Learning at Home: Finding Balance

We are in a time in which we are all doing our best with the outbreak of COVID-19. I’m someone who thrives on routines and I know that my boys do, too. However, when kids learn that school is closed and suddenly they’re learning at home, we have to find what works best for all of us. In lieu of the number of teachers and parents who were suddenly seeking resources, I composed a blog post, Resources for Educators and Families in Light of School Closings, filled with many ideas as support. We all know the value of learning and many worry that our kids will fall behind. I validate that concern. However, I want to challenge us to consider some other factors.

Within my blog post, I didn’t just include websites and resources for skill-building, but also for hands on activities, Design Thinking projects, mindfulness, virtual field trips, and activities to engage children in both inside and outside. All of these are so beneficial as they spark curiosity, creativity, and inspire meaningful learning.

It’s Okay to Take a Step Back

The purpose of including these resources was to remind us that we do not need to set up home classrooms that are replicated after a brick and mortar school, and engage kids in worksheets or workbooks for six hours/day. I’m so happy to see people supporting their children, and if your child does best with a home classroom, than it’s good to do what works best. Both of my teens benefit from a quiet space that allows them to organize their materials as they see fit. However, they like to work wherever they’re most comfortable.

A common question I’ve been asked is: to schedule or not schedule? As a mom of teens, we did create a schedule as a reference of some of the things they benefit from daily. For example, time learning, physical fitness, learning something they’re interested in, free time, reading time, random acts of kindness, etc. However, it’s just a guide. They may come up with new ideas each day. I want to remain open and see what they come up with independently. They’re so accustomed to rotating on a bell schedule, so I’m actually enjoying the process of restructuring our days and what learning looks like.

Having teens, it’s important that I also provide them ownership over what their day looks like, too. I think even our youngest learners benefit from this as well. Providing choice, empowers voice. Plus, it also demonstrates mutual respect and trust. Both boys (very different personalities) are doing all of their morning routines on their own and completing daily work sent by school. They’ve only spent an hour, sometimes two, completing their school work assigned by their teachers. However, the first two days, that wasn’t the case. I was patient because I understood that both were adjusting to the change and dealing with feelings of frustration from losing some of the things they love. Julian just made the varsity tennis team and Nolan had joined track. Dances canceled, loss of face-to-face communication with peers, and the loss of teachers who make a positive impact. Everything is suddenly different and finding a way to accept the change may require time. I can’t even imagine how our high school and college seniors must be feeling. We need to allow children space to process what has happened. However, children are incredibly resilient and will likely gain character from these experiences over a course of time.

Do What Works Best for You & Your Family

When it comes to learning, I’m not worried. I believe that our children are resilient and that if on some days they do less work than others, they will be okay. Our country is going through a challenging time and families are in so many different situations. Some of us are trying to work at home and many still need to report to work. Some of you are healthcare workers, and may be returning home completely exhausted. We have to take some of the pressure off and take a deep breath. We have to show ourselves and others some grace.

The same goes for educators. I know how much teachers love their kids and care about supporting them so that they don’t lose any growth they’ve made. Many went remote and are doing online teaching on the fly, kudos! That is a challenge, but very impressive. There are also schools who have not moved to any online learning management system yet, and therefore are sending hard copies home.

As both an educator and parent, I want us to keep it in the forefront of our minds that not all learners have the same level of support at home and many may become caregivers for families. Let’s try to be reasonable with how we continue to promote learning. In my heart, I believe that learning should feel engaging and deeply meaningful. Maybe this is an opportunity to provide some projects that incorporate creativity, choice, and engage on a deeper level? We inspire our learners to dive into authentic learning experiences. And, any way we can remain connected to continue fostering relationships, is beneficial.

A Fresh Outlook

I have to admit I really love seeing everyone’s pictures of their kids learning from home. I love that I’ve seen geocaching, painting, hiking, baking and cooking, Lego challenges, playing outside, website creation, building forts, and making/creating of all kinds. At our home we’ve also been spending more time training our puppy and engaging in time together. Our oldest is mapping out a business he wants to launch and is about to join a course with Don Wettrick on entrepreneurship. Both boys are participating in more family contributions by vacuuming, sweeping, etc. They’re learning how we can all pitch in and work collaboratively with so much more time with one another. Yes, our kids may have assignments to do, but it’s so important to remember that learning happens in many different forms. We need to find the balance within the day for both us and our children.

Give Yourself a Break, Find a Balance

One friend on Facebook was thrilled with her first day of homeschooling her child. She celebrated that it was a complete success! The second day, not so much. Suddenly the child refused to do the work sent home from school. A fellow educator on Twitter also shared how her daughter was refusing to read and many others jumped in and shared their similar struggles. No one is expecting you to run a full-on school day at home. We also want to ensure we avoid power struggles with our children and remember that they have their own emotions in connection with what’s happening.

At school, kids do not sit for hours on end completing worksheets (at least I hope not). They engage in STEM, art, music, create projects, engage in discussions, physical activity, learn through game based activities, play outside and even make within makerspaces. Flexible routines are beneficial, but allowing kids to have a say in the order in which they complete work or engage in activities is helpful, too. Kids of all ages benefit from breaks if they’ve been engaging in school work for some time for balance.

Also, it’s okay that they complete school work on the couch, floor, or even in bed–– as a teacher, I had flexible seating and never insisted they remained in one place (we did have an organizational system though). We all have so many things going on that we have to take time to breath and let our kids breath, too. Each day may look and feel different.

Together, we will provide support to one another and persevere through this. Just know, you’re not alone. Keep in mind that we all need to take time to care for ourselves, too. Self care is not selfish. Carve out time to ensure you’re doing something for yourself so that you can remain centered and your best for others. Finding balance in this time is so crucial for all of us.