I’ve really debated writing this post. However, with the current state of things, I feel like it’s my burden to bring some things to light and be very honest about them. See, I’ve watched on multiple social platforms as teachers and parents alike are extremely frustrated with the current distance learning approach. As a former homeschool mom, and current schooling mom, I have some unique perspectives here. You see, this isn’t homeschool BUT…. 

This isn’t Homeschool BUT…

Please note that I am not out to offend anyone to step on any toes. I know everyone is doing their best in a crazy situation. However, there are some truths that need to be shared on all sides of this conversation. 

This isn’t homeschooling

Ok. Yes, you are doing schoolwork at home so technically you are homeschooling. However, you’ve probably heard at least one homeschool mom jump on the defensive and say, “This isn’t homeschooling. This is…” 

Here’s why homeschool moms are so quick to say this and there are a few reasons so I will break them down. 

• Homeschool Moms are terrified this schooling approach will quantify who they are and what they do. – While homeschooling is getting a better reputation than it used to have, it still has a negative connotation for many people.See, homeschoolers have a lot more freedom with what they teach, getting out to be social, and how much they have to report to someone else about those freedoms. Please give them grace as they defend homeschooling. It’s not an attack on you. It’s a defense of something they value. 
• Homeschooling is not being trapped in the house all the time. – In fact, we were more active and out and about when we homeschooled than we are now. We had so many classes, park days, and activities that we were always on the go. My kids had a better social life than you might imagine. Check on your homeschool friends. They’re probably going crazy being forced to stay home. 
• Homeschooling is not mandatory attendance, state testing, obligated activities, and more. – In fact, homeschoolers have a lot of freedoms. This will vary by state but many parents have the freedom to customize education to the child’s needs. 

*** A Message to homeschoolers – You are not under attack by parents who say they are homeschooling. Please skip criticism. Instead, offer tips and encouragement. Find a way to help your friend adjust to this new version of schooling at home that they have been forced into. 

This isn’t a school at home… 

I’ve watched multiple schools work on different ways to implement school at home. Some have done a brilliant job (like my daughter’s school) and have left parents feeling informed, students feeling equipped, and everyone better for it. Others have done less than their best… Parents are left feeling overwhelmed and just plain ready to scream. So let’s talk about it.

• Logging in at certain times/days for each class. – Many of my friends are balancing zoom schedules, online lessons, and more for multiple children with strict times. I can assure you that this is an attempt to bring the classroom home and not an attempt to homeschool. 
• Logging activities like P.E. and extras – Many parents are telling me that they are doing P.E. logs, dance class, and so much more. They’re working to take pictures and videos of their children, documenting every little move their kids make, and submitting artwork. While I can see this with middle and high school grades, I’m not seeing the need for early elementary. This isn’t a school at home… 
• Parents aren’t equipped to teach and some are still working. – Many children are having to adapt to this learning approach without the help of a parent and not all work is meant to be done completely independently. Add to it parents who are working and it’s too much. 

*** A Message to Parents – You don’t have to do it all. If you are struggling with something the school has assigned, reach out to the teachers. Communicate your concerns and be honest about what you are struggling with and why. If they can’t cancel it, they may have a way to have you work on it in a different way. Communication is your best friend right now. 

Let’s talk about the teachers

So many teachers are getting a really negative rap right now. Surely it’s their fault right? They’re assigning all this insane work, expecting check-ins, and just making life harder on parents. Here’s the thing. They were thrown into this with no preparation as well. A lot of what teachers are giving you has been handed to them by an admin who says what they are required to assign each week. So let’s talk about this a bit more. 

• They know your kids but… – So here’s the thing. They know how your kids learn in the classroom but your child isn’t their only student. They are coordinating lessons for a variety of students from a multitude of backgrounds. When planning lessons they have to think of houses with two parents, single parents, grandparents, or a variety of other scenarios. They are working hard to balance all of these needs with the standards assigned. 
• They weren’t trained in this version of learning. – This is such an important point to make. While you as a parent are learning, so are the teachers. They are taking a system designed for classroom learning and attempting to adapt it to homes that have no internet, have single parents, or parents who are still essential and working long hours. It’s a crazy task and they’re doing the best they can figure out how to do. 
• They will make mistakes and will learn what is best with time. – In the middle of a situation the whole country wasn’t ready for, they are doing their best. They will make mistakes. Anyone would. They are trying their best though and deserve grace and patience. 

*** A Message to Teachers – Please know that we know you are working hard. When we complain about the teachers, some part of us knows it’s not your fault. We’re just overwhelmed and doing the best we can. Answer the questions, bring the peace you can bring, and be honest with us if something needs to change. We’ll get through this. 

Let’s get real. 

It’s not easy. The whole world stopped but the state said education is required and everyone is doing their best to try and make things work. There is no ideal or perfect situation. There will be tears, frustration, and growing pains as we all get through this crazy season. Do what is best for your mental health. You might miss an assignment, forget a zoom, or just drop the ball. Be real with the people you are dealing with and do your best. The rest will fall where it will. 

The most important thing for kids to know is that they are loved, that their education matters, and that all of the adults are working together to provide them with some of their normal day to day life. 

Looking for more? 

Organizing Distance Learning
Art YouTube Channels for Kids
How to help a child with dyslexia
Books for Kids

With the current state of things, many children have moved to online learning. This has left many parents feeling like they are unable to teach their kids. Add to this the fact that children don’t seem to be learning and everyone can be frustrated. So how do you handle all of the learning? I have some tips on how to help kids learn for you.

How to Help Kids Learn

For some context, I spent a lot of time on the phone with a friend last night. He was so worried that his son wasn’t retaining the concepts that were being taught. Even more so, he seemed genuinely over the online learning approach for his six-year-old. So I’m writing this post to help him out and any other parent who is genuinely overwhelmed with all of this. 

Teaching a child to read

Teaching a child to read can be so so annoying! I know some parents will say it’s the best experience of their lives. I salute you. For us, it was a massive learning curve as I had to teach a child with dyslexia to read. If you are currently homeschooling or working with a child who is learning to read, this doesn’t have to defeat you. Here are some tips to help you with teaching a child to read. 

Take advantage of online learning sites

We are HUGE fans of starfall.com for early phonics learning. Head to the main site, go to Kindergarten and then click on the ABC icon. It will take you to some really fun phonics lessons for kids to help them learn each letter’s sound. We started out with these when they were young. It helped them to sound things out a lot better when word building. 

Take advantage of hands-on learning 

Many times parents will sit down with a book and say “C-A-T, CAT” and then their children will imitate them. Then the next day, they don’t remember and C-A-T becomes a dog or monkey or something. Here’s the thing. Sometimes you have to change it up a bit. Here a few ways to use hands-on learning with learning to read. 

• Build words out of playdoh. 
• Use foam letters in the bath. 
• Let them write words in shaving cream on a cookie sheet.
• Build words out of dried beans. 

Don’t rush the process

It can be so important to understand that not every child will learn to read at the same speed. If your child is struggling with a concept, it may not be laziness. Some learning concepts such as reading are developmental. If your child is trying their best, meet them where they are and let them build confidence and get stronger at what they are good at before moving them forward. 

Learning Basic Math Concepts

Basic math concepts like addition and subtraction can be frustrating for younger children to learn remotely. Add to it the fact that each school will teach it in a different way and kids can get downright frustrated. The nice thing is, there are some simple ways to work on basic math concepts. 

Get hands-on

Using items like cars, candy, or legos to build out a math problem can help a more tactile learner to understand the math concept. Sometimes kids need the ability to see a math problem in order to understand it. 

• Build an addition or subtraction problem with different colored legos. – This will help a child to see the math problem. 
• Use m&m’s or crackers. – Kids will better understand if they have 3 crackers and you add 4 more that they now have 7 because they can see them and count them. 
• Use toy cars or another favorite small toy. – Sometimes using a small toy your child likes will help them to understand a concept better. 

Take advantage of YouTube videos for rote memory 

Videos like the one above are great for practicing items like skip counting. These videos helped my son to master his skip counting when other methods didn’t work well. 

Upper-level math struggles

For every parent, there is a limit to their math abilities. For me, that happened when my daughter started Geometry. My brain can’t remember all of the different formulas and equations for Geometry. Are you reaching the limit of your math education? There are some simple tips to help you get through it. 

Take advantage of YouTube

If you are struggling with something your kids have to work on, YouTube can be your best friend. There are countless math teachers on there teaching students different ways to solve the same math problems. If you are struggling to understand a concept, look to YouTube to help your child and yourself out. 

Take advantage of math help apps

There are some fantastic apps out there that will let you scan a math problem in and talk you through the solution. These can be a fantastic tool if your child is really struggling. 

Lack of desire to learn

Do your kids just hate the way that things are being done? When you are struggling with a lack of desire, there can be a few things going on. Here are some things to try and ways to help you work through this and motivate them. 

• Is it a learning struggle? – Sometimes kids will have no desire because they are feeling defeated. Take some time to look at the material and see if they are struggling to learn. 
• Are they bored with the material? – The material can sometimes be boring as all get out. Take some time to find ways to help them engage better with the material at hand. My son used to draw the lessons as they were being taught. 
• Don’t be afraid to contact the teacher. – If everything you are trying isn’t working, reach out to the teacher of the class. Sometimes they will have tips to help you get your child focused that you might not have considered. 

Science experiments and science lessons can be so much fun for kids. However, all science channels on YouTube are not created equal. It’s important to find channels that keep things appropriate as well as safe. There are some fantastic scientists on YouTube so I decide to put together a list for you. Check out these YouTube science channels for kids. 

YouTube Science Channels for Kids

Science Max

Science Max is a huge favorite of my son’s. His teacher actually uses these videos in class. With episodes as much as 45 minutes long, this is a great way to get kids interested in science in a fun way. 

Sick Science

Sick Science is a channel featuring Steve Spangler. Many of these videos will have experiments that can be done by children. Even better, a lot of them use supplies that you already have in the house. 

SciShow Kids

This channel is a great channel for kids who ask why and how a lot! With multiple videos sharing why and how things work, this can be a great way to answer their questions without having to know all the answers. 

Mark Rober

Mark Rober does a variety of short and longer videos filled with science explanations kids are sure to love. With topics like does a fart make you weigh less, he captures the attention of the child and keeps them interested. 

Crash Course Kids

Crash Course Kids has short videos touching on different scientific concepts. These short videos are packed with information and give children simple projects they can work on. 

Mr. DeMaio

Mr. DeMaio is a fantastic channel filled with facts and information about Science. His videos are filled with engaging content to keep kids laughing while they are learning. Talk about a win-win. 

Fun Science for Kids

Fun Science for Kids is a child run YouTube channel that offers a variety of science videos for kids. Each video has some fun elements of science and entertainment from the perspective of a child. 

Kids Fun Science

Kids Fun Science has more of a made at home video feel to it. However, the actual content is fantastic! You are sure to find some great tips and tricks for experiments you can do with items already in the home. The dancing spaghetti one above is a great example of an experiment you could probably do now. 

The Science Kid

The Science kid has adorable science experiments that she shares with kids. Some of these look like they would be a lot of fun. Even better, kids can feel like it’s something they can do when they see another child doing it. 

Science Channel

Science Channel has a lot of great how it’s made videos. If you are looking for a fun thing to show the kids about the how and why behind something, this is a great video.