General Tips

• Remember that what we are all doing right now isn't exactly homeschooling. We are responding to a national emergency and it's not business as usual even for regularly homeschooling families. Our kids need us to prioritize comfort and security, love and grace. There are lots of great resources on this page, but at present it is good to pay more attention to emotional and mental health than to educational progress.

• Routines and clear expectations help everyone; strict structure tied to the clock often does not.

• Connect before assigning independent work. Try meeting as a family every morning and choose a few things to do together. Options: preview the day, read a poem, pray, memorize a hymn, study a map, discuss the news or weather, share a few picture books or a chapter of a family read-aloud.

• Don't try to do too much! Try giving elementary aged children a simple checklist with 3-5 short assignments per day. Or try this or this. Don't ask them to sit and work at a table for the length of a school day.

• Variety keeps things interesting for everyone. Rotate screen-based learning with other things. Remember the basics but allow time for the humanities and following personal interests.

• When someone melts down, take a break, have a snack, go outside, read a book, give a hug, put on music and dance. Stop, tweak your plan, and try again tomorrow. No one learns or thrives when they're stressed and now is not the time to push it.

• Getting outside and being active daily does everyone a world of good. If all else fails, cuddling up to read, playing, creating, and being in nature is enough.

• AFTERNOON REST TIME :)

Sample Day

Morning

• Breakfast

• Morning chores

• Family gathering for reading and group learning

• Individual checklists/lessons/projects

• Break or snack at some point mid-morning

Afternoon

• Lunch

• Rest time for an hour

• Independent reading, playing, exploring

• Board games, crafts, screen time, FaceTime, etc

• Go outside!

• Audiobook or podcast during dinner prep

• Plan an evening activity you can all look forward to