Effective Strategies For Parents New to a Homeschool Environment

Article written exclusively for the Hechinger Report OpEd

By Brian M. Stack and Jonathan G. Vander Els

Millions of parents nationwide have been thrust without warning into the role of homeschool educator for the first time. This stark and sobering experience is a the new reality, as everyone, including the authors of this article struggle with finding the right balance. Jon, his wife Stephanie, Brian, his wife Erica, are now trying to figure out how to manage the “work-from-home” experience while providing support to their combined eight children who range in ages five to fifteen between the two families. Even with education degrees and working as educators themselves, the authors and their spouses feel a great deal of anxiety for what this new reality will bring to their families in the coming days, weeks, and possibly months. For all parents, learning how to navigate this brave new world and find an appropriate work-family balance is of paramount importance.

For years we have made it our mission to help educators reimagine their schools and classrooms by promoting a model known as competency-based learning (CBL). This is a model that many homeschooling families have used for years (although may not refer to it as CBL). In CBL, learning is organized into competencies (big ideas) and standards (content and skills). These are assessed in meaningful ways by asking students to demonstrate how deeply they have learned something. Over the past decade, CBL has made its way into the policy and practice of schools in nearly every state. In our 2018 Solution Tree book on CBL we wrote, “Transitioning to a competency-based system provides opportunities that may have never existed for students to be a reality.  It leads to a world where learning is truly a measure of what a student knows and is able to do and teachers work in an environment that is truly personalized and student-centered.”

How can a parent who is not a teacher come up to speed on CBL to replicate its ideals at home under these temporary circumstances?  Of course, you can't recreate a whole school experience instantaneously. Despite being thrust into the role of homeschool teacher, with some clear guidelines, it can be more easily managed. We offer a series of tips that we are using having been faced with this same task this week for our own children, and we hope that they can serve as realistic expectations for a self-quarantined family with work obligations and kids across a wide age and grade spectrum. We recognize that every family is unique and what families are dealing with extends far beyond school (examples include worries about where future meals will come from and parent concerns about future job security, access to technology and other resources, etc). With great respect to these real, life-altering implications we offer these considerations to help ease the transition for what you can control related to the continued education of your children:

●       Environment: Create an environment that is conducive for learning. Select a physical location that will offer your child flexibility, perhaps one with various seating choices and an open area so they can spread out. Help their minds get ready to learn using mindful practices. For example, Brian’s wife Erica has started making daily three to five minute mindful learning videos for her students to help them ready their brain for learning in much the same way that we use a tart or citrus flavor to cleanse our palette in order to intensify the flavor of something we are about to eat.

●       Routines and a Schedule: There are no shortage of examples of homeschooling schedules for children of any ages and family situations. Schedules can reduce stress and anxiety for your child by promoting good habits and proper routines. Consider your child’s individual needs. How much time should they spend on academic and non-academic tasks? Add time for movement breaks, play, meals, etc. When possible, provide flexibility and choice. For example, you may have daily free reading or math game times where your child can choose their activity. Choice and voice is a strategy often used by teachers when developing classroom schedules.

●       Academics: In a competency-based model, learning is authentic, relevant, and meaningful to students. But what should parents start with? The first Design Principle outlines that students should be “...empowered daily to make important decisions about their learning experiences, how they will create and apply knowledge, and how they will demonstrate their learning.” Now, more than ever, we need to allow for our students to demonstrate their agency, becoming co-designers of the learning experiences we are working to build together. Parents can get creative with this, not all learning has to be through the many online apps and modules that seem to have become available. Remember, the homeschool situation is temporary, but that doesn’t mean you can’t set some short-term goals for your child. For example, one goal could be for your fourth-grader to practice long division from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and mastered the skill.

●       Balance: When thinking of school and learning we often visualize classroom lessons, but school extends beyond that. In homeschool situations, human interaction with peers is missing. Our older children with access to technology have adapted by way of FaceTime and other similar apps. Our younger ones, however, are faced with feeling socially isolated. It is critical to make time for young children to “stay connected” to others, to the extent possible. It may look different, but as we are finding, even the opportunity to talk on the phone with friends can have a positive impact on outlook and state of mind.

Lastly, keep this in mind. Many families struggle to find quality time to spend together. The obligations of work, school, and other activities can make families feel as if their lives are spinning.  Becoming more engaged in our children’s day-to-day learning can be (and is) overwhelming, but it also provides a safe opportunity to explore things together that otherwise we could not. Remember, you and your child are in a new situation. Welcome that challenge together, and be open to the learning that will follow.