I will gather and post a list of the supplies I always kept on hand soon. 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. They already do for other meetings and for lunch, right? 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. 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. (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.) 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. A lesson I learned the hard way many times is that they cant both be done (effectively) at the same time. Common Sense Media provides two different options for digital citizenship education. 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. Remember the CDC guidelines and be innovative in your organization and space planning. https://medium.com/taskworld-blog/lencionis-5-dysfunctions-of-a-team-330d58b2cd81. Retrieved March 16, 2020, from, Zao-Sanders, Marc. 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)? (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://hellobestow.com/blog/gratitude-games/, Headspace. 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. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/age-appropriate-chores/, Grown and Flown. It is important to remember this. (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.). (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. What Are the Non-Core Subjects?. 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. How Timeboxing Works and Why it Will Make You More Productive. These can be accessed here: https://www.headspace.com/covid-19. One option is for grades 3-5, called Digital Passport, and is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport. Roblox. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport, Common Sense Media. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://nu.libguides.com/CommonCore/ccss_publishers. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://www.steamsational.com/free-printable-homeschool-planners/, The new challenge to keep the kids occupied during conference calls is: FORT MAKING!!! 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. 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. 30 Gratitude Games and Activities for Kids to Practice Thankfulness. 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? For gratitude, an easy option to start your day would be to talk about three good or positive things. 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. 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? Current Homeschool Laws. Age-Appropriate Chores. (2020). 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. 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. 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. (n.d.). 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. at the schools themselves, but something to be aware of when asking them for assistance of any kind. 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. Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/611770255064350720/remote-learning-with-khan-academy-during-school, Scholastic. (n.d.). 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. The second consideration is the subjects you wish to teach. There are a few things to consider. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/slideshow/2173553/coronavirus-school-closings-keep-kids-busy/1/, Wiess, S. R. (2020b). How School Closures Can Strengthen Your Family. 3) Identify the delivery mode you want to use for each subject and each child. Just take one step at a time and focus on one goal at a time. 2) Block off the appropriate time for schoolwork on your work calendar and communicate these expectations to your manager and coworkers. Small wins go a long way. You will need to research your options in your area if this is a deciding factor for you. If you plan to homeschool long-term or permanently, focusing on this alignment might not be quite as important or impactful. Its important that parents, educators and administrators clearly define what the goals are and monitor progress toward those goals. 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. 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. One combined list of these is accessible on EarthCam.com, here: https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/. 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 April 19, 2020, from https://montessori-nw.org/what-is-montessori-education, Roblox. Many of our kids had packed schedules of school, sports, and other activities, with barely enough time to grab a sandwich in the car for supper. ), 4) If you choose homeschooling instead of distance learning, are you fully informed of any reporting requirements, regulations, etc. Common Sense Media includes reviews of some books, as well. 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. (2019). 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. 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. 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. (This is the option rated as highest risk by the CDC) (CDC, 2020). 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. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.k12.com/. While I worked and homeschooled, I had a variety of types of jobs, all technical/knowledge-working jobs, some with more flexibility than others. You are the parent, and you know what is best for your children. 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. They are asking because they truly care about your children and your input. (n.d.). These are accessible here: https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/. 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? Best Kids Yoga Videos on YouTube. How might it impact their learning? 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. 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. The public school administrators where we are were extremely helpful in working with us to determine the best placement. But, there is also so much that is fully within our control. The first consideration is the age levels you are teaching. 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). Khan Academy Schedules for School Closures. 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. State Virtual Schools. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/, Montessori Northwest. Trust that everyone is doing their best (whatever their best looks like on a given day) and trust that everyone has the childrens best interest at heart are a couple of others. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.digitallearningcollab.com/state-virtual-schools, HSLDA. Free Printable Homeschool Planners. The third consideration is the mode you wish to use to teach the subjects you have selected. 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. The traditional homeschooling community is extreme in their desire to be unregulated and to have full freedom to educate their children however they wish, with minimal or no governmental intervention or oversight. This is not true, legally. Either way, you will need to allocate time for schooling for your children and for your work. 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. The one thing that all of those spaces had in common was a dedicated space to store all of our supplies and work. We made a decision years ago to provide some independence and ownership of content decisions to our kids, specifically for movies, games, and apps. Making sure others respect your time is actually easier than it might seem at first. 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. Note that this option and how it is implemented differs greatly per state. 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. Common Sense Media. 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. Always be appreciative.). Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub, Khan Academy. Parents need to be able to bring concerns to educators and administrators when things arent working for them and their children. 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. Youre Probably Homeschooling Way More Than You Need To. (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.) In work environments, especially when working on projects, everyone has clearly defined roles and responsibilities which are laid out on a project plan. To this day, we stand by that rule and have had very few issues. Carter, Christine. 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. Here are a few options, as examples: CDC. Being completely clear on goals, roles, and contributions can promote commitment and team cohesion. 3) Clear out, setup and organize your dedicated storage area for your schoolwork and related supplies. 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.). Are you comfortable sending your children to school in the fall, as long as CDC guidelines for schools are followed (CDC, 2020)? Scholastic Learn at Home. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2218929/how-many-hours-homeschooling-per-day/. It is important to understand the risks and the comfort level you have with those risks, and, depending on the approach taken, the health risks for your children and for you (and for everyone in your household). 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. 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. 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. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/current-policy/, Digital Learning Collaborative. Coronavirus Closed Schools: 27 Activities to Keep Kids Busy During School Closures. (Note that this is not a comprehensive list.) (2020). 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 dont have to wait until plans for the fall are released to figure out what you are comfortable (and not comfortable) with. The two most commonly tested subjects in standardized testing tend to be math and language arts, so when we homeschooled, we put the most emphasis on these two subjects, integrating the others as appropriate and as possible. In the middle of the fall, we collectively decided that it was time for the girls to attend public school. The second option is for grades 6-8, called Digital Compass, which is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass. The ability to have an open and honest discussion with their teacher, administrator, or even boss, is a skill that will only help them in their future. 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. Minecraft Official Site. (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). 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. Others split them into pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, grades 1-2, grades 3-5 and grades 6+. 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. Bauer, S. W. (2016). Considerations for Schools. Our children need to be able to disagree and question things when concepts or instructions arent clear to them. Kid-Safe Browsers and Search Sites. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.connectionsacademy.com/, CRHE. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites, Common Sense Media. Retrieved March 16, 2020 from, Center for Disease Control (CDC). 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. If this was or is you, trust me, you are not alone. Some of the common misconceptions include: Lets attempt to address these one by one. 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. (Also, in Connecticut, if your children were never enrolled in a public or private school, no notice of any kind needs to be filed. We cannot control what this pandemic has become or is about to become or the ripple effects it may cause. Its challenging to ensure everyone is on the same page during a normal school year, but even more challenging during a global pandemic. 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. 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. These are all considerations when building a foundation of trust in a remote or distance learning team with all parties involved. (n.d.). (2020). 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. Patrick Lencioni wrote a book called, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, which gives a simple, straightforward way to think about what is needed for teams to function well and to thrive. There are also many online tours of national parks, zoos, and aquariums. 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. Yes, movies sometimes work, but how about something possibly more fun (for you and for them)? Harvard Business Review. (2018). 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. 2) Identify the subjects you would like to teach each of the children. 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. The first major hurdle for the transition was figuring out what grade they should be in. The options are so abundant that it can often be overwhelming, especially for those new to educating their children at home. 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. (n.d.). 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. Its also important to understand what is and what is not likely to happen in the next year curriculum and academic-wise and how that might impact you and your children. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.roblox.com/, Wiess, S. R. (2020a). 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. 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. Starting your day with gratitude and calm activities has been said to start your day off on a positive note. Make a fort out of anything you like (Amazon boxes, sheets, blankets, etc.). While the kids play, you can plan your day(s). 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. (2020). Coronavirus (COVID-19). Trust that everyone is working toward a common goal, for example, is one type of trust. SheKnows.com. 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. This is when choosing distance learning through the school, working with the school on curriculum or even taking advantage of optional portfolio reviews, or employing a certified teacher in a pandemic pod could work out better than doing what we did with creating a custom curriculum. Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic. ), 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. 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. There are many misconceptions about homeschooling, in general, but especially with working and homeschooling. AnimalCams. 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. 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/. Thats all any of us can do, and the only way we are going to figure out what will work is for everyone to be comfortable communicating and providing constructive feedback when things are not working. Stay home and stay safe. 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. 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. So, what options are there? A template for this can be found on many of the CT homeschooling group websites or Facebook pages. Then, your stress levels went through the roof when it didnt all go smoothly with calm, quiet kids and dedicated focus for you. You dont need to go crazy buying organizing supplies. 2) Develop open lines of communication between parents, educators and administrators. You will need to determine, based on the number and ages of children, your work schedule, and any other constraints, what subjects you want to teach and can manage to do so with minimal stress. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://hslda.org/content/orgs/, K12.com. 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.