Everything you need to organize your area is probabily already in your home. You are the parent, and you know what is best for your children. In my previous post, I noted that some schools and some districts are providing work for their students, which is great! For gratitude, an easy option to start your day would be to talk about three good or positive things. Age-Appropriate Chores. 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 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. 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. 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.). Find a fort posted by someone else and draw a picture of their fort and estimate how many people you think could fit in their fort. 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, you will need to allocate time for schooling for your children and for your work. (2020). Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/age-appropriate-chores/, Grown and Flown. Will you and your children be ok with this or able to handle any repetition or boredom by supplementing with other activities? Well, the best approach comes down to whether this is a temporary or long-term/permanent option for you and your family. 3) Identify the delivery mode you want to use for each subject and each child. 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. 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. 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. Making sure others respect your time is actually easier than it might seem at first. (This is the option rated as highest risk by the CDC) (CDC, 2020). What Ill provide below is a brief overview of some of the options for planning the work, starting with four considerations for doing so. Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/611770255064350720/remote-learning-with-khan-academy-during-school, Scholastic. (n.d.). (n.d.). 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. An example of this is a new kindergartener starting homeschool in the first year of school eligibility. Its important that parents, educators and administrators clearly define what the goals are and monitor progress toward those goals. Its challenging to ensure everyone is on the same page during a normal school year, but even more challenging during a global pandemic. Note that this option and how it is implemented differs greatly per state. 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. How might it impact their learning? Khan Academy Schedules for School Closures. Are you comfortable sending your children to school in the fall, as long as CDC guidelines for schools are followed (CDC, 2020)? (Various factors played into our decision, but one major factor for us was for the girls to have the option to participate in sports, clubs and other activities, and we were living in a location where they were districted into good schools.). 30 Gratitude Games and Activities for Kids to Practice Thankfulness. Kid-Safe Browsers and Search Sites. 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. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic, Earthcam. 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. I present to you the conference call activity challenge for today (03/17/2020): Conference Call Bingo (with your kiddos)! The standard subjects tend to include math, language arts, science, history or social studies, art, technology, health, physical education, and music. Administrators have never run schools, districts or boards of education during a global pandemic. 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. (Parents, dont be jealousyou can make forts, tooand even take your conference call from inside your fort, if you want to.). (n.d.). Why not act like the dedicated school time is just another meeting? Educators need to be able to express concerns to parents and administrators when things arent working for them, their class, or even particular students. Best of luck with this years educational adventures. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport, Common Sense Media. (2018). Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites, Common Sense Media. Think about other ways that you can work to promote trust, constructive conflict, commitment, accountability, and attention to results as part of your students learning team and pick one item to focus on at a time. 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). 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. A great list of them compiled by STEAMsational is accessible here: https://www.steamsational.com/free-printable-homeschool-planners/. (n.d.). The most effective approach I found was to create a basket of schoolwork for the toddler and let her choose her schoolwork from the basket. 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. If you decide you are not comfortable sending your child to their current school in the fall, what options do you have? 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? 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. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.roblox.com/, Wiess, S. R. (2020a). The third consideration is the mode you wish to use to teach the subjects you have selected. Parents need to be able to bring concerns to educators and administrators when things arent working for them and their children. Common Sense Media. 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. 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). Awake and Mindful has collected five yoga videos for kids that might be one option for a calm activity to start off the day. If you have chosen to homeschool instead of opt into distance learning through your school, and the option is temporary, you may wish to file the notice of intent to homeschool and proceed to work closely with the school to ensure the smoothest transition back into the school when the time is right. There are many options for finding safe content online for kids. Roblox. (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.) 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. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews, Focus on the Family. (n.d.). A template for this can be found on many of the CT homeschooling group websites or Facebook pages. 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. (2018). Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://hslda.org/content/orgs/, K12.com. (n.d.). Digital Compass. Are you comfortable sending your children to school in the fall if they are physically opened for attendance? But, there is also so much that is fully within our control. (2020). 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). If you are teaching one child, you can skip this section. Weathering the Storm. Florida is more strict, but does have umbrella schools that allow for smoother navigation of the requirements. Being completely clear on goals, roles, and contributions can promote commitment and team cohesion. 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). You will need to research your options in your area if this is a deciding factor for you. The fourth consideration is the schedule of the subjects you have selected to teach. 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. 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. (n.d.). Common Sense Media includes reviews of some books, as well. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2218929/how-many-hours-homeschooling-per-day/. You can use an existing bingo card, plenty of which are posted for free online. at the schools themselves, but something to be aware of when asking them for assistance of any kind. 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. 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!). AnimalCams. 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/. 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. While the kids play, you can plan your day(s). 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. 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. ), 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? Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://welltrainedmind.com/a/what-are-the-non-core-subjects/?v=7516fd43adaa, Common Sense Media (n.d.). Make a fort out of anything you like (Amazon boxes, sheets, blankets, etc.). One option is for grades 3-5, called Digital Passport, and is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.digitallearningcollab.com/state-virtual-schools, HSLDA. (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. For parents looking online for content for their children, who may not be familiar with different websites, movies or apps, or unsure how to tell what might be safe or age-appropriate, this post is for you. 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. 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. 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. SheKnows.com. School and schoolwork does not have to be an all-or-nothing situation. The first consideration is the age levels you are teaching. 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. The pause for them is a huge change and requires adjustment, but provides an opportunity for us, as parents, to teach them how to slow down and be ok with being bored or finding their own activities. 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. 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. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.connectionsacademy.com/, CRHE. For other jobs, like when I administered analytics servers, I had more flexibility to design my work day around the desired school schedule. 2) Block off the appropriate time for schoolwork on your work calendar and communicate these expectations to your manager and coworkers. 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. There are so many options available to teach every subject, and many are free. 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. ), Have your parent/guardian take a picture of your fort, with the list of equipment used and post it to Twitter using the hashtag #fortchallenge and tag @HomeschoolWork. See below for our experience transitioning our kids from homeschooling to public school and considerations/lessons-learned that you might find helpful. 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. 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. 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. You can research options for full-time online schooling, which some states offer for free (Digital Learning Collaborative, 2018). We have never parented (or helped our kids with remote learning) during a global pandemic. Ultimately, only you can decide what is best for you and your children. Digital Passport. It is important to remember this. (n.d.). Then, your stress levels went through the roof when it didnt all go smoothly with calm, quiet kids and dedicated focus for you. There are many misconceptions about homeschooling, in general, but especially with working and homeschooling. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://nu.libguides.com/CommonCore/ccss_publishers. Focusonthefamily.com. 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. Others may be planning their own lessons and activities. 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. So, what options are there? (Dont forget to include what you used to keep your fort together tape, staples, clothes pins, etc. 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. Considerations for Schools. ), 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. Common Sense Media provides two different options for digital citizenship education. Without clearly defined roles and goals, it is difficult to hold team members accountable for their contributions to the team and to the teams success. One combined list of these is accessible on EarthCam.com, here: https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/. If you are unsure, Common Sense Media is a great place to start. A visual representation of the five dysfunctions Lencioni identifies is shown below. Accountability involves all levels, including our children consistently being held responsible for their work. Many other options exist, just be sure that you are accessing them through sites that you trust. 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. This is a great time to have the conversation with your manager about the priorities of the work currently assigned to you, the hours they expect, or require, you to be available, and where flexibility does (and does not) exist in your schedule, workload and work-related responsibilities. 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. Almost three years later, I can tell you that it was the right choice for both of them, without a doubt. 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. Here are a few suggestions of where we might start: 1) Develop (and ensure everyone knows and understands) clearly defined goals. You dont have to wait until plans for the fall are released to figure out what you are comfortable (and not comfortable) with. 3) All members of the team should remember that discomfort leads to growth and work on being ok with being held accountable, with hearing feedback that they dont really want to hear, and with giving honest, constructive feedback to other members of the team when things arent working well. 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. Best Kids Yoga Videos on YouTube. This is not true, legally. 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. Always be appreciative.).

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