What To Do If You Can’t Keep Up With Distance Learning
I get it. You did not sign up for distance learning.
You’ve been thrown a major curve ball and basically no lead time to prepare for it. And let’s not forget you were already juggling parenting, work, and family time to the best of your ability before The ‘Rona hit. Now you just can’t.
The first thing to do is contact your child’s teacher.
The vast majority of teachers are in the same boat as you. They’re figuring out how to work from home and also facilitate home-based learning, while juggling family time and trying to manage all the things, too. They want to find a solution. They love your child, they miss your child, and they are worried about your child. Many will tell you to do your best and don’t sweat the rest. Perhaps they can help you prioritize which work is most vital.
Those who don’t budge are probably under pressure from their administrators. When the teacher can’t budge, call the principal and keep going up until you either have a solution, or are sure you won’t get one.
When you just can’t, know you have options.
Option one is only do what you can do. Figure out how much you can handle as a family and let the teachers know that is what you will do. Most will work with you.
Before I go any further I want to clarify that high school students, and some middle school students CAN NOT just blow off their school work and think they can chalk it up to the pandemic. High school students still have to meet expectations to graduate on time. Prioritize helping them find solutions. Again, many teachers will work with you if you explain your obstacles.
If you can’t come to an agreement and you’ve already gone all the way up the chain, then it’s time to consider option 2.
#homeschool
Hear me out. I’m not suggesting that homeschooling will be easier than distance learning in your current situation. What I am suggesting is that you take the steps necessary in your state, to withdraw from your local school, and register as a homeschool family. When you register as a homeschool family the school is no longer accountable for your child and you are no longer accountable to the local school. In my state (WA) all I had to do to get started was withdraw my students in writing (I just sent an email), and file an Intent to Homeschool Form with the district. You can find your state’s law here.
But what about the schooling?
The beautiful part of this option is a well-accepted methodology used by many families transitioning from public to home school. It’s called De-schooling. (Not to be confused with un-schooling) Basically it’s settling into a new routine of being at home together, without worrying about school for several months. Some families choose to work on building good habits during this time. Some take on a new hobby. Others just treat it as a break during which they decompress from mainstream education so that when they start schooling, it is with fresh hearts and minds. See where I’m going with this?
You can be a legitimate homeschooler, just by living with your kids for the rest of spring and summer!
At the end of your deschooling period, (now through summer break) it’s likely that your kid’s school will be open again. At that time you can decide to re-enroll or continue as homeschoolers in your own way.
You know your family best.
If you don’t think distance learning is serving your family well, it probably isn’t. You might be surprised how much kids learn when we’re not trying so hard to teach them.
Whatever you decide to do, you’ve got this.
Helpful Resources: