Accountability involves all levels, including our children consistently being held responsible for their work. 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. The state regulations say that families MAY submit a Notice of Intent to homeschool and participate in portfolio reviews. 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. At this point, state and local boards of education are doing the best they can with the little information they have to plan for something none of us have ever had to deal with before. Boca Raton Greek Festival Celebrating 40 years of great food, life music, dancing, and fabulous family fun! We ended up placing them in lower grades than the work they were working on as homeschoolers, both because of their ages and because we knew the work would be easy for them, allowing them to focus on the major personal and social transition with less stress. 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. In my previous post, I noted that some schools and some districts are providing work for their students, which is great! Headspace, a mindfulness and meditation app, is providing a series of their meditations for free in the midst of the current situation. KEY POINT: You do not have to replicate your full workday and the full school day, so give yourself a break and get rid of that expectation right away. Grownandflown.com. If you would like to explore this option, a great start is to review your state on both the CRHE and HSLDA websites, start searching for local and regional homeschool associations (the HSLDA has a great resource for this, as well), and begin searching for curriculum options (which can come in fully pre-packaged curriculum options to fully customized curriculum that you pick and choose from resources on publishers sites and Amazon.com book sales, for example) (HSLDA, n.d.2). (n.d.2). Khan Academy has provided help and getting started pages for their content here: https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/611770255064350720/remote-learning-with-khan-academy-during-school, and the lessons themselves are accessible here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub, Scholastic has provided schedules and lessons here: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites, Common Sense Media. Age-Appropriate Chores. Greater Good Magazine. Focusonthefamily.com. 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. As you wrap up the day, after allowing your kids to play and relax for the first day, take three deep breaths and smile, knowing that you completed some planning and organizing, and that you are on your way. Then, your stress levels went through the roof when it didnt all go smoothly with calm, quiet kids and dedicated focus for you. Make a fort out of anything you like (Amazon boxes, sheets, blankets, etc.). 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. 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. The first major hurdle for the transition was figuring out what grade they should be in. CommonSenseMedia.org. 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.

(2020). Small wins go a long way. (2018). 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. 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. Everything you need to organize your area is probabily already in your home. SheKnows.com. These are accessible here: https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/. (n.d.). You dont have to wait until plans for the fall are released to figure out what you are comfortable (and not comfortable) with. Common Sense Media. ), 4) If you choose homeschooling instead of distance learning, are you fully informed of any reporting requirements, regulations, etc. Write a list of the equipment you used to make your fort.

Retrieved March 16, 2020, from, Zao-Sanders, Marc. There are a few things to consider. Will you and your children be ok with this or able to handle any repetition or boredom by supplementing with other activities? You can use an existing bingo card, plenty of which are posted for free online. 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. Homeschool Laws By State. 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 18, 2020, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub, Khan Academy. There are actually more options than you would think, and you are your and your childrens best advocate. (n.d.). You dont need to go crazy buying organizing supplies. Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic. (2020). 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. Some organizations group activities in the following age groups, for example, Kindergarten to grade 2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. The fourth consideration is the schedule of the subjects you have selected to teach. (2020). Considerations for Schools. A visual representation of the five dysfunctions Lencioni identifies is shown below. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://welltrainedmind.com/a/what-are-the-non-core-subjects/?v=7516fd43adaa, Common Sense Media (n.d.). Accountability is the forth level in the pyramid identified by Lencioni, and aligns closely with constructive conflict and commitment. If you are homeschooling on your own, you and your children might be the only members of the team, but for others remotely schooling via distance learning options provided through their school or district, there are many other members of the team, as well. Common Sense Media, for example, provides a list of Kid-Safe Browsers and Search Sides, accessible here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.digitallearningcollab.com/state-virtual-schools, HSLDA. Given the current closure of public schools, many publishers are providing content online for free, as well. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/, Common Sense Media.

Harvard Business Review. They already do for other meetings and for lunch, right? 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. ), 3) Do you think you might want to send your students back to school in person either some time this year or in future years? Florida is more strict, but does have umbrella schools that allow for smoother navigation of the requirements. Connections Academy. Our toddler also participated, at an age-appropriate level, in virtual field trips, science experiments, and other educational activities with her sister. I present to you the conference call activity challenge for today (03/17/2020): Conference Call Bingo (with your kiddos)! Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html, STEAMsational. In the middle of the fall, we collectively decided that it was time for the girls to attend public school. A lesson I learned the hard way many times is that they cant both be done (effectively) at the same time. Here are a few options, as examples: CDC. The two most commonly tested subjects in standardized testing tend to be math and language arts, so when we homeschooled, we put the most emphasis on these two subjects, integrating the others as appropriate and as possible. When you are planning your days, you will first need to decide how much time you want (or need) to spend with your focus dedicated to your work (in meetings, for example), and how much time you want to spend homeschooling your child (or children). Trust that everyone is working toward a common goal, for example, is one type of trust. What can your student do to promote these team functions also? 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. Starting your day with gratitude and calm activities has been said to start your day off on a positive note. Savor the scrumptious sweets and luscious loukoumades, and relax with a cup of Greek coffee or ice cold frappe. How might this impact your childs motivation to do their schoolwork? Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.connectionsacademy.com/, CRHE. School and schoolwork does not have to be an all-or-nothing situation. Enjoy! (n.d.). To commit to common goals, everyone on the team has to be aware of the goals, understand why those goals are important, and be aware and accepting of their role in helping the team attain those goals. 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. ), 2) Do you (and your student) want the ability or option to participate in after school activities? To step back and take a look at what this truly means, it is helpful to have a lens through which to view this team and the relationships and responsibilities of the members of the team. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/slideshow/2173553/coronavirus-school-closings-keep-kids-busy/1/, Wiess, S. R. (2020b). As of now, you at least have an idea of how much time you want to allocate to work and to homeschooling and have identified an area where you can store and organize schoolwork and related supplies. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-passport, Common Sense Media.

What Are the Non-Core Subjects?. Retrieved March 19, 2020 from https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/, Bestow. 2) Identify the subjects you would like to teach each of the children. We have never parented (or helped our kids with remote learning) during a global pandemic. What if schools open in a blended format, where schedules are alternating day to day or am/pm? (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2020, from https://montessori-nw.org/what-is-montessori-education, Roblox. at the schools themselves, but something to be aware of when asking them for assistance of any kind.

schoolwork has to follow the school day/week schedule, the schoolwork has to only include academic subjects, the kids have to be working on academic work the entire time, socialization is an afterthought when homeschooling, the kids are responsible for schoolwork and parents need to continue all of the housework. Roblox. Carter, Christine. The state, on the other hand, wants to have as much control and oversight as possible, in many cases. As parents, educators, and administrators, (and our children) we are all part of a team with a common goal of ensuring that our children are safe, cared for, and that their learning is promoted and supported in all ways possible. For parents looking online for content for their children, who may not be familiar with different websites, movies or apps, or unsure how to tell what might be safe or age-appropriate, this post is for you.

SheKnows.com. Before you start, identify an award they will earn if you get a bingo and/or if they black out the entire card by meeting the criteria of each bingo square on the entire bingo card. 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. Either way, you will need to allocate time for schooling for your children and for your work. The second option is for grades 6-8, called Digital Compass, which is accessible here: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass. The rule for our girls was that they had to look at all movies, games, and apps up on Common Sense Media and bring them to us prior to asking the question of whether they could play, watch or download something. Retrieved March 16, 2020 from, Center for Disease Control (CDC). Others split them into pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, grades 1-2, grades 3-5 and grades 6+. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://nu.libguides.com/CommonCore/ccss_publishers. Current Homeschool Laws. that you will be bound by? However, with everything clearly defined and with trust, constructive conflict and commitment, holding each other accountable for their respective parts becomes much easier, and does not need to involve finger pointing or other negative non-constructive behaviors. 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.). Welltrainedmind.com. 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!). The Boca Raton Greek Festival is open daily from Thursday, January 27th thru Sunday, January 30th, 2022 You can enjoy your food and pastries at the Greek Festival Site (address below), or You can place your order now and schedule your pick-up day and time next week before checking out, or If you live locally, you can place your order now and have your food delivered when the Greek Festival opens (Delivery Charge & $3.01 Service fee apply), Get 25% off a Prepaid 4-Day Admissions Pass (below), Boca Raton Greek Festival Saint Mark Greek Orthodox Church 2100 Yamato Road Boca Raton, FL 33431, US 1-561-994-4822, Thursday 4:00pm 9:00pm Friday 11:00am 11:00pm Saturday 11:00am 11:00pm Sunday Noon 9:00pm, Full Details: https://greekfestivalboca.square.site/, An event every week that begins at 7:30 am on Monday and Tuesday, repeating until Monday, July 25, 2022, An event every week that begins at 7:30 am on Wednesday and Thursday, repeating until Wednesday, July 27, 2022, An event every week that begins at 7:30 am on Friday, repeating until Friday, July 29, 2022, An event every week that begins at 8:30 am on Saturday, repeating until Saturday, July 30, 2022, An event every week that begins at 8:30 am on Sunday, repeating until Sunday, July 31, 2022, An event every day that begins at 8:00 am, repeating until Saturday, September 24, 2022, An event every day that begins at 8:00 am, repeating until Friday, July 29, 2022. Well, the best approach comes down to whether this is a temporary or long-term/permanent option for you and your family. The key is not to be happy or unhappy about the approaches, but to be informed.

How School Closures Can Strengthen Your Family. Youre Probably Homeschooling Way More Than You Need To. Khan Academy Schedules for School Closures. There are so many options available to teach every subject, and many are free. Call us about advertising on this page. But, there is also so much that is fully within our control. Parents need to be able to bring concerns to educators and administrators when things arent working for them and their children.