Advice for teaching your children, from home-schooling parents with five children.
“Gather as many different ideas as possible, but the key is don’t think you have to replicate school … you can’t.
This schooling will look different in all families, but the best thing is to be adaptable and flexible, and remember to look at the big picture, not the small circumstance of the moment!
It’s good to get into a routine, but don’t force it. All of our usual routines are up in the air presently, and it’ll take you and the kids time to settle into a new routine. Give them more time initially to just have fun. We all need a bit of fun in these days!!! We’re likely in this for the long haul, and after a few days, the kids will be looking for some more routine.
“Remember, it’s all about learning, not lessons”, and you can learn in many different ways. Let the kids use this time to explore areas of their own interests. Learning about something you’re interested in is always fun.
Also remember, everyday will be different. Some days the schedule will work, others days it won’t. Some days we’re motivated, other days we’re not. Sometimes it’s better to ditch the schedule for the day and just go and do something fun.”
Since it seems that many children will be away from school for a while, and while schools have no doubt given you educational objectives, here is a list of helpful ideas from another parent:
Online resources:
– BrainPop
– Curiosity Stream
– Tynker
– Outschool
– Udemy
– iReady
– Beast Academy (Math)
– Khan Academy
– Creative Bug
– Discovery Education
YouTube Channels:
– Crash Course Kids
– Science Channel
– SciShow Kids
– National Geographic Kids
– Free School
– Geography Focus
– TheBrainScoop
– SciShow
– Kids Learning Tube
– Geeek Gurl Diaries
– Mike Likes Science
– Science Max
– SoulPancake
Lots of board games, library books (and Kindle), tinkering/upcycling with household junk, etc.
Some resources to help with your children:
*Scholastic has created a free learn-from-home site with 20+ days of learning and activities.
https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
*Pretend to travel the world..Go on a virtual tour of these 12 famous museums.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
*This is the great free curriculum that we use. Everything from preschool activities to 12th grade is here!
https://allinonehomeschool.com/
*List of thinking games by grade: https://allinonehomeschool.com/thinking/
**More great free learning websites that we like to use**
https://www.starfall.com/h/
https://www.abcya.com/
https://www.funbrain.com/
https://www.splashlearn.com/
https://pbskids.org/
https://www.highlightskids.com/
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
http://www.mathgametime.com/
https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/
http://www.literactive.com/Home/index.asp
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/
https://www.switchzoo.com/
https://www.seussville.com/
https://www.turtlediary.com/
https://www.e-learningforkids.org/