Agh! Schools Have Closed - What Am I Going To Do?!
I'm seeing lots of posts on social media from overworked mamas (and papas) feeling pressure to get this right - so I've developed some tips ease your minds!
- No one expects you to be a teacher. Teachers take at least 4 years of tertiary education and a lifetime to perfect their craft. No one expects you to become a teacher in a day!
- One-on-one learning is more efficient than classroom learning. You already know this, and teacher:child ratio may have been a consideration when you picked your child's school. You don't need to spend 6 hours educating your child. Keep in mind, not all hours spent at school are focussed on explicit learning. There is informal group time, discussion, assemblies, toilet breaks, and so on. Depending on your child's year level, 1-3 hours of one-on-one (or small group) learning should be more than sufficient.
- You know your child. One of the most important things about being a teacher is knowing your student and how they learn. You have a head start! You have already taught them almost everything they know. Do fun activities based on their strengths, and this is also a great opportunity to hone in on targeted areas of learning (or, things they may need help with).
- Take advantage of resources. There are thousands of resources out there, from handwriting sheets to comprehension activities. See my list of resources that I love and use, which I update on a regular basis.
- Flip the curriculum. You know what's great about not being at school? You get to change things up for your child! Make it fun, focus on their interests, watch a fun documentary about whales/snakes/dinosaurs, plant a veggie garden (or even some herbs!). Do what YOU and your child want to do, and make it a learning opportunity.
- Organise your day. Take a few minutes the night before to jot down some learning goals for each of your children, for the day. Don't forget to include rewards! See my post for an example of my day schedule.
- Use rewards. There is a reason why parents aren't usually their child's teacher - generally speaking, a child doesn't want to listen to their parent! Reward them when they do the right thing. Don't forget to reward yourself - you're doing a great job! I know I enjoy some red wine or dark chocolate at the end of the day - is anyone with me?!
- Seek help where you need it. Ask your child's teacher(s), other parents, or give me a call!
ClarityWorks can help with home schooling - Contact Emma now for more information.
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