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. Carter, Christine. (Remember: If you dont know where you are going, any road will get you there. (n.d.). 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. Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Considerations for Schools. Retrieved March 19, 2020 from https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/, Bestow. You can research options for full-time online schooling, which some states offer for free (Digital Learning Collaborative, 2018). For gratitude, an easy option to start your day would be to talk about three good or positive things. Yours will too.

It is also an opportunity for us to find ways for our kids to help around the house and to teach them new life skills that are no longer taught in schools. Headspace, a mindfulness and meditation app, is providing a series of their meditations for free in the midst of the current situation. Administrators have never run schools, districts or boards of education during a global pandemic. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/, Common Sense Media. Bauer, S. W. (2016). For later years (grades 3-5 and 6-8) we elected to study math and language arts every day, and study science, history/social studies, art and music one day per week each, leaving the additional day (which happened to be Friday for us) for making up work we didnt complete earlier in the week. 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. Below, I will provide a few options and considerations for finding content for your children that is age-appropriate and safe for them, as well as being safe for you and your computer. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://nu.libguides.com/CommonCore/ccss_publishers. If you are teaching more than one child, you will need to decide, based on their ages, maturity levels and possibly reading levels, whether you need to plan separate work for each, or whether you can plan once and have them all working on the same work. While the kids play, you can plan your day(s). Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass, Common Sense Media. 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. 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. 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.). 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. (n.d.). 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. State Virtual Schools. Make a fort out of anything you like (Amazon boxes, sheets, blankets, etc.). In Connecticut, the only thing you are legally required to do is file with your local board of education a letter of Notice of Withdrawal. The first major hurdle for the transition was figuring out what grade they should be in. 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. 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). 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. Welltrainedmind.com. Always be appreciative.). (n.d.). It is important to remember this. What we sometimes forget, though, is that our kids are, as well. A template for this can be found on many of the CT homeschooling group websites or Facebook pages. A visual representation of the five dysfunctions Lencioni identifies is shown below. 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. Awake and Mindful has collected five yoga videos for kids that might be one option for a calm activity to start off the day. Greater Good Magazine. 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. If this was or is you, trust me, you are not alone. (2020). Here are a few suggestions of where we might start: 1) Develop (and ensure everyone knows and understands) clearly defined goals. 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. To avoid things becoming disorganized, piling up, getting dirty during meals, etc., it is best to dedicate a shelf or whole bookshelf to the schoolwork, books and all related equipment. If your student is overloaded with work, have them work with their teachers and administrators to request extensions or accommodations where needed. How We Rate and Review. (n.d.). Homeschool Organizations. Trust that everyone is working toward a common goal, for example, is one type of trust. Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://hellobestow.com/blog/gratitude-games/, Headspace. (This is a big deciding factor that can save or cost you a lot of time and stress. 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? If you want to really make it fun and engaging with everyone involved, you or the meeting organizer can make up a bingo card and send it out to everyone on the call. Others split them into pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, grades 1-2, grades 3-5 and grades 6+. Scholastic Learn at Home. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites, Common Sense Media. These are all considerations when building a foundation of trust in a remote or distance learning team with all parties involved. Then, your stress levels went through the roof when it didnt all go smoothly with calm, quiet kids and dedicated focus for you. So, what options are there? Digital Passport. 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. 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. Coronavirus Closed Schools: 27 Activities to Keep Kids Busy During School Closures. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.connectionsacademy.com/, CRHE. Khan Academy Schedules for School Closures.

(2020). (Many states do not allow homeschoolers to participate in activities at the public school, but some states do. Florida is more strict, but does have umbrella schools that allow for smoother navigation of the requirements. 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. Age-Appropriate Chores. In the middle of the fall, we collectively decided that it was time for the girls to attend public school. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport, Common Sense Media. The public school administrators where we are were extremely helpful in working with us to determine the best placement. 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. Common Sense Media. 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. We have never parented (or helped our kids with remote learning) during a global pandemic. 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. 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. 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 March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic, Earthcam. 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. Digital Compass. (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.) We homeschooled in many different locations, including a multifamily house where we had a full room dedicated to homeschooling, my parents house where we had an area in the basement, our family members kitchen counters, and even an RV, when we traveled around the US. Coronavirus (COVID-19). Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://hslda.org/legal, HSLDA. Focusonthefamily.com. 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. They had to tell us the recommended ages by Common Sense Media, parents and kids and were only allowed to watch movies, play games or download/use apps that were 2 years over the lowest age recommended out of the three. When I started homeschooling and working from home, we had one preschooler and one toddler. Harvard Business Review. Enjoy! (n.d.2). Remember the CDC guidelines and be innovative in your organization and space planning. Commitment is built on a foundation of trust and constructive conflict. Best Kids Yoga Videos on YouTube. (Various factors played into our decision, but one major factor for us was for the girls to have the option to participate in sports, clubs and other activities, and we were living in a location where they were districted into good schools.). The CRHE and HSLDA do a great job of keeping up with the current state regulations and how they are implemented (along with your legal rights and options as a homeschooler) (CRHE, n.d.; HSLDA, n.d.). Hopefully, you have found this content helpful, and are on your way to planning a (relativelythey are our awesome kids, after all) calm, fun and enjoyable adventure educating your children at home while working. But, there is also so much that is fully within our control. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html, Connectiond Academy. Starting your day with gratitude and calm activities has been said to start your day off on a positive note. You can ask the school about options for continuing distance learning (if they dont already include that as an option in their fall plans). (Also, in Connecticut, if your children were never enrolled in a public or private school, no notice of any kind needs to be filed. While I worked and homeschooled, I had a variety of types of jobs, all technical/knowledge-working jobs, some with more flexibility than others. 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. There are actually more options than you would think, and you are your and your childrens best advocate. 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. 2) Identify the subjects you would like to teach each of the children. 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. 3) Clear out, setup and organize your dedicated storage area for your schoolwork and related supplies. Common Sense Media includes reviews of some books, as well. I was in the same situation as many of you, having to figure out what to do to keep the toddler busy while working with the preschooler. that you will be bound by? Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/611770255064350720/remote-learning-with-khan-academy-during-school, Scholastic. (These are usually set at the state-level and enforced at the district or school-level. As part of a successful, high-performing and well-functioning team, we have to work together as a team toward common goals, just like a sports team or a project team in an organization. One option is for grades 3-5, called Digital Passport, and is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport. The third consideration is the mode you wish to use to teach the subjects you have selected. Lets face it, we are all in survival mode right now, and trying to claim anything else would be misleading. There are so many options available to teach every subject, and many are free. This is not true, legally. 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. You will need to determine what is best for you and your children.

In sports psychology, life coaching and other venues recently, youve likely heard the term locus of control or phrases like control the controllables. Situations like the pandemic we are currently experiencing bring to light the true meaning of these phrases, as there is so much that is truly out of our control. 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/. ), 4) If you choose homeschooling instead of distance learning, are you fully informed of any reporting requirements, regulations, etc. 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). School and schoolwork does not have to be an all-or-nothing situation. 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. Many state and local education-related publications have language that indicates that the notice of intent to homeschool and the portfolio reviews are required. 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? (2020).

Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub, Khan Academy. (2019). Either way, some people are going to be happy and some unhappy, regardless of the plan or approach that is taken. Well, the best approach comes down to whether this is a temporary or long-term/permanent option for you and your family. (2020). 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. Small wins go a long way. These are legally optional. Although Im not fully convinced that this is the best approach to managing your time, the concept of Timeboxing is similar to the approach Ive recommended above. One combined list of these is accessible on EarthCam.com, here: https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/. While we await final proposals for opening of schools in the fall from states and local districts, we are all asking what if? What if schools open as usual in the fall at full capacity? We made a decision years ago to provide some independence and ownership of content decisions to our kids, specifically for movies, games, and apps. 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 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. They are asking because they truly care about your children and your input. Montana requires a notice of intent to homeschool to be submitted to the local Superintendent of Schools, but does not require any other forms or portfolio review, etc. 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. (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.). Common Sense Media provides two different options for digital citizenship education. How Timeboxing Works and Why it Will Make You More Productive. Our toddler also participated, at an age-appropriate level, in virtual field trips, science experiments, and other educational activities with her sister. 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.

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