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As parents take on the role of educating their children at home, while they participate in “distance learning” during school closures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, many are seeking advice.
Jamie Heston, a home-schooling parent who is on the board of the Homeschool Association of California and is a home-schooling consultant, addressed some of the most common questions parents are asking. Below are excerpts from that interview.
Q: What advice do you have for parents who now find themselves essentially home-schooling their children?
A: I have five basic tips:
Q. How can parents help children meet their teachers’ goals?
A. I would be really communicative with the teacher. Ask, “What is really necessary here? Could we do baking and double recipes instead of a math lesson?” I would be talking with the teachers about what you’re doing at home and what you could use to meet a requirement they may have. Everybody’s kind of reacting differently. Keep communicating with your children’s teacher about the best way to meet requirements and what you can do instead, if it’s not working for you or your kid.
Q. Should parents establish daily schedules?
A. What is so awesome about homeschooling is that what I do is different from what you do. You should do what works for your family. If your kids need a schedule, do it. If they like online classes, do them. If online classes make them agitated, don’t do them. That’s the beauty here. I can’t tell you that you should do a schedule or should not. You do what’s best for you. It takes trial and error. There’s no right and wrong. From child to child, it may be different. There is no one size fits all. That’s what’s so great about it, but also scary. You’re doing what is perfect for them in the moment.
Q. What about children with special needs? Many parents worry they won’t get the services they need if they’re not in school.
A. Children who have special needs benefit from differentiated instruction, including those who are gifted. They take more time and attention and that can be stressful for the parents. I recommend trying to help them continue learning in real life (#3 above) as much as possible. But when there’s resistance in our children, take a break and do something different. Don’t just push through because the child probably is not learning in that moment. A lot of kids will have IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) in schools and need special accommodations because of the environment in a classroom with 30 kids. Sometimes, when kids are home, these (behavior-related) accommodations are not necessary. For example, a child could be bouncing a ball while I read to them. You couldn’t do that in a classroom with 30 students. So, that’s a positive. Hopefully, this situation will be short-term and they can continue to receive help. But some of their needs might be mitigated by homeschooling. Again, try not to replicate school at home with special needs children (#1 above).
Q. What about mental health concerns for students who may become depressed, anxious or stressed about missing school?
A. It is important to support children’s emotional well-being. There are resources for meditation and mindfulness. It’s also important that everybody gets their priorities right regarding the academics of the child. The priority should be that everybody be OK. I have done consulting with families about a year ago (before the coronavirus) who had children who were suicidal, based on major life issues. We would talk about what’s best for the child now. If the child is in therapy, what are the things they love to do and are interested in? Because if they’re not on the planet, it doesn’t matter if they know Algebra II. It’s really about remembering priorities — that they be OK first. If not, it doesn’t matter what they’re learning. That applies in this (coronavirus) situation. Families have got to be fed and work has to get done. Kids can still learn a lot within that framework. If you’re dealing with these types of major mental health challenges, you’re going to do things you love and are interested in. Gradually, as your child gets better, you add in other academics, as your child can handle it.
Q. Is there any way to view this situation as an opportunity that could benefit kids and families?
A. Someone posted to my Facebook group a blogger’s response to this idea that kids might get behind. The post said, “What if instead of ‘behind,’ this group of kids is advanced because of this?” It said these kids could have more empathy, enjoy family connections, be more creative and better able to entertain themselves, love to read and express themselves in writing. They may enjoy simple things like their back yards and notice the birds and flowers and “the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower.” They may learn to cook, to organize, do laundry and to stretch a dollar and get along with less. They may learn the value of sharing meals with their families, and place great value on teachers and public servants who were “previously invisible,” like grocers, custodians and healthcare workers. And “what if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life?” What if this slower pace is a huge gift? I just love that take on it. Possibly. We shall see. Maybe so.
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Comments (5)
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Ashley Wright 3 years ago3 years ago
Great read!!! Thanks for sharing the advises, this will help homeschoolers.
Mindy 4 years ago4 years ago
Thank you! Great article!
Teresa 4 years ago4 years ago
While I totally agree with your article, that isn’t the way it is being handled here in Southwest Florida. The students are required to complete a given amount of assignments in each lesson on a daily basis. They are constantly changing the rules without regards for any of the turmoil the children are already experiencing. Gotta go, I have to assist my 15 year old grandson with his second of three Algebra exams scheduled for this week.
Cynthia 4 years ago4 years ago
Thank you, this was very well put together, this is a great resource I will use with my parents, family and friends.
Joasia Garza 4 years ago4 years ago
Thank you so much for this. I do not have children but many of my friends, family members and co-workers have been so concerned about “taking it all on”. Sharing this much needed resource.