When you have a child, some of your most beautiful thoughts are in those sleepless nights late in your pregnancy of what life lessons you hope to bestow on your perfect little miracle. But that beautiful angel grows up and the lessons they require are more along the lines of “trash goes in the trash can” variety than the “invaluable life lessons” moments you envisioned. So, you do what most of us do and you send that precious, starry-eyed baby off to school as soon as humanly possible. And guess what? It worked out… right up until somewhere around March 2020.
It was then that motherhood as we knew it got way more challenging than we ever thought it could get- that was when every single parent on your street became a teacher (and suddenly began hoarding toilet paper like their life depended on it).
In the back of our minds, we all knew teaching was hard. What we didn’t know was that sometimes it was our kid that made it hard and not everyone else’s kids. The problem then became “how in the world will we survive until summer,” which blossomed recently into “wait… what do you mean they can’t go back in the fall”? And of course, we all understand the “why” but that doesn’t make the “how” a single bit easier.
We talked to some seasoned homeschooling moms to get some of their best tips for making it through distance education with a smile on your face, even if you do have a glass of wine in your hand.
Upgrade Your Internet- We all learned pretty quickly back in the spring exactly what our internet bandwidth was capable of and if you haven’t upgraded yet, you should make it a priority. If money is tight, many cities and school districts are helping connect families with low or no cost internet service. Check with your local district for information.
Create Your Own Homeschooling Support Tribe- We are our own best weapon when it comes to conquering distance education and it may very well take a village to get your child the education they need. Check-in with moms in your area to see if anyone is interested in creating a homeschooling pod. Small groups are considered safe in many areas as long as social distancing is practiced and there is a chance your child may learn better in a group setting.
Hire a Tutor- Although it may not be financially possible, many parents are hiring private tutors to fill in learning gaps while distance learning measures are in place. Whether you feel comfortable opening up your home in person or via ZOOM, there are many options out there to make sure no one falls behind.
Ask Your School District for Help- Many children are struggling with distance learning and if you know your child will be one of them, reach out to your school early and request help. Resources are tight all around, but the school district is obligated to provide services for children who struggle.
Stay Away From Pinterest- We *love* social media just as much as you do, but the “homeschooling” experience isn’t the same for everyone. Pinterest will tell you that you need tin pails of perfectly sharpened crayons and expensive workbooks from world-renowned homeschool curriculums in order to succeed, but you 100% do not. Homeschooling is a unique and personal experience for every family and will look vastly different. And it’s supposed to! The greatest thing about homeschooling is the parent’s ability to customize the experience to fit their child and their situation. You may very well be a “color-coded schedule and behavior chart kind of mom” but you don’t have to be.
Join a Homeschooling Group- Contrary to the last entry’s advice, Facebook has a ton of groups full of moms just like you who feel bummed out, overwhelmed and super stressed at the prospect of being responsible for their child’s education for potentially the next year and hopefully, those groups also have a handful of homeschooling veterans who have been right where you are and can guide you gently and gracefully into a homeschooling groove you are comfortable with.
If You Need a Device, Apply Early- Schools are being faced with unprecedented budget shortages and if you need a Chromebook or a tablet, look into your school’s lending program, write down the important dates and stick to them.
Pay Attention to Your School’s Plans for Reopening- In many states, the individual school district is responsible for deciding the best way to reopen and there may be instances where you don’t agree with your district’s decisions. If you happen to live in one of those districts, don’t despair. You have a few options when it comes to being the teacher. Technically, homeschooling and distance education are not synonymous. Homeschooling involves filing with your state to be your own private school. Rules vary by state, but anyone can do it. When you become your own homeschool, you take on the responsibility for teaching your children the curriculum they need to know. If that doesn’t sound feasible, you can also join a homeschool co-op or a charter school. These organizations will provide you with a curriculum and usually a credentialled teacher to help guide you.
Set a Schedule That Works- You don’t have to wake up every day at 6:30 AM if that doesn’t work. You can start school at 11:30 PM if you want. But whatever works for you make sure you do it the same way consistently.
Although the thought of teaching our own children seems like a logistical impossibility and an educational nightmare, there is a slight chance we will all come out the other side a little jaded and with a lot more respect for those beautiful, amazing teachers in our lives. Just remember, you can take a break when you need to, you can break down and cry when you need to and you can ask for help when you need to. We are all in this together and we are here to help each other.