns closely with constructive conflict and commitment. 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. Administrators have never run schools, districts or boards of education during a global pandemic. A visual representation of the five dysfunctions Lencioni identifies is shown below. Make a fort out of anything you like (Amazon boxes, sheets, blankets, etc.). ), 4) If you choose homeschooling instead of distance learning, are you fully informed of any reporting requirements, regulations, etc. Common Core Resources: Textbook & Publisher Resources. 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. Shipping includes: Insurance, signature confirmation, and top quality packaging. These are all considerations when building a foundation of trust in a remote or distance learning team with all parties involved. 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. Smoothing the transition in our new reality. Headspace, a mindfulness and meditation app, is providing a series of their meditations for free in the midst of the current situation. Its challenging to ensure everyone is on the same page during a normal school year, but even more challenging during a global pandemic. What can your student do to promote these team functions also? Attention to results is the top and smallest portion of the pyramid. Considerations for Schools. The one thing that all of those spaces had in common was a dedicated space to store all of our supplies and work. Many other options exist, just be sure that you are accessing them through sites that you trust. One option is for grades 3-5, called Digital Passport, and is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport. 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. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic, Earthcam. 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/. (2020). 2) Identify the subjects you would like to teach each of the children. The bag features a rear patch pocket, gusseted side panels, a sturdy leather top handle, and an optional, adjustable shoulder strap with polished gold hardware. While you are working on a schedule more customized to you, your kids and your work schedule, two companies, Khan Academy and Scholastic, have recently provided lesson plans and activities free for children who are now staying home due to school closings. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/, Montessori Northwest. 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. So, what options are there? Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews, Focus on the Family. Some subjects that lend themselves to video lessons are art, music, history, and even physical education, for example. On top of a foundation of trust is constructive conflict. Uncertainty and lack of direction and why can cause unnecessary stress and a lack of commitment. 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. ENJOY COMPLIMENTARY SHIPPING AND SIGNATURE SAINT LAURENT PACKAGING FOR ANY ORDER PLACED ON YSL.COM. Carter, Christine. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.roblox.com/, Wiess, S. R. (2020a). 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. (n.d.). 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). Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://montessori-nw.org/what-is-montessori-education, Roblox. (Remember to make the award something you can make, give or do with them at home, and that they can have or do after your conference call is over.). Game Reviews. Saint Laurent. (n.d.). (n.d.). The first consideration is the age levels you are teaching. The public school administrators where we are were extremely helpful in working with us to determine the best placement. 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.commonsensemedia.org/, Common Sense Media. SheKnows.com. Saint Laurent 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. There are a few things to consider. You are the parent, and you know what is best for your children. 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. Coronavirus Closed Schools: 27 Activities to Keep Kids Busy During School Closures. 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. (Dont forget to include what you used to keep your fort together tape, staples, clothes pins, etc. 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. Others may be planning their own lessons and activities. Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Stay home and stay safe. (These are usually set at the state-level and enforced at the district or school-level. How We Rate and Review. 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. The key is not to be happy or unhappy about the approaches, but to be informed. Grownandflown.com. Welltrainedmind.com. See below for our experience transitioning our kids from homeschooling to public school and considerations/lessons-learned that you might find helpful. CHANGE SHIPPING COUNTRY / REGION 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)? ), 2) Do you (and your student) want the ability or option to participate in after school activities? Everything else is a bonus. 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. If this was or is you, trust me, you are not alone. 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). 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. You can research options for full-time online schooling, which some states offer for free (Digital Learning Collaborative, 2018). Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://www.headspace.com/covid-19, Khan Academy (2020). 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. This is an authenticSAINT LAURENT Crocodile Embossed Medium Classic Monogram Cassandra Top Handle in White. 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. Unless otherwise stated, they may not be in absolutely flawless condition. Adjustable and detachable shoulder strap with post-stud fastening. Please pay particular attention to the sizes and measurements. (This is a big deciding factor that can save or cost you a lot of time and stress. (n.d.). Youre Probably Homeschooling Way More Than You Need To. Best of luck with this years educational adventures. 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. 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. How Timeboxing Works and Why it Will Make You More Productive. We cannot control what this pandemic has become or is about to become or the ripple effects it may cause. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2218929/how-many-hours-homeschooling-per-day/. Write a list of the equipment you used to make your fort. SheKnows.com. SHIPPING TO In my classroom, I start my classes off by having my students volunteer to Tell me something good. The good things could literally be anything, and they have ranged from I had a good breakfast this morning, to My football team won last night. If you want to add variety or switch things up a bit, the Bestow Team created a list of 30 gratitude games and activities for kids, accessible here: https://hellobestow.com/blog/gratitude-games/. Are you comfortable sending your children to school in the fall if they are physically opened for attendance? Coronavirus (COVID-19). 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. 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. 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? State Virtual Schools. Common Sense Media includes reviews of some books, as well. ), 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? 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. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.connectionsacademy.com/, CRHE. Minecraft Official Site. Ultimately, only you can decide what is best for you and your children. 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. (2020). In my previous post, I noted that some schools and some districts are providing work for their students, which is great! 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). 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.