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Remote/Home schooling?

nemosmom

Veteran

Hi friends!

With our local Covid-19 hospitalizations and positivity on a rapid rise, we are trying to make plans my elementary school-aged kiddos for the coming school year. I am curious to know if any of you have any experience (or future plans) with remote or home schooling.

Our school district is allowing remote learning, and will be supplying the kids with lessons and ipads to complete them, but the expectation is that the kids will be committed to "learning" via school work or attending Zoom calls from 8:40 until 3:15 every day (yay).

I can't even begin to get my head around how to make this work at home. When we went under lockdown in the Spring, the kids had a mandatory online zoom at 9am, plus about 3-5 ipad assignments every day. This took maybe an hour or two of sitting with them to help them through it. And it was pure hell. Now with the increased time commitment for the Fall semester, I have no idea how to manage this.

Do I need to create a "school area" at home where they go only to do school work? How can I help them be more independent where they aren't coming to me every 5 minutes for school help or to make a snack?!?!? I feel this major urge to put some sort of framework or process around it or I will lose my mind trying to manage their online check-ins, feed them, help with school work, deal with tantrums, PLUS do my own work. I am at a loss.

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18 replies

Latest reply was from nemosmom

anchie

Veteran

How old are your kids? I think this will actually be easier because they would need to follow school schedule and do assignments in their periods, more like in school. And you would not be helping them while they are in class, isn’t it? They will talk more with teachers but also with friends. Maybe they would not want you arround?
My DD was in online school since mid March until end of scool year in June. She has almost exact schedule, 8:35AM until 3:15PM. It worked just fine, but she is 12 and quiet independent. She would just come out of her room during lunch break or for PE class that she preferred to do in living room because of more space. She did not like me coming into her room and interrupting.

nemosmom

Veteran

My kids are newly 6 and almost 8. The 8yo can read, so I don't have to help there, but I did have to sit with the newly 6yo and read/explain the assignments to him. They mostly liked playing with camera settings while on their zoom calls and playing different apps (outside the ones they were supposed to use for their assignments!) Neither of them are very independent, really.

SarahD8

Veteran

I am so sorry you are dealing with this, nemosmom. I'm sorry so many of us are dealing with it. There are no good solutions.

I think your idea of making a framework/process is really good. That will at least help you hold on to a shred of sanity while you try to do some of your own work.

Some ideas:
-Prep snacks in the morning or have a low/accessible snack cupboard where they can help themselves.
-Have set check-in times when you are available to answer questions or help if they get stuck. (Skipping something difficult and coming back to it later is a a VERY IMPORTANT SKILL to develop!)
-I forget how old your kiddos are and how many. Can you go all Little House on the Prairie one-room schoolhouse and have your older kiddo(s) help the younger? ETA: oh, we cross-posted and you answered my question about their ages. See, I think maybe the 8 yo could read/explain the assignments to the 6 yo...
-"school area" sounds like a good idea in theory but if you have multiple kids on zoom calls at different times it might not work so great in practice?
-Could you hire an older kid (outside your household) for a few dollars an hour as a remote mother's helper who could be available to them on zoom to answer questions/help with homework and take some of the pestering burden off you? That might be welcome distraction/structure for the older kid too...
-Can you have some pre-agreed activities/chores/etc that they can do if it's "learning hours" and they have completed their schoolwork? (Because, I feel like that's kind of inevitable...)

My daughter's school will likely be all online too. But she is 13 and very much like Anchie's daughter so it has been less of a time burden (and yet hard even so!). I really feel for parents of elementary aged kids!

anchie

Veteran

I can imagine this being much more difficult especially with the younger one that doesn’t read. I really hope that teachers will have the role of explaining the assignments but you will still have to check in on them to make sure they don’t get distracted. Maybe it will be beneficial if they get ready in the morning like they are going to school and have designated area to help them transition in the „classroom“. During the online shool months my DD used her room as „classroom“ but she was sleeping and spending free time in her brother’s room ( he was away at university at the time). That helped her a lot.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ARGH. Everything Sarah DB said. Those are brilliant suggestions.

I had to home school my kid when they were nine. In a parent-teacher conference it became clear to DH and I that the teacher actively hated them and they were being bullied badly by classmates. Discussions with the administration got us nowhere, so we had to pull them out of their classroom for half a year until I could find a better situation. They have learning disabilities, some ADHD-like behaviours, also are also gifted in some areas.

Anyway...it was TOUGH. Mind you I had to come up with the entire curriculum, too. (Fortunately, I'm a teacher, but not an elementary teacher, so I had quite the learning curve myself).

I did find that an entire day of sitting was way too much for my child. So we did most of the "lesson" stuff in the morning and then outdoor stuff in the afternoons. I did a fair bit of hands-on teaching for about 2 hours a day and then what I'd call hands-off for another hour or two (while they did reading or art projects or French online. Fortunately, they loved to read and would happily spend an hour with a book.) And then I had to take them out in the afternoons. This meant I ended up working most nights. (Luckily, my own work schedule was fairly flexible).

A set routine -- whatever it is -- should help a lot. I think this idea of trying to do synchronous teaching online for entire days is frankly insane, and not just for young kids. I can't stand to be on Zoom for more than an hour at a time, and I'm an adult! But what are working parents supposed to do? You need them to be "at" school so you can work. So it makes sense that some school boards are trying this.

Sarah's ideas are great. I also set timers (your kids might not need that, with the school's schedule) and they might need some sort of reward system for actually doing the work.

Having said all that -- if, in the end, all they do is read for the year (or learn to read) -- honestly, that's probably good enough. You can't do it all. No one can expect it of you. And if you are employed, you simply need that time to work.

rachylou

Veteran

Does anyone remember correspondence school? Like if your parents did research in the middle of the jungle, you did correspondence school?

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I don't have experience in this, but I say, all the above, and Maybe
The kids could learn to make lunch and snacks.
School might not take as much time as the schools are asking for. If they get all their work done early (for whatever time frame works for their ability to be somewhat independent) and it is of a caliber that you and the teacher is content with, then have something that they are happy to receive/do as a reward. Whether that's reading, art, choosing what's for dinner occasionally, etc. Might make it go smoother. My mom taught middle school kids with learning differences and back then, they would be good all week for the privilege of taking apart small appliances or doing math problems on a computer. Yes, it was a long time ago.

For whatever subjects you have control over the time of, take into account what times you kids are more alert (it may vary between them)
and have them work on whatever is most challenging to them when they are at their best. Also figure out what time of day they need a snack to recharge. It can also affect ability to concentrate.

Do you have any family members or friends with time to help? I know busy grandparents that regularly do a project with their kids online, or talk to them every day so the parents get work done.

Could the older one teach the younger one to read?

Try things one way, evaluate, and adjust as necessary.
Also, your kids might have an idea about when they can focus easiest.

I think once you have a better idea of what the school's schedule is, what hours are live teaching, etc. it will be easier to figure out what to do.

Good luck to all of you parents working this out.

nemosmom

Veteran

SarahD8 - all really great ideas! Thank you! Setting up snacks, chores, and check-in times sound like they will be key. And totally agree about the importance of learning to skip a task when stuck!

anchie - Yes, I think having some sort of separate space away from where they play or otherwise hangout is important. I struggle to focus on work from my bed or from the kitchen where I spend my time, so I imagine they would, too.

Suz - ah yes, my older has EF challenges, but is gifted in other areas. He needs much handholding to stay focused on a zoom call (and for most things, really). There was a lot of pushback from parents in the Spring because teachers only spent 15 minutes on the morning zoom call, but weren't available to help guide assignments until the following day. The school argued that there was always asynchronous learning that took place in class, and that independent learning was always a part of the lesson plans. But still, that was done in a class setting with an adult "available" to help if needed. Ugh.

Rachy - YES! I would love to go live in the jungle for a while...

Barbara Diane - Yes, I have emailed the district to ask how they plan to count attendance. If the kids are given some flexibility on when they have to be 'counted' every day, that would be ideal. No family available to help. My inlaws are night owls, so they are usually virtually available only around dinner time which is still the 'witching hour' around here.

Thank you everyone for the ideas and encouragement. Wish me luck! I will need it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nemosmom, I have no words of wisdom - (no kids) - but I'm offering my empathy. Holding down a full time job at home AND taking on the responsibility of teaching little ones at home with you in the midst of a stressful pandemic - good grief. NOT EASY!

Good luck, hang in there, and really hope this helpful information works.

nemosmom

Veteran

Thank you so much, Angie!!

Anonymous

My little grandson is in this position...kindergarten remote learning indefinitely. At least he can read anything he wants. He has been reading well since he was 2. He really wants to be with his friends. DH and I are going to be called on to help. I think a Montessori style would be ideal for him. He and his little sister have never been allowed screen time or ever seen a movie or even a whole TV show so using the computer is a privilege, a practice I highly recommend to anyone with little ones. No TV or computer or iPad or phone time. Read to them instead.
Snacks...no sugar. You don’t need a sugar high on top of everything else.
Here the schools do not know if they will have teachers, subs, paras, bus drivers or custodians who are willing to come work. Teachers and the others are scared. The virus is getting worse here, especially among the young.
The idea of a dedicated “classroom” space and getting dressed in school clothes is a good idea. As far as your time, just say “No.”. Explain that you would not be with them at school, so learning is their job. Stress that they do not want to get behind. If each has chores, the class time may be welcomed. Do not make staying home fun. If they are sick when school is on, no playing or TV, you will not be going out for special foods like MacD’s or pizza. They must stay in bed and rest. If they are really sick, this will be fine. I found out early that you can always iron clothes or pillowcases or even sheets. No one messes with you if you have a hot iron in your hand. You have super powers. I say that I cannot turn it off as it takes awhile to heat up again. If they have a break, get them outside, even if it is running around the outside of the house 3 times or up and down the alley.
.

Helena

Veteran

M, I have no great advice I'm afraid, but just encouragement - you are smart, analytical, organized and loving - all the attributes necessary to make the most of the situation! My only suggestion is to be exceedingly gentle with yourself - they are so young and a few bumps are not going to make or break anything!

If our school board shares anything helpful for those opting for online learning, I'll be sure to share it with you ... with low cases, I'm sending mine for in person learning (my high schooler will only be every second morning), but I am sure I would be keeping mine home if the cases were still running higher here! Huge hugs. xoxo

nemosmom

Veteran

Aw, thanks, H! Yes! Please let me know if your board is doing anything interesting. Oy. Not excited for school this year

avicennia

Veteran

Hi Nemosmom — I’m the single parent of an 8 year old. I have a pretty intense job which I’m doing remotely. We’ve just made it through the first week of online school. I realized in early summer that schools wouldn’t be back to normal any time soon; so I started getting ready. I bought a small desk and iMac for her and reconfigured my home office so we can work together. We’ve been practicing office sharing habits for several weeks. The first week went pretty well. Her dad and granddad Zoomed with her at set hours to help with homework; we’ve had 45 minute lunch breaks where we eat together; I’m breaking study sessions into 30-45 minute chunks with 15 minute breaks; and using a kitchen timer. What didn’t work: I missed a Zoom class, but another mom text me a reminder; we
both need headsets with built in microphones; the day I scheduled a lunch meeting of my own didn’t go well — I realized she needs extended attention from me during the middle of the day. Despite things working well, I do wonder how I’m going to keep it up.

Scarlet

Veteran

Just solidarity, I have a 5 and 7 yo. They will have 2 days in person and 3 days at home. I have a demanding job. All the strategy, organization, and prep in the world doesn't make up for the fact that little kids need a lot of attention from caretakers. Gah.

nemosmom

Veteran

Avicennia and Scarlet - yes! We learned (the hard way) that the kids are quite needy and clingy when I have divided attention. They fight and misbehave more...

I am going to try setting a standing 'busy' timeslot on my work calendar 30 minutes before each transition so I can be available for the kids. I want to help them take ownership of selecting snacks and lunch for themselves the night before. I also printed my calendar and their schedules in hopes that visibility into my day will help them.

Who knows if it will work, but I am desperate at this point

Ginger

Veteran

So, I'm a homeschool kid. Long before electronics and all that, but it worked brilliantly for me. From kindergarten through high school, and straight to a traditional college.

I was also one of four, and there are definitely differences between all of us in learning style. (Handling the noise/interference from others while trying to complete work was also individual.) One of the really good things about homeschooling was how it could be tailored to each child. We all used the same curriculum, but several of us could read the books and work the problems ourselves with minimal instruction. Several others benefited from more walking through the concepts and the work along the way.

Feel free to PM. I'm honestly not sure if my experience is at all relevant, so I don't really know what else to offer here.

nemosmom

Veteran

Thank you, Ginger!