Emergency Homeschooling: FAQ’s

How can we homeschool when both parents work? Homeschooling is flexible—even emergency homeschooling. Some options are to do the homeschooling in the evenings, or go over work the student has done during the day and set up tomorrow’s assignments. Schoolwork can be supervised by Grandma or a nanny, who can answer questions to keep the student on track, while he works independently. (“Do these instructions mean I should draw the picture first, and then solve the problem?” Yes!) Some students may work better in the evenings, or whenever a parent is available. Depending on the parents’ work schedules, the schooling could even switch to a 4-day week or go through the weekend with the “weekend” break falling somewhere during the week.

A recent innovation being used by some emergency homeschoolers is “pod-schooling,” a sort of mini-co-op arrangement, where a few families swap child-care and schooling supervision duties. Each family, in turn, hosts all of the children at their home for two days, while the parents from the other families work. They all share child-care, and all of the students are supervised. Win-win.

What if other families are doing something different from what we’re doing? Focus on your own family—your spouse and children—not on your friends, your neighbors, your siblings, or your parents. Do what is best for your family. This year, everyone will be doing something different from everyone else! Different is okay.

How do I plan lessons? Many textbooks are already set up for a sufficient number of lessons, but you can also divide those differently to suit the needs of your students. Do half-lessons on some days, do two lessons on some days, or do whatever combination works best with your family’s schedule.

My preferred method was to divide the number of pages in a textbook by the number of school days we scheduled, then round up to the next whole number for the approximate number of pages to do each day. Example: suppose a textbook has 484 pages, divided by 180 days, equals 2.69—and round up to 3 pages per day. That will balance out with some sections obviously stopping in the middle of a page, some pages may be full-page illustrations, and the table of contents and index take up a few pages. This is a basic plan that will keep you from stressing out over trying to write detailed lesson plans in advance and then striving to make them happen. This is simply a target, and a student who does a little less or a little more once in a while won’t hurt anything.

How do we fill 8 hours per day with schoolwork? You don’t. Your students won’t be wasting time standing in line or waiting for “that one kid” to stop talking and pay attention so class can proceed. Homeschooled students can typically finish all their work for one school day in less than half the time required to do the same amount of work in a classroom. (Sometimes in much less than half the time.) After schoolwork is done, your student can expand the day with electives: art, music, home ec, games, and any personal interests. These extra-curricular, bonus activities also work well as therapy, to help students relax and feel normal again, during this very not-normal season of life. Activities will vary for each student, but they still count as learning.

Do I have to lecture? No. There is no need for lectures or extensive explanations. Most textbooks do an adequate job with the instructions for each lesson. If the student is capable of reading and comprehending instructions himself, you will rarely need to stand over him to supervise, explain, or answer questions.

What if my student gets stuck? Students who are capable of doing their own internet research can use Google, Siri, or Alexa for assistance, when you are not available. That comes with the bonus of keeping their research skills sharp. For other students, it can help to ask them exactly which part has them stumped. Then ask what they think it means, to get them thinking and to teach them to trust their instincts.

Do I give them homework? No. Students can read the lesson and follow the instructions themselves, doing the work immediately, while it’s fresh in their minds—not hours later in a study period or as homework. Again, no waiting, just getting it done. If the student does have a question about the lesson, the parent, grandparent, or nanny who is supervising can answer it right away, not waiting while several other students ask their questions first. Supplemental lesson activities can often continue after the basic lesson, as “stealth learning” that reinforces concepts with a “playtime” feel.

How do we decide which classes to do when? It is perfectly acceptable for the student to choose the order in which he prefers to do various subjects. It is also acceptable if he chooses to do them in a different order each day. Most students will settle into a routine that feels best to them, but an occasional shake-up to that routine can also be refreshing.

How do I know what materials to pick for my child? Students who enjoy reading will learn well from workbooks and textbooks. Students who prefer watching will learn well from videos on platforms such as You Tube. Students who are hands-on learners will learn well with manipulatives, doing experiments, or even duplicating experiments they have watched on You Tube. Students who are action-loving doers will learn well from standing up to do lessons, lying on the floor to do lessons, going outside to do lessons, making lessons bigger—write out the lesson with chalk on the driveway, sweep it clean to erase, and do another lesson. Doers also learn well from watching videos that are first-person perspective, so they feel like they are the ones doing it, rather than the more passive third-person perspective of watching someone else do it.

Do we need to stay home all day, every day? No. Schools take field trips, and so can you. Learning happens wherever you go, so don’t feel like you are skipping school, even if you are running a few errands. The more efficient routine of homeschooling added extra hours to our day, and we used those hours as we desired, with learning-on-the-go as an added benefit: shopping easily converted into consumer math, driving across town used geography and navigational skills, and every interaction with people was experience in public speaking. Don’t do public situations, if you’re not up to it. Do go to events that will be uplifting and enjoyable, but only if you can avoid the Negative Nellies.

Other titles in this series:

• Emergency Homeschooling: You CAN Do This!
• Emergency Homeschooling: What Supplies Do We Need, and Where Do We Get Them?
• Emergency Homeschooling: Benefits