How to Homeschool During the Coronavirus Pandemic

"What we are being asked to do is not humanly possible," says Emily W. King, Ph.D., in a PSA that she published on her Facebook page. "Working, parenting, and teaching are three different jobs that cannot be done at the same time. It’s not hard because you are doing it wrong. It’s hard because it’s too much. Do the best you can," she continues. This is a mentality that I am finding comfort in, as my own daughter embarks on her third week home from school—and our overly-ambitious schedule for homeschooling that we put together on day one has slowly fallen apart (much like me on a few occasions) and I am sitting here wondering if this will go down as the year that she didn’t finish fourth grade. 

I am not alone. Across the world schools are closed, some through April (for now), and others for the foreseeable future—with the situation changing daily. Schools are offering different levels of support: Some school systems and private schools were immediately ready to launch into remote learning, while others are still working on putting systems into place. Either way, the sudden shift from sending your child off to school every morning to learning from home is a huge adjustment for both parents and students—and needless to say, it can be overwhelming. But as homeschooling is suddenly a part of our new normal, it's important to remember that we all are struggling to adjust to online instruction and trying to find ways to keep our children engaged.

Jamie Heston, a veteran homeschooler, homeschool consultant, and a board member of the Homeschool Association of California, advises that you should be gentle with yourself, your child, your partner, and your coworkers. "We are in an unprecedented situation and everyone is under stress," Jamie says.  She also recommends designating some time to teach your children "real life" activities, like cooking, gardening, and sewing. "Ask your children what they’d like to learn," she says. "Self-directed learning is the best. What is your child passionate about? Learning doesn’t only happen with a book at a desk." And most importantly, always remember to be flexible: "It’s going to be messy, and that’s OK, this is 'crisis schooling', not planned, thought-out homeschooling."