Some Pointers for the Unexpected Homeschoolers

Some Pointers for the Unexpected Homeschoolers
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 by Susan Lyttek

I homeschooled both of my sons from preschool through high school. In addition, I have tutored other homeschool students, private school students and public-school students, both locally and internationally via the internet. As such, I have experience with kids and teens. That is my opening disclaimer.

Recent events have forced large numbers of parents to become homeschoolers whether they wanted to or not. As such, I would like to offer a few pointers that might make your life less stressful.

You do not have to finish everything to be considered finished. I don’t remember when I learned that traditional schools consider a class successful if it completed two-thirds of the text. That tidbit of information took off an immense weight during bad years. I think we can safely call this a bad school year. So, do what you can to encourage your students, but allow a good amount of unfinished work.
You can homeschool. Over the years I saw many successful homeschool parents from all backgrounds and levels of education. Some of these parents learned English as a second language before homeschooling in English. A couple of these parents were working on their college degree while homeschooling. Others were managing their full-time career at night after homeschooling during the day (or vice versa). Homeschooling means you do what you can with what you have. Don’t reinvent yourself or your kids just for this time. Be yourselves as best as you can. It will work.
One good hour of work is worth four or five distracted hours. If you are stir-crazy and/or your student is stir-crazy, you won’t get that much done. You can push and push and barely make any headway. So don’t push. Go out. Walk together. Play a game. And when you are both more focused, commit to that one good hour. You will be better for it.
Teach what you know, what you love. Are you an accountant? Focus on teaching your kids math. Are you a fan of the History Channel? Spend extra time on the colonial age. There is no rule that says you have to teach every subject every year. Yes, that’s the way things have been done in recent times, but look back at our forefathers. They learned what they, and their instructors, were passionate about. The best learning comes that way.
Farm it out. What you don’t know and don’t like, but needs doing can be done by someone else. Maybe someone else in your family knows it well. When I had to teach science to my younger son, I would often turn to my oldest who was passionate about the sciences to correct my mistakes or even teach an entire lesson that was beyond me. I tutor at Huntington Learning Center, online at this time, and often do just what I was mentioning for others. I love algebra, for instance, or French, and find both fun to tutor. In order for learning to take place, there has to be joy involved. That won’t happen if you hate what you’re trying to teach.
Remember, if you are an unexpected homeschooler, this is temporary. Your norm will return in time. Exercise patience with your children/students and with yourself. You can’t do it all. No one can. You can only do what is in front of you for this moment. Find the joy where you can. You will remember this time with your students, your children, for years after the pandemic is gone. And this exercise in possibilities might, just might, show you some things that you’re capable of that you never would have guessed.