"Crisis Schooling"

Hello!  In the middle of the crisis of the Coronavirus COVID-19, many of us are suddenly finding ourselves at home with our families all day.  Some of us have been thrust into the situation, when our normal routine was to get all the kids up and ready and dropped off to school in the morning, while the parents go to work for the day, but suddenly these families are at home, working and trying to complete school assignments online, all at the same time.  Others of us have already chosen to educate our children at home for a wide variety of reasons and although we are at home regularly with our children, we are also used to having the freedom to participate in many outside activities in our communities on a regular basis, just like all of the families whose children attend brick and mortar schools.  COVID-19 has changed life for all of us, from all kinds of educational backgrounds.  Preschool to college students have all been affected around our country and around the world by the closing of their daycares, schools, and universities.  So many teachers, educators, instructors, and professors, have also had their school routines interrupted.  We have all been affected by this crisis in all walks of life.  There is no doubt.

During this sudden shift of shutting down to "essential personnel" and "stay at home" orders from our governments while we are going through this crisis, large numbers of people in America are calling this new situation "homeschooling" and although many families are striving to complete school assignments and activities from their homes, it is quite different than true parent directed home education.  Suddenly doing online learning activities at home without any preparation must feel like a shock to so many people right now, parents, children, and teachers alike.  It's a changing situation where the teachers are adjusting and trying to figure out the needs of their students and the families are trying to figure out the technology and how to accomplish what is being asked of them.  I have recently heard this new situation called "crisis schooling" or "suddenly-at-home-schooling" and I feel like these are a more accurate description than "home schooling".

Home schooling, or home education, as I prefer to call it, is more than where you do school work; it is a way of life or a lifestyle of learning.  It can look so many different ways because each family is unique and each state in the U.S. has their own laws about education.  However, true home education is in essence where the parents in the home are directing their child's education, not the government or another outside institution, such as a school.  I have taught in both public and private schools before choosing to educate our children at home when they were very young, in 2006.

One of the gifts of home education is the freedom to select or design curriculum for each unique child and their abilities, gifts, and challenges.  That often looks very different than children sitting in front of a computer screen to complete online tasks each day for all of their subjects, although that can be one totally valid way to help students learn.  There are endless combinations of how parents and teachers can direct the education of their students, so please understand that this sudden mandated e-learning across the country is not the norm for home school families.

Many of us want to read aloud with our children, share stories and values with them as we teach, in person, and open their minds and their worlds to wonderful adventures, new ideas, and fantastic experiences, just like many teachers in other school settings.  Lots of home educators prefer for their children to be reading real books, participating in real life activities, using their minds, bodies, and voices to learn with their family or with other groups of friends.  Home schoolers also coordinate homeschool communities, co-ops, and other groups to support each other in real life and online.  All of us have had to make changes in our everyday lives and our approach to educating our children.  Let's support one another, but understand that each home is having a unique experience during this time of crisis. 

Whether you suddenly find yourself teaching your kids at home or you have been doing it for awhile, I hope that my experiences as a full-time mother and home educator for the last nineteen years can help you in some way.  We are all adjusting to a new normal.  I am going to share some tips in the month of April that have helped me through the long days of working in my home, amidst my children, pets, and household responsibilities.  Do you have any questions or tips of your own to share?  It really is true that the days seem long, but the years are short.  Let's try to help each other find ways to enjoy our families during this difficult time.