Whether you wanted to or not, it’s time we all learn to be teachers. Fortunately in this day and age you have a multitude of websites to help educate your children. From the websites already paid for by your local school districts, to the free ones that are popping up everywhere. You would think this should be easy….. Ha!Ha!, welcome to the daily struggles of your overworked and underpaid teachers.
I went from teaching a class of bilingual 9 and 10 year olds, to teaching early childhood special education, Kindergarten with special education services, 2nd grade, and 4th grade. All of this while figuring out how to teach my actual class virtually.
For a little background, one of those bilinguals is my daughter. Teaching her at school, is nothing like trying to teach at home. If you have suddenly been thrown into a similar situation, I hope these small steps will help you get started.
- Set up a place for structured learning. A reading nook, a spot at the table or counter, or a place on the floor. A place your kids will know is for learning, just like school.
- Set up a time for structured learning. Is your kid a morning person, or does he learn better after lunch? I personally am a morning person, but 3 of the 4 kids are not. Figuring the best time for the child can help alleviate some of the stress caused by a child not wanting to work for you.
- Set up a time for unstructured learning. This is my favorite part. As a school teacher, the demands for performance interfere with the creative, and fun activities that stick with the kiddos. At home, there are no high stakes tests, so you can be as creative and fun as you want. This unstructured time should be at least equal to the structured time. The younger the student, the more unstructured learning necessary. For older students, project based learning works well.
Now that you’ve prepared you home school “classroom” and schedule, now start lesson planning.
Structured Learning: Choose books for read alouds and independent reading time. Decide on writing topics. Integrating writing with science activities, and writing about feelings during this strange time, are ways to cover more than one content area at a time. Set up computers and devices with the websites and apps that you have chosen to help continue learning in all content areas.
Unstructured Learning: Cooking, and baking are great activities to cover math and science concepts. It’s the beginning of spring, go outside and plant something. Dramatic Play and Art are 2 areas that require almost no prep. Just put out a few supplies and most kids will take it from there.
Project Based Learning: Find a problem in your local community and attempt to find a solution to the problem. Big or small does not matter. Helping your neighbor, sharing supplies with others, caring for pets and plants. Solving problems requires critical thinking skills that can be used to solve even bigger problems later in life.
One last thing…. Just know that perfection is not required. Just do your best in these strange times and know that all of your effort will be appreciated. Don’t stress, and share the love (not the germs).