The world is constantly changing and so is the concept of homeschooling. In the current day in age more people than ever have been exposed to homeschooling by necessity. Some families have been pushed into homeschooling by new government mandates they chose to opt out of. Most recently, the world has been forced to crisis educate at home. The question of how to homeschool all of a sudden when you weren’t planning on it raises the question of how to begin. Then, after a few weeks, parents wonder how to continue. Homeschooling is more than sitting at a desk listening to a teacher. Learning is more than doing homework. What can you do to keep your kids learning while you are still figuring out your new norm and the plan of how to make it all work? Here is a list of ideas that count as learning, some that your kids may even already be doing but you may not have considered educational. Take a deep breath. Maybe your kids are learning more at home than you thought.
- Listening to Various Kinds of Music: Fine Arts, Music Appreciation
- Dancing: Fine Arts, Creative Movement, Physical Fitness
- Coloring: Fine Arts
- Legos: Math, Organization, Problem Solving
- Reading: Language Arts, multiple subjects such as History or Science depending on the topic of the book
- Playing Outside: Physical Fitness
- Nature Walks: Earth Science, Biology, Health
- Church: Religious Studies, Philosophy, History
- Playing Games: Problem Solving, Strategy, Logic, Math or a variety of subjects depending on the game
- Gardening: Earth Science, Life Science, Biology, Health
- Caring for Younger Siblings: Family Studies, Health
- Caring for the Elderly: Family Studies, Health, could be multiple subjects if an elderly person is able to discuss various topics such as History or Current Events
- Meal Preparation: Science, Math, Home Economics
- Baking: Math, Home Economics, Art
- Shopping: Math, Planning, Health
- Watching Educational Videos: multiple subjects depending on the content
- Practicing a Musical Instrument: Fine Arts, Math, Ear Training
- Keeping a Journal: Language Arts, Mindfulness, Logic
- Educational Video Games: multiple subjects depending on the content
- Doing a Puzzle: Logic, Problem Solving, Math
- Discussing Current Events: History, Government, Civics
- Writing a Note to a Friend: Language Arts
- Any Kind of Sport: Physical Fitness, Health
- Researching a Topic of Interest: Language Arts and multiple subjects depending on the content
- Any Type of Craft: Fine Arts
Remember, as you begin homeschooling whether by choice or because of a crisis, that your kids are going to be ok. Finding something for them to work on each day is the goal while you are figuring out what works best for your family. Give yourself some credit. Homeschooling is new and different and you are trying. You are all learning together.
Sarah Brutovski is a homeschool mom of three children. She grew up just down the street from where she and her husband are raising their family now in rural Upstate New York. When she is not teaching her kids, grocery shopping, or drinking coffee you might find her training for a half marathon, escaping for a morning at the beach, or chatting on the phone with one of her four siblings. Sarah loves writing on her blog sarahswritingcafe.blogspot.com and currently teaches creative writing at her kids’ weekly co-op.