Homeschooling: Quick Tips from an Educator and Behaviorist
We are all about to have a CRASH course in homeschooling. The homeschool crowd is proud that they have been doing this all along. The rest of us? This is a whirlwind! It can be stressful at times, given that kids think they are having days off from school. But it can also be really rewarding at times, watching our children succeed in ways we normally don’t get to witness. And we get to feel really successful that we taught them! Here are some quick tips to make sure that you make the most of these days out of school:
Routine, routine, routine: You’ve probably all heard it by now. Establishing a routine during times of emergencies is extremely important and good for children. They might enjoy the extra downtime, but they need structure. Go ahead and give them plenty of breaks and time to have fun but build it into an overarching structure. Some parents and caregivers find it helpful to make a daily schedule (9-9:30 science, 9:30-10 math, etc.). There are a lot of examples of these online, and how to implement them. But, don’t sacrifice great learning moments in order to stick to a rigid structure. That’s where tip #2 comes in.
Flexibility: This is also a time where your child’s education can be entirely individualized. Take advantage of that! If they become interested in an activity and it is taking up more time because you’re expounding on the topic, or if they need more time because they are struggling a bit, allow the extra time. Avoid rushing them through it. You may find that you need to back up what you’re doing, slow it down, or teach a prerequisite. Go ahead! You have PLENTY of time! Teachers spend time handing out materials, getting the class settled, dealing with interruptions, collecting materials, etc. that you do not have to deal with. Research shows that their “time on task” isn’t nearly the entire 6 hours. You can teach your lessons much faster with only your child/ren. This gives you more time to teach more precisely to their needs, preferences, and interests – moving faster or slower as they need you to. Be flexible!!!
Exercise: Exercise and fresh air is a MANDATORY part of the school day. Children in the United States are required by law to have physical education and recess periods. Do not allow your child to stay inside all day. Be sure to take breaks to dance, go for a quick walk (even 5 to 10 minutes will help!), do a short workout video from YouTube (such as Go Noodle Pump It Up!), or do some yard work. It is important that children get exercise, not just for their physical health, but for their mental fitness and emotional regulation. You’ll find that you have a much easier time teaching them, that their attention is better, and that they have an elevated mood. Not too mention, it will entice them to drink water, which is great during this viral outbreak.
Approaching the Table: Once you’ve decided on your schedule (keeping it loose!), you need to show your child that this homeschooling thing isn’t going to be too painful. Get them to the table or desk with an engaging, short, task. Perhaps you want to look up a quick science experiment (like the one in this video of kids learning about the spread of germs!) or do a brief assignment that is in their “wheelhouse,” something that they are good at or feel confident in. No matter what, avoid starting off with hard work that you must struggle through with them. This is a learning experience for everyone! Get started on the right foot and try to make it light and fun whenever you can.
Explore!: Use this list of all the free resources to find online learning tools! So many companies are offering free subscriptions to websites that typically have a monthly fee. Take advantage of these! Also, many museums and zoos are offering live videos and online events to provide immersive learning experiences while we are all stuck at home!
Use Themes: Teaching with themes can be really beneficial to tie all of the information together. For example, if you were teaching about life or water cycles, you could start with an ELA section with non-fiction information to read and write about. Then, you could read a fictional story about a chick or caterpillar. In math, count eggs or do addition by popping open plastic Easter eggs with different amounts of pom poms inside. When you go out for your walk for PE, talk about the clouds in the water cycle, or try to find evidence of a life cycle. Themes keep children engaged in the topic, build up the concept in a multi-faceted way, and engage all of the senses with various learning experiences. Think of ways to build themes when you can.
Patience and Grace: We need 2 giant helpings of these every day. Start your day with some deep breathing or yoga with the kids. Maybe you can kick off the day with your favorite game or physical activity to get them started off in a good mood. When things go off the rails, pause and reset. Because they will. And it’s ok. Even the best educators are home with their own kids figuring out what to do on the fly. Be patient with yourself. Be graceful towards yourself. Then, you will have an easier time expressing these qualities to your children and you’ll set an example of how we handle crises.