You’re Not Homeschooling, You’re Managing a Crisis
By: Rachael Hope
Tags: Children, Family, Covid 19, Education, Parenting

So, what is the difference between actual homeschooling and the social distanced learning millions of families are now experiencing?

Choice vs. Mandate

One of the biggest is that parents of homeschooled children have generally made the decision to move to an alternative learning environment. Families choose that path for a variety of reasons, but no matter what the reason, it’s done with intention.

This is very different psychologically from all of the parents who have been thrust into an uncertain world feeling pressure to keep their kids learning. Many of us have been in panic mode, or experiencing feelings related to the fight-flight-freeze response. Needless to say, it’s not the best mindset to be in if you’re trying to teach children.

Preparation

In homeschooling situations, the families work out ahead of time who will instruct the child, and how they will learn. When they get to that calculus class their parent never took, there’s a plan in place for who will help them through it.

In distance learning due to a global pandemic, most parents are unprepared and lack the resources to create a semblance of school at home. Many parents are still working, scrambling to find childcare, and worrying about how they’ll pay the bills. Many homes don’t have space for a dedicated learning area, or lack the technology needed for their children.

Curriculum

Homeschooling parents and students determine their own curriculum based on their child’s specific abilities and the learning methods that help them succeed. They have options, and are able to choose the one that will work best for their situation.

Isolation schooling doesn’t really have a curriculum. It began with packets and links sent home on the fly, and is an ever-evolving situation. Each school district is doing the best it can, but it’s not a uniform system by any means.

Adjustment to Individual Learning

The primary teachers in homeschooling setups tend to be either a parent or the students themselves, through self-guided activities. They may take some co-op classes or online lessons, but the bulk of the learning is done individually. Schoolkids home because of coronavirus are trying to cope with a learning environment where they’ve lost access to the teachers and peers that they’re used to. They’re left with teachers who are trying to reach out in any way they can within an educational system that’s not set up for this.

Environment

Homeschool students are accustomed to learning at home. They often have a specific work area set up which is conducive to their learning, a place they are used to going to get themselves into ‘school mode.’ Kids who are accustomed to classroom learning and now being thrust into a situation where they’re in an environment usually meant for home life, trying to do the activities they usually do at school with all of their supplies at hand.

Isolation schooling is an emergency. It’s new, rushed, and chaotic, with everyone scrambling to figure out how to make it work. Homeschooling is most often planned for months ahead of time, and have had hours and hours of preparation put into it.

The reality of isolation schooling is that there are kids who are not going to be able to participate fully, if at all, in distance learning. Maybe their parents don’t have the time or energy to teach them after working long days. Maybe they are homeless or experiencing food insecurity, and their mental and physical priorities are elsewhere. Maybe they are in unsafe situations, unable to reach the haven school was providing. Whatever it is, next fall is not going to be a normal back-to-school season. Kids will be “behind,” and there will be more review and catching up than normal. And that’s okay.