What do the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis and homeschooling have to do with each other?
Just last week, Forbes called this event “the world’s homeschooling moment,” noting how millions of children worldwide are currently homeschooling while schools are closed.
If you are investigating homeschooling as an educational option for your child, here are 5 things to consider in your research:
1. Withdrawing children from school mid-school year
Making the decision to homeschool doesn’t always happen neatly between school years. Therefore if your children are currently in the middle of a school year, knowing how to correctly withdraw them is very important.
We have whole pages on our website dedicated to starting a Kansas homeschool and starting a Missouri homeschool. There you will find a wealth of information from state-specific laws to free withdrawal letter templates you can customize.
2. Transitioning children from public/private school to homeschool
Children who are used to going to school outside the home will need an adjustment to doing school at home.
Check out our blog post on 9 tips to transition from public school to homeschool.
Some of the key highlights include deschooling (approaching school differently), ensuring students take adequate breaks and considering your child’s unique learning style.
And one of the biggest things to remember is not to put unnecessary pressure on yourself or your child. It can be hard to manage those expectations on both ends!
3. Selecting curriculum for your family
Choosing a curriculum can be daunting sometimes due to all the choices out there. However, the good news is it doesn’t have to be complicated.
The primary purpose of the curriculum is to help your child learn, and so whatever does that is the right one for you. Here are some tips on switching homeschool curriculum, which are just as relevant to picking one for the first time. The blog post covers everything from reviewing the curriculum before you buy when possible to knowing your child’s personal needs.
4. Consider distance learning options carefully
While there are many distance learning options on the market, recognize that many of these are technically not homeschooling. They can, however, be great supplementary tools if you desire to homeschool.
We highlighted one of these programs in a recent guest post by American School, which serves middle-school and high-school students.
5. Review as you go and make changes as desired
One of the advantages of homeschooling is there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, you get to tailor the school experience to what works best for your family and your students.
Don’t be afraid to tweak things as you go and make changes if things aren’t working well. There are so many methods, options and resources available nowadays for homeschoolers. Keep trying things out until you find what is a good fit!
At first glance, coronavirus and homeschooling are not concepts we automatically associate with each other. However, as our leaders encourage caution and care over the next several weeks, this is a great time to look into homeschooling as a viable option for your child’s education.
Who knows, it might be a temporary measure until schools open again or it might be just the beginning of a great adventure of discovery for your whole family!
Guest post by Lian Lange
For more information:
Check out the national Home School Legal Defense Association’s quick start guide to homeschooling.
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