It seems that most schools around the country are closed due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Schools are closed in my area, including where I work. For the past couple of weeks, I have been trying to adjust to life providing education services online. I’ve watched the news reports about how parents are struggling to homeschool their children. I’ve seen the memes on social media sarcastically claim that parents are ready to expel their children from homeschool. Teachers and administrators are trying their best to support families in this extraordinary situation. My hope today is to provide some sense of comfort and positivity to all.
Amid all of the chaos and panic, there is a light shining. The school closures are definitely make things a bit difficult, but they also provide an extraordinary opportunity for families to connect. Parents, you will always be your child’s first teacher. Keeping that in mind, there are plenty of educational opportunities right in your own home. Here are a few suggestions that can get your family through this challenging time:
READING
Set time aside everyday to read as a family. Each person can read independently, or you can read to each other. This is different from a bedtime story. This reading time should be followed by some discussion. Talk about what you are reading. Share what your reading is about. Tell your favorite part or character. Act out or draw a comic strip of a scene in a story. Create a movie poster for a book. Reading can be a family activity.
WRITING
Although so many people feel insecure about writing, it’s something we do every day. Think of all the lists we make, and texts we send! This is something you can have your children do at home during this time. Have them make lists of things they miss about school or things they want to do when this situation has passed. Instead of texts, have your children write letters. They can write to their friends and relatives, to soldiers stationed overseas, to the doctors and nurses working so tirelessly in our hospitals and medical facilities, or to patients in hospitals and nursing homes homes who may currently be disconnected from their families. Writing notes and letters can also be a lesson in compassion and empathy — two qualities desperately needed in times like these.
Keeping a journal during this time can work double duty for students. In addition to getting in their writing practice everyday, a journal can provide a safe place for students to share their anxieties about these uncertain times. Or, they can journal made-up stories as a distraction from the monotony of being home all day long.
MATH
Math is everywhere! Cooking and baking were the first things that came to mind. Measuring and fractions are addressed in cooking and baking, as well as home improvement projects. Board games often involve counting points or money. You can keep track of winning streaks and create charts or graphs displaying those statistics. Older elementary school students can determine probability and percentages of winning and losing these board games. Don’t have any board games? Make one up! Making up a board game can also double as a lesson in character as students work through developing rules for the game that are fair and provide participants with equal opportunities for winning.
SCIENCE
Just like math, science is everywhere as well. Observe the sky during the day and record the types of clouds you see. Or, observe the sky at night and record the changes of the moon phases. Plant a garden and watch life grow before your very eyes. Build a tower with everyday materials, test out the stability and durability, and record the results just a real scientists do.
SOCIAL STUDIES
All of the family togetherness sets the perfect stage for some history lessons…family history. Talking to older relatives gives students a chance to hear living history. That’s something we could never provide in the classroom. Build a family. Learn about the kind of jobs relatives has and why they had those jobs. Did their jobs reflect the technology of the time? There’s so much to learn about history just by learning about your family.
Although the fate of the remainder of this school year is uncertain, there is plenty parents and guardians can do at home every day that doesn’t require a formal lesson plan. You have all the tools you need to teach your children.
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