Like every other family in 2020 America, school looks different for us this year. We officially made the decision to homeschool. However, our switch to homeschooling was not a reaction to COVID.
When we lived in the South, lots of my friends homeschooled. I was fascinated by it, and they all raved about how much they loved it.
However, my oldest is very extroverted and always loved school.Plus, our personalities clashed when I tried to teach her anything academic. So, I doubted myself. I doubted my ability.
Public School Wasn’t Working
We first had concerns with my oldest child’s school was in first grade. We loved her teacher, but she struggled academically due to her ADHD. I brought this up (over and over again), but I was met with a lot of resistance.
The teachers and administration told me that she wasn’t failing enough and refused special needs services and accomadations. Can you believe that?! And we live in a highly sought after school district, but they were letting her fall through the cracks.
So, we decided that public school was not working for our family in January 2020. We made the decision to homeschool the following year. We told the kids (they were so excited!), and I started researching homeschool methods and curriculums (curricula?). All the things!
The World Came Crashing Down
We all know what happened in the spring of 2020. I withdrew my daughter when the schools closed. I already ordered some homeschool materials, so we started our homeschool journey right then and there.
It was so great! Both my school-aged kids learned so much that spring, and I better understood what motivates them and makes them tick.
Best of all, we saw them grow closer as siblings, and they had fun with school. We finished school that May and enjoyed the summer. It was nice to have those weeks to slowly ease into and discover what homeschooling would look like for our family.
Looking Ahead
We officially started our new homeschool year in July. I have a second grader, a kindergartener, and a toddler (who will still attend preschool two mornings a week). We are about three weeks in, and so far, so good…I think. Just kidding! It’s been great.
We are learning new rhythms and routines, giving and receiving grace, when to push through, and when to take it slow. I loved all of it. I love seeing my kids learn new things and knowing I was a part of that.
I have a question for those entering the new era of education, for we believe even after the current “crisis” in over, online teaching will be part of schools, perhaps as a form for students and parents to review lessons previously taught. What kind of education will the students receive? Most teachers, and certainly good ones, know that teaching is a challenging career, but one well-worth the time if young people are prepared for the future, teaching them to venture forth without fear, but with energy, preparations, and joy for opportunities. Will teachers be able to interact with their students? Will they be able to think outside the box? Will they be able to supplement lessons and create innovative projects? And as each day passes, with thousands, even millions of words being spoken, will they feel comfortable knowing every parent, every adult, every administrator, every agency, will forever have access to every word spoken for it will forever be in computer land. And knowing this, as the years pass and some teachers are fired for something they said once, years ago, how will other teachers feel about the profession and their ability to be a positive example in young people’s lives. Or are we all going to experience a sterile environment, realizing every word spoken will be scrutinized, up for debate, and many will have to go to education camps if they want to keep their jobs. What will the future look like? **Home schooling is real: as real as it gets. And together, parents and their children can pave the way to understanding, education with no boundaries, projects, and preparation for real jobs and careers. As I once told a sibling, you can teach young people some things in college, the parts that prepare for the future. Cooking, small businesses, science experiments, and more.
These are all such important things to think about moving forward. I do really think that traditional “school” as we knew it will be a thing of the past for quite some time. Families will have to weigh many options and factors for determining what is best for their own children. That might look different for each family, and that’s ok.
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