Who else has switched to homeschooling?

[Anonymous]

Show of hands - Who else has switched to homeschooling this year? We just finished week 2 of homeschooling and it is SO much better. (I wrote some of this in a reply on another post but thought we could start a new thread to share ideas.)

My bright but severely ADHD 5th grader is thriving for the first time in a long time, and my NT or mild ADHD 2nd grader is mostly living it as well. We are using Beast Academy, Bravewriter, Curiosity Chronicles, and Real Science Odyssey so far.

I had to drastically cut back my hours at work, and I spend a good bit of time evenings and weekends prepping lessons, but it is amazing how much better it is. We finish school before lunch and I’m actually able to *focus* on my work in the afternoons.

I also recognize how much privilege we have to be able to do this. My DH is the breadwinner by a huge margin, and my job loves me and is willing to be flexible to keep me on even in reduced capacity. I know it’s not an option for everyone.

I’m happy to try to figure out how to share my lesson plans, if that would help anyone. (I am also homeschooling a 2nd grader; we are in MCPS.) Anyone else have any ideas?

[Anonymous]

Op again, I also wanted to give special thanks to the contributors on another thread that was SO helpful to me as I was preparing to make this transition, and to recommend it to anyone else in a similar boat:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/889000.page

[Anonymous]

I’ve posted a few times. I have an ASD/ADHD 5th grader and an NT 8th grader. Both kids are thriving in homeschool and I’ve learned so much about their learning styles. Even better I’ve been able to observe my 5th graders behavior and impacts of medication. I’ve been able to get him onto a good protocol that mostly eliminates the impulsiveness and meltdowns. When the meltdowns occur, I’m there to help him through them in a way no para would ever be able to do in school.

[Anonymous]

I would love to hear more! I have very similar kids and have been struggling through DL.

I got laid off and am realizing the since my entire industry is destroyed that it will be a while before I am back in the workforce. So maybe leaning into homeschooling would make sense for us right now.

[Anonymous]

Raising hand!

I'm homeschooling my Dyslexic fourth grader and (suspected ADHD) 6 year old. Its going really well. I also recognize that I'm fortunate to have a part-time job with flexible hours or else this wouldn't work. BUT, I actually believe homeschooling is easier on me as a working mom than managing remote school for two kids and my kids are happier. We have some outside support as well--a reading tutor for the older child 3x a week (OG-based intense reading instruction) and forest play nature program twice a week for the younger child. Kids get lots of fresh air and playtime outside with the neighbor kids who are doing remote school. For curriculum, I'm loving Blossom and Root (social studies, LA, Science) and Logic of English Foundations for the 6 year old. Math Mammoth has been ok, we are switching to Right Start Math which has more games and hands-on tools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Raising hand!

I'm homeschooling my Dyslexic fourth grader and (suspected ADHD) 6 year old. Its going really well. I also recognize that I'm fortunate to have a part-time job with flexible hours or else this wouldn't work. BUT, I actually believe homeschooling is easier on me as a working mom than managing remote school for two kids and my kids are happier. We have some outside support as well--a reading tutor for the older child 3x a week (OG-based intense reading instruction) and forest play nature program twice a week for the younger child. Kids get lots of fresh air and playtime outside with the neighbor kids who are doing remote school. For curriculum, I'm loving Blossom and Root (social studies, LA, Science) and Logic of English Foundations for the 6 year old. Math Mammoth has been ok, we are switching to Right Start Math which has more games and hands-on tools.

Homeschooling is much easier than DL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear more! I have very similar kids and have been struggling through DL.

I got laid off and am realizing the since my entire industry is destroyed that it will be a while before I am back in the workforce. So maybe leaning into homeschooling would make sense for us right now.

OP back, copying what I wrote in another post again for more detail.

We are still working the kinks out, but here's our schedule so far. I list out 15 lessons per week (3 per day): 4 math, 4 ELA, 2 science, 2 history/social studies, and 1 each Art, Music, and Health. Every day each of us picks one from the list (DS1, and DD2, and Mom). We spend 45 min - 1hr per lesson, roughly, and we're always done by lunchtime. After lunch they have to play outside for an hour before they get screen time; this is when I get my work done.

Math is the easiest on me. They just read through their Beast Academy guidebooks and do the exercises while I sit in between them to help as needed (the guide contains all the teaching, but I answer questions and help them work through hard problems). We do math based on time, not on material covered, but even so we get through a chapter in 2-3 weeks. I do minimal advance planning for math, just open the book each day and go. But, I do try to do the topics (chapters) in the same order that our public school friends do, which requires a little skipping around; any planning time I spend on math is for this purpose.

ELA is the most work for me. I bought two book guides from the Bravewriter curriculum, The Dart for Charlotte's Web, and The Arrow for Harry Potter. I teach both books to both kids, but I give more/harder assignments to my older kid. The book guides break them into weeks, and each Sunday after they go to bed, I break each week into 3-4 days worth of activities and discussion. Getting their buy-in on books they enjoy has made a HUGE difference in what my 5th grader will write. I will probably add some original writing assignments gradually over time, using other guides from Bravewriter.

We are trying out curriculums for social studies and science; I like them so far - Curiosity Chronicles' Medieval History and Real Science Odyssey Physics. History we do one chapter per week, and I spend one "lesson" on reading the chapter and doing the worksheets, and another lesson on a hands on activity that so far has "counted" as Art. For Science I try to do 1 lab for 1 lesson, and a related science video for the second lesson, with a Kahoot or quiz or discussion after. Both the history and science curriculums offer the first 3 chapters for free, so you can try before you buy. I'm going to gradually add some additional follow on reading / writing work for my older child.

I'm still floundering a bit for art, music, and health, but I figure we can add more depth there gradually. Music may become "pick an instrument and sign up for online lessons". PE is covered from various sports they are already signed up for.

I spend a few hours every Sunday evening working on my lesson plans and prep for the week, and another ~15-30 min or so each day after class is over for bookkeeping. Then I do my day job in the afternoons, 3-4 hours/day. DH sometimes takes the lesson just before lunch if I need a break, or helps with afternoon herding if I have video calls.

Anything else I can answer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear more! I have very similar kids and have been struggling through DL.

I got laid off and am realizing the since my entire industry is destroyed that it will be a while before I am back in the workforce. So maybe leaning into homeschooling would make sense for us right now.

OP back, copying what I wrote in another post again for more detail.

We are still working the kinks out, but here's our schedule so far. I list out 15 lessons per week (3 per day): 4 math, 4 ELA, 2 science, 2 history/social studies, and 1 each Art, Music, and Health. Every day each of us picks one from the list (DS1, and DD2, and Mom). We spend 45 min - 1hr per lesson, roughly, and we're always done by lunchtime. After lunch they have to play outside for an hour before they get screen time; this is when I get my work done.

Math is the easiest on me. They just read through their Beast Academy guidebooks and do the exercises while I sit in between them to help as needed (the guide contains all the teaching, but I answer questions and help them work through hard problems). We do math based on time, not on material covered, but even so we get through a chapter in 2-3 weeks. I do minimal advance planning for math, just open the book each day and go. But, I do try to do the topics (chapters) in the same order that our public school friends do, which requires a little skipping around; any planning time I spend on math is for this purpose.

ELA is the most work for me. I bought two book guides from the Bravewriter curriculum, The Dart for Charlotte's Web, and The Arrow for Harry Potter. I teach both books to both kids, but I give more/harder assignments to my older kid. The book guides break them into weeks, and each Sunday after they go to bed, I break each week into 3-4 days worth of activities and discussion. Getting their buy-in on books they enjoy has made a HUGE difference in what my 5th grader will write. I will probably add some original writing assignments gradually over time, using other guides from Bravewriter.

We are trying out curriculums for social studies and science; I like them so far - Curiosity Chronicles' Medieval History and Real Science Odyssey Physics. History we do one chapter per week, and I spend one "lesson" on reading the chapter and doing the worksheets, and another lesson on a hands on activity that so far has "counted" as Art. For Science I try to do 1 lab for 1 lesson, and a related science video for the second lesson, with a Kahoot or quiz or discussion after. Both the history and science curriculums offer the first 3 chapters for free, so you can try before you buy. I'm going to gradually add some additional follow on reading / writing work for my older child.

I'm still floundering a bit for art, music, and health, but I figure we can add more depth there gradually. Music may become "pick an instrument and sign up for online lessons". PE is covered from various sports they are already signed up for.

I spend a few hours every Sunday evening working on my lesson plans and prep for the week, and another ~15-30 min or so each day after class is over for bookkeeping. Then I do my day job in the afternoons, 3-4 hours/day. DH sometimes takes the lesson just before lunch if I need a break, or helps with afternoon herding if I have video calls.

Anything else I can answer?

For art we signed up for online classes at VisArts. You pick up a big bag of art supplies before the start of the 6-week session and classes are once per week. The classes are really small and my kids have started talking about day-to-day things and stuff going on in their lives to the teacher while they're doing art. It's been surprisingly therapeutic.

[Anonymous]

I've posted on other threads. I have a 7th grader I'm homeschooling and a 4th grader doing DL with the county. 4th grader does NOT do well with instruction by me, so we are managing the frustrations of DL and persevering with public school for him. I also work FT and and actually took a job with more responsibilities recently so even though they are supportive of flexible schedules to meet COVID-related school challenges, there is only so much flex I can actually take advantage of.

DS likes to have everything on a schedule, so his schedule looks very busy but it actually also contains a number of things that he's put on there himself. But anyhow, this is what he is doing now...

Morning work (same M-F):
* Short research project as a warmup -- this is just a basic 5-7 questions about a place, important person, historical event, notable inventions, etc.
* Creative writing
* Keyboarding
* Reading

Afternoon work (M/W/F):
* Kahn Academy Math
* Western Hemisphere Geography -- workbook & atlas with supplemental material, usually from Curiosity Stream
* Science -- 7th grade Science Fusion book plus additional material in subjects of interest (mainly atomic structures and properties/uses of elements). This is the one subject where I feel like he needs a more organized curriculum than I've been able to put together.

Afternoon work (Tu/Th):
* Kahn Academy Math
* Technology -- basic programming in Kahn Academy, 3D printing with Dad, Raspberry Pi, Minecraft modding, ...
* Animal / Biology -- this is mostly self-guided reading and so far it's been learning about sharks and rabbits with a recent tangent onto human anatomy

I might look into VisArts that PP recommended. DS has occasionally pulled up YouTube instructionals on art and seems to really enjoy it, so maybe he'd like something a little more formal.