Forced to homeschool?
A haiku for you.
Forced into homeschool.
A choice that was never yours.
20/21 sucks.
You did not choose this lot in life. This was not the plan. You love your kids, you are a fantastic parent. But really, WHAT THE HECK? You have a different life, well you had one. The kids went off to school, and had great adventures to share at the end of the day. In the grown up world, you pondered big things, you solved complex problems, you talked to adults and earned an income. The academic degree you strived, sweated and toiled to get was utilized every day. And now third grade math is your sentence.
NO. How did we get here? Hindsight has many opinions, theories and narratives to attempt to answer those questions, but honestly it doesn't matter now. Here we are. Perhaps I can offer a sliver of hope.
Once the mainstream popular opinion was that only crazy mountain dwellers in denim jumpers homeschool.
Homeschoolers are not normal, and dang it, normal is what you were aiming for.
Fear not. The educational goulash that has descended upon our nation is not “homeschooling” as we historically have known it to be.
Yes, your kids are being educated at home. Yes they are underfoot, in your hair, and all up in your grill 24/7 now. So by definition perhaps “homeschool” is an adequate term. However I submit it is not an adequate definition of the concept.
Crisis schooling, E schooling, online schooling, part time brick and mortar /hybrid, zoom school. So many titles, and so many different nuances to consider.
The biggest difference is, that these new schooling options will evolve and get polished, we will get used to them and the confusion and frustration will wane. Teachers will get the hang of things, parents and students will find the groove. Perhaps we will love it more, or hate it altogether. But change it will.
Teachers are working tirelessly (or perhaps exhaustively) to make this situation work. Drawing on years of education, training, experience and more training. They are tapping into the love they have for your kids, and the drive that brought them to the life choice of being a teacher.
Please with grace in your hearts, keep in mind they did not choose this either. This was not how they are trained to teach. This is not what they signed up for. They are stepping up, and giving it all they have to make it work.
I can’t help with most of the particulars of this model, it is not what I do.
Tap into other Covid-forced-home-education-helpers and see what works for them. Try different things and share what works. Just like the homeschool community, you can rely on each other and learn together to find solutions that will help you and your children thrive.
Some of the other articles here may be of help to you in this "temporary crazy" that is your life, I hope they do!
If you are still reading, you may be considering withdrawing your child from the government school system and homeschooling on your own terms. If so, you can do it. It is legal, and you are more likely than not, equipped to not only meet the minimum requirements but THRIVE.
So what’s the difference? Once you consider homeschooling, massive research ensues (we can’t help it!). Who homeschools? Why do they homeschool? Is it even legal here? What about socialization? What curriculum do I have to use? Will my family form a full on mutiny? Will my friends disown me? Am I even qualified to homeschool? What if I can’t teach Calculus? Do I need to buy a high powered microscope, or is 10x power enough? The questions do not stop. *Spoiler alert, the questions NEVER stop.
I urge you to keep the legal boundaries for homeschooling in your state, in mind as you read advice and ideas here. I am not an attorney. I am not remotely well versed in the laws of all 50 states. I do know at this writing, that it is LEGAL in every state, and the laws of each state in regards to homeschooling vary widely.
Your first assignment in deciding to homeschool full time is to research your state's law, and reach out if need be to your local homeschool community for particulars. Once you are legal, the rest is up to you. If choices are ill-gotten, wrong or just plain bad choices, you can change the plan at will! Freedom and power, and all the responsibility that goes with it, these are your new companions.
As is true of most decisions in life, this is not an irreversible decision. If you withdraw your kids, and school on your own terms. Choose your own curriculum and schedule, adventure and enjoy a year at home (or even less) together, you aren’t bound by this route.
I have known many families that have changed the course after a season of homeschooling.
I also know some that bring kids home for pivotal years in development and then send them back to government or private school. Especially in this crazy season (2020-2021), a change of plan is totally acceptable.
Kids catch up, they will learn, WE CAN”T STOP THEM!
Ok, to be perfectly honest it is true I have not tried to get in the way intentionally, or inhibit the learning process of my children. However if it were completely up to my teaching prowess and stellar instructional expertise, some years there would have been zero progress. Some years, I fed them (or gave them access to food), birthed a sibling, renovated the house, moved from one coast to the other. Some years the schedule was loose to say the least. Test scores showed me the formal part of our day had not much to do with the learning.
Bottom line, if you stop in or stay all the way through, you are welcome here in homeschool land!
~Jeanette
