Schooling at home advice from a homeschooling family.

As a homeschooling parent who has worked remote for the last 10 years, I have been asked several times over the last weeks about what works and what doesn’t. In full disclosure, my wife does the homeschooling and is a stay-at-home mom. She often says, “just” a mom, but I still maintain that she has the hardest job in the world. I also maintain that she is amazing at it and I am blessed to be with her. I am the epitome of “punching above my weight”.

While we have a pretty good flow at home, it has not always been the case and I thought I would share some lessons learned. Most of these are from my wife Brigitte, but a few are from me.

1. Set a schedule: try to establish the “school” part of the day and keep a routine if possible. During this time, give schooling your full attention. Frustration comes when we worry about the workday instead of concentrating on the task at hand.
2. Take advantage of workplace flexibility if available. For example, do a late start at 10am. From 8am -10am do school. The advantage of homeschooling and not replicating a full school day is that it takes less time. After that, if age appropriate, let your kids be self-guided. If not, then don’t be afraid to have school in the evenings.
3. Don’t try to replicate the entire school day. Choose some key topics like math and reading and work to keep them sharp. Don’t try to maintain every subject.
4. Don’t invest in a full curriculum. Make use of online resources and library resources (if they are open). For younger kids, grab some workbooks from the dollar store or online. Many schools are also providing resources for home education as well.
5. Everything can be education. Work around the house for allowance is economics. Helping to make lunch is cooking classes. Walking in the park is recess.
6. Don’t worry about having the perfect spot in your house for schooling. Our kids sit at the kitchen table for school every day.
7. For younger kids, try to do active lessons. I have watched my wife teach the girls about clouds with a jar, matches, water, and some ice. They loved it and will remember it.
8. Keep younger kids active while learning. Our girls have story time every day where Brigitte’s reads to them while they color or do some sort of craft. At first, I thought it would never work and they were not paying attention. The truth is, keeping their hands active helps to keep their mouths closed and ears open.
9. Be flexible: sometimes the Johnson school day has a late start and sometimes it gets postponed entirely. We work hard to keep a schedule but not without flexibility as needed.
10. Communicate early and often with your kids. Before they go to bed, our kids are aware of the next day’s loose agenda. We keep them in the loop on any changes that need to happen and allow them a say in flexing whenever possible.

I know these are crazy times and we are all trying to figure out what is best. While these steps may not work for everyone, I hope they might be helpful to some. Glad to answer any questions or add to this if you have more ideas.

God bless,

The Johnsons