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I have 14 years experience homeschooling kids - Ask me anything!
First: A little info. I have a double major in Education and English, and I homeschooled 3 kids over 14 years from pre-K to 12th grade; when we started one was pre-K, one 4th grade, and one 10th grade. I currently live in California.
Now: Ask me whatever you’d like! I will do my best to answer everyone who has questions. :)
Shelby CProcess Improvement & Security (ret)
2.83k
03/23/20 at 1:46AM UTC
You can link to my page for tons of helpful resources and some fun stuff too at:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158070634070119&id=685965118
Pamela TemplinExploring new paths in the SF Bay Area.
392
03/23/20 at 3:33PM UTC
Thanks for adding this! ?
Shelby CProcess Improvement & Security (ret)
2.83k
03/24/20 at 1:30AM UTC
This is a whole new territory for a lot of people. I've been keeping a list of resources to help keep everyone sane during the transition. ??♀️ I'm happy to help!
I basically homeschooled myself thirty years ago. I used to dream of the resources that are out there now. E-learning is amazing!
Anonymous
03/21/20 at 1:21PM UTC
Pamela, thank you for providing your expert advice! My sister is trying to figure out ways to get crafty with her 3 and 6-year-old. Any creative ways to keep kids busy would be much appreciated!
Pamela TemplinExploring new paths in the SF Bay Area.
392
03/21/20 at 4:54PM UTC
Let me unbox my plans from those days - pre-K and Kindergarten was a looooong time ago LOL! - and I will send some things your way.
Shelby CProcess Improvement & Security (ret)
2.83k
03/23/20 at 1:49AM UTC
There's no point in reinventing the wheel - especially when we're all working so hard during this transition. I posted a direct link in the comments below, but if that doesn't work, you can go to facebook.com/shelbyindallas
Jackie GhedineCoach Gen X Women|Host Modern GenX Woman podcast
6.03k
03/21/20 at 11:17AM UTC
Thank you - this is awesome.
We are struggling because our district hasn't really provided us with the curriculum and instead giving small pieces of work (don't ask).
I know there are so many variables, but I have an elementary aged child (6th grade), how many hours should she be really working every day?
Pamela TemplinExploring new paths in the SF Bay Area.
392
03/21/20 at 4:52PM UTC
Most school districts require a minimum of 4 to 6 hours of core instruction per day. This is variable due to age and electives.
Most states put their standards online, and many districts put their curriculum also. Standards are the goal, curriculum is how you do it.
So, if your state has the standards shown, but the district has no standards listed, you could basically work on providing activities that produce the goal.
DM me if you like and I can provide more info in a better format.
Anonymous
03/21/20 at 9:34AM UTC
Where to begin?? And thank you for opening up advice like this! What’s your advice on multitasking work and homeschooling a 3rd grader? I’m trying to separate, work and play while also completing my full-time job and struggling to do so!
Pamela TemplinExploring new paths in the SF Bay Area.
392
03/21/20 at 4:46PM UTC
It will, of course, depend on the nature of your work, how flexible you can be, what kind of work his/her teacher has sent home, and how self-directed your 3rd grader is.
Time blocking is perhaps a method you could use. Schedule two blocks of time that are larger - morning and afternoon. 1-2 hours, whatever you can manage. Then schedule mini-blocks of time for check-ins.
At the a.m. block, go over the day’s assignments they are to do. Answer any questions, demonstrate method, try to start/finish any assignments that require your hands on time, etc.
Then at the the mini-check ins they show you what they have finished, what they have left to do, and what they are struggling with. If you can answer a question quickly, do so, otherwise tell them to set that assignment aside for the later block when you can give them your full attention, but encourage them to try again to work it out on their own.
At the p.m. block, you check over the work they’ve finished during the day (if you couldn’t check it during a mini-block), go over any unfinished work, perhaps set them to work on assignments that are longer (say book reading or writing assignments).
Set these times on your calendar, and let your boss - team - co-workers know. You may have to move the times around a little to juggle work meetings.
As odd as it sounds, approach your 3rd grader like a co-worker, 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 you expect the same, unless it’s an emergency.
If they have finished the day’s assignments, resist the urges to stop your work and check it over and then start more work just because it’s noon, and if he/she was at school, he/she would have 2.5 more hours. If they are done, they are done until your p.m meeting.
This gives you a schedule and minimizes constant interrupts. It let’s them know when and what is expected.
I hope this helps.
