9 0 obj 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. (Featured Video). Common Sense Media provides two different options for digital citizenship education. 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. Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub, Khan Academy. $.' How might it impact their learning? There are many misconceptions about homeschooling, in general, but especially with working and homeschooling. 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. Grownandflown.com. (2020). Khan Academy Schedules for School Closures. 5) Choose activities to start your day off on a calm and positive note. A great list of them compiled by STEAMsational is accessible here: https://www.steamsational.com/free-printable-homeschool-planners/. Stay home and stay safe. <>/Metadata 614 0 R/ViewerPreferences 615 0 R>> (This is in no way intended to imply that they wont help you, since we have always experienced the exact opposite, especially when in direct contact with teachers, administrators, etc. 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. (n.d.). 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? that you will be bound by? 4 0 obj 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? (n.d.). The fourth consideration is the schedule of the subjects you have selected to teach. (Parents, dont be jealousyou can make forts, tooand even take your conference call from inside your fort, if you want to.). This can be important if you are deciding between temporarily homeschooling your children and opting into distance learning (especially in middle school or high school grades). Educators need to be able to express concerns to parents and administrators when things arent working for them, their class, or even particular students. 1) Draw out a rough daily schedule (or weekly, if your daily work schedules vary), allocating specific times for work and for schoolwork. If this was or is you, trust me, you are not alone. Yours will too. The options are so abundant that it can often be overwhelming, especially for those new to educating their children at home. Retrieved April 19, 2020 from https://grownandflown.com/soft-skills-for-teens/, Minecraft. ), 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. These are all considerations when building a foundation of trust in a remote or distance learning team with all parties involved. SheKnows.com. Game Reviews. 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. Note that this option and how it is implemented differs greatly per state. (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.) Best Kids Yoga Videos on YouTube. Scholastic Learn at Home. They already do for other meetings and for lunch, right? If you want more information prior to pursuing this option, your best bet is likely to reach out to the school or district directly for more information about what the portfolio review might look like, what kind of support and guidance you can expect from them, etc. These options are completed at a time and location of your convenience and have assigned teachers for all classes, as well as providing official transcripts and grades, just like on-ground/in-person school options. Current Homeschool Laws. Ultimately, only you can decide what is best for you and your children. Science and art took the most preparation because we conducted experiments and made a variety of art and craft projects, so we split these days, so that they were not back-to-to back, allowing for some planning and preparation time in between. 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. Just take one step at a time and focus on one goal at a time. CONTACT US, 20 Years Certifying Individuals, Teams, and Organizations, Earn CKS Certification in one of these topics, Become a KMI Authorized Training Center (ATC), Certified Knowledge Specialist Online (eCKS), Knowledge Management: a Force Multiplier for Success, USAA Knowledge Base Case Study - Improving the KM Architecture (KM Showcase), How to Establish Successful KM Programs (KM Showcase), The #1 Knowledge Management Certification Worldwide, What is Knowledge Management? There are actually more options than you would think, and you are your and your childrens best advocate. 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. These are accessible here: https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/. Organizing any extra items needed (for science experiments, for example) over the weekend for the entire week will also help make your work/homeschool days flow much smoother. (n.d.). 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. What is Montessori Education? Looking at these from a more positive lens, as opposed to negatively identifying them as dysfunctions, the list of what teams need to thrive include: The foundation of working together as a group, especially in a stressful, unclear, unpredictable situation like remote learning during a global pandemic, is trust. While the kids play, you can plan your day(s). (This is a big deciding factor that can save or cost you a lot of time and stress. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://hslda.org/legal, HSLDA. Best of luck with this years educational adventures. 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.). In these times, I found educational videos that could fill the spaces, where my children could still be learning, but I was able to focus on the meetings and my work. A visual representation of the five dysfunctions Lencioni identifies is shown below. It is important to be fully informed of all legal and regulatory requirements prior to making your choice, so that you are making a fully-informed choice. (n.d.). (2020). 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. You can make, download and print your own bingo card at sites like BingoBaker, accessible here: https://bingobaker.com/ Yet another alternative is to keep your call off speaker, but let your kids mark off the square on the bingo, and you tell them when the criteria has been met. (Remember: If you dont know where you are going, any road will get you there. You can then try to save each others sanity by intermittently saying or doing the things you know are on the card, so that everyone has a chance to keep their kids engaged, but quiet (because shhhwe have to hear what is going on, so we dont miss out on a bingo square!). State Virtual Schools. ), As you think through the answers to these questions and others, I would like to share about our personal experience with the transition from homeschool to public school in Connecticut only a few years ago. 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. These extreme stances come with equally strong language, which can be misleading to the new or uninformed, so it is important to make sure you fully understand the true requirements before making decisions, finalizing your plans, and submitting any notices or documentation. The first consideration is the age levels you are teaching. Attention to results is the top and smallest portion of the pyramid. (2020). 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. Blogs, Webinars, Specials on Training, and More. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://hslda.org/content/orgs/, K12.com. <> (2020). Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/slideshow/2173553/coronavirus-school-closings-keep-kids-busy/1/, Wiess, S. R. (2020b). Digital Compass. The second option is for grades 6-8, called Digital Compass, which is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass. endobj If your student is overloaded with work, have them work with their teachers and administrators to request extensions or accommodations where needed. How Timeboxing Works and Why it Will Make You More Productive. If your remote/distance learning/homeschooling is only planned to be temporary, keeping as close to the curriculum their classmates are learning in school will make for the smoothest transition when the time comes for them to go to school and join their classmates again. 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. <>/Font<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 960 540] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.connectionsacademy.com/, CRHE. (The first is required if choosing homeschooling and not purchasing a pre-packaged curriculum or enrolling your children in a full-time online school. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.roblox.com/, Wiess, S. R. (2020a). 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. We made a decision years ago to provide some independence and ownership of content decisions to our kids, specifically for movies, games, and apps. Roblox. KM Showcase Apr 4-5, Wash DC - Join your peers! (2018). <> (n.d.). (N NyAKW:ig}j8N*2i-Ruyz{CM1yJB7"xrjV}O^Oh@?/~Xx^REHTOjHn)YtoxU/Ab\!T,xndD B-]a%(YsN;i*KtAz:>' t^/5R=Dnh#cb-f9*gA>_TO/u\zw F2xE1V+i)PSfC?hU"hLFiM,93G*WfMijKFRk0N"'QwY!G2pvJiS//@i|5i|3l)M:$n$wh7V=-)yIyyW(oUeMg])ZQj:2dlO]xsNX 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. 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. Accountability involves all levels, including our children consistently being held responsible for their work. We use Agile and other cutting-edge approaches to deliver comprehensive solutions: Have a Question? 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 can use an existing bingo card, plenty of which are posted for free online. Either way, some people are going to be happy and some unhappy, regardless of the plan or approach that is taken. 10 0 obj % endobj Accountability is the forth level in the pyramid identified by Lencioni, and aligns closely with constructive conflict and commitment. Another point to consider is that you have every right to make the time spent educating your children as high a priority as any other meeting, so schedule it. Our children need to be able to disagree and question things when concepts or instructions arent clear to them. endobj Youre Probably Homeschooling Way More Than You Need To. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/, National University Library. Being completely clear on goals, roles, and contributions can promote commitment and team cohesion. A template for this can be found on many of the CT homeschooling group websites or Facebook pages. 7 0 obj <> Make a fort out of anything you like (Amazon boxes, sheets, blankets, etc.). 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. Remember the CDC guidelines and be innovative in your organization and space planning. university moratuwa computer degrees masters science lanka sri which srilankacourse Administrators have never run schools, districts or boards of education during a global pandemic. You can choose to homeschool your children with you being the primary teacher (as opposed to distance-learning where you are assisting your children with work assigned by their teacher). We cannot control what this pandemic has become or is about to become or the ripple effects it may cause. Digital Passport. 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) Identify the delivery mode you want to use for each subject and each child. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/age-appropriate-chores/, Grown and Flown. 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. 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. There are a few things to consider. You will need to research your options in your area if this is a deciding factor for you. 5 0 obj 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. 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. 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. endobj What we sometimes forget, though, is that our kids are, as well. Enjoy! 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 reality is that we need to accept that nothing is going to be perfect in this imperfect situation, so for the perfectionists out there (like myself), if we are surviving and our families are surviving, we are doing the best we can, and that is good enough. 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. What Are the Non-Core Subjects?. <> 2 0 obj endobj Will you and your children be ok with this or able to handle any repetition or boredom by supplementing with other activities? 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. They are used to having their days and activities planned out for them months in advance. vit bachelor bits systems technology The key is not to be happy or unhappy about the approaches, but to be informed. It will make your planning much easier and less stressful if you acknowledge right now that you are one person and cannot be an effective fulltime teacher for 8 hours and full time worker for 8 hours, nor do you need to be. So, what options are there? Join a Master Class with your peers Earn CKS Certification in one of these topics, Join the push for greater adoption of KM - let us educate your staff. 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). (n.d.). What if schools open in a blended format, where schedules are alternating day to day or am/pm? For 20 years, KM Professionals world-wide have trusted KMI for their Training and Certification needs. (n.d.). One combined list of these is accessible on EarthCam.com, here: https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/. Common Core Resources: Textbook & Publisher Resources. Common Sense Media includes reviews of some books, as well. Minecraft Official Site. Kid-Safe Browsers and Search Sites. Its important that parents, educators and administrators clearly define what the goals are and monitor progress toward those goals. 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.). 6 0 obj What Ill provide below is a brief overview of some of the options for planning the work, starting with four considerations for doing so. Remote Learning with Khan Academy During School Closures. How We Rate and Review. If you decide you are not comfortable sending your child to their current school in the fall, what options do you have? An example of this is a new kindergartener starting homeschool in the first year of school eligibility. 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. Homeschool Organizations. Some of the common misconceptions include: Lets attempt to address these one by one. The standard subjects tend to include math, language arts, science, history or social studies, art, technology, health, physical education, and music. Focusonthefamily.com. K12. The activities in the basket could be anything from printed mazes, cut and paste activities, manipulative for counting, coloring books, etc. 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. ), 2) Do you (and your student) want the ability or option to participate in after school activities? In my previous post, I noted that some schools and some districts are providing work for their students, which is great! 3 0 obj Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews, Focus on the Family. See below for our experience transitioning our kids from homeschooling to public school and considerations/lessons-learned that you might find helpful. <> 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. (n.d.). (Dont forget to include what you used to keep your fort together tape, staples, clothes pins, etc. School and schoolwork does not have to be an all-or-nothing situation.