I’ve Homeschooled My Kids For 14 Years — Here Are 5 Things I’ve Learned

With so many schools across the country closed — and little reason to think they’ll be reopening anytime soon — parents today are forced to get creative about managing their children’s educations at home.

For many parents, this means attempting to help their children navigate online learning tools and digital classrooms that educators themselves have only just gained access to. That task comes for some in addition to doing their best to maintain digital productivity levels while working from home. But for still others, contending with online learning alternatives for their children isn’t even an option. 

We’re navigating the new normal, together. Join us for support.

An overwhelming majority of public school districts don’t have the resources to offer online learning alternatives while closed, and many of their students would have difficulty accessing these programs even if they were an option. Roughly 12 million students today lack internet access at their homes, and online learning tools aren’t always inclusive of non-English speaking students or those with disabilities. Plus, for parents who are still required either by virtue of their professions or financial pressures to work outside of the home during this crisis, children may be left with little supplemental oversight, creating an additional obstacle for virtual learning.  

1. Try time blocking.

To one mom who’s currently homeschooling a pre-K child and 4th grader, Templin advised structuring her day in clear blocks of time. 

“Schedule two blocks of time that are larger — morning and afternoon, for 1-2 hours or whatever you can manage. Then, schedule mini-blocks of time for check-ins,” she said. “At the a.m. block, go over the day’s assignments they are to do. Answer any questions, demonstrate methods, and try to start/finish any assignments that require your hands-on time. Then at the mini-check ins, they show you what they have finished, what they have left to do and what they are struggling with.”

The afternoon block, she added, is for checking over the work they’ve finished during the day, going over unfinished work and embarking on any assignments that may take longer, like reading or writing assignments.

2. Create structure however you can.

"They are used to having a schedule they know and can depend on, and adults often need that, too," she added. "The best plan is to tell them that and work together."

3. If you’re working from home, be transparent with your team about your schedule.

4. Be frank with your children, too.

“As odd as it sounds, approach your 4th grader like a coworker,” Templin said. “Inform them when the time must change.  Stress that your work is important, just as theirs is, and that you will do your best not to interrupt their work (or play, if they’ve finished all their work) and that you expect the same, unless it’s an emergency.”

The “easiest way to madness,” she added, is by thinking you can keep boundaries between your job and your homeschooling responsibilities fluid. 

“Kids need to know they have your full attention, but work also wants full attention,” she said. “You have to communicate to your kids when you will be giving them your full attention, and when it's work's turn. “

5. See crises (like this one) as a potential learning opportunity.

During the time they were homeschooling their kids, Templin’s husband had a heart attack. To help her kids understand what had happened, she dedicated a curriculum to discussing the heart with her kids and how it functions. 

6. Incorporate hands-on learning where you can.

5 off-screen learning ideas 

Browse parenting conversations on FGB.