Anyone else NOT home schooled their children?

[VelveteenBunni]

Don't get me wrong, I tried in the first couple of weeks. But with three kids and one with SN it's really difficult. I don't feel I have the capacity to educate and surely the most important thing is they are healthy and safe?

I think it's important to keep education going. It's been almost 3 months and it look like some year groups won't set foot in school for a total of 6 months. We have adjusted online learning, with support of the school we have reduced the amount of lessons per day which takes the pressure of and I belive parents and children should do what works for them but I also belive children should be having some kind of education even if it's reduced.

Well you should be making the effort, yes of course.... it is hard

For the majority of kids I second what my has said. It does sound like you've got a lot on your plate though OP.

there will be many parents saying they've home schooled but haven't irl. everyones circumstances are different, you can only do what you can do.

You've got loads on your plate don't worry too much about it xx

OP as long as you’ve been doing something and not letting them sit on screens all day then youve contributed to some learning, albeit not academically.

You are going to get a lot of nasty posts from the perfect parents though, so step away from this thread xxx

Many of the families of pupils in my class have told me they've given up. I've suggested to them they try to do one learning activity daily, just to distinguish the school days from the non-school days. Otherwise it will be so hard for them to get back into a routine. Have you been provided with any online platforms, reading books etc that they could access independently. I've found that some of my families preferred this.

We’re struggling. Dh is useless and just locks himself away all day. I’m balancing work and have three primary aged kids. Two have complex Sen. The eldest is setting to it on her own, I have to sit with my middle one and it takes forever and my youngest I’m getting little out of her but she attends a specialist school so has a different type of education. We’re only doing English and maths now.

I think a routine can help children feel secure and a bit of learning can be part of that. A compromise could be doing some stuff online (BBC bitesize perhaps) or / and Joe wicks or something like that, maybe something they can all do and easy for you?

Also things like Seneca / Doodle maths are good.

YANBU to do considerably less, but possibly YWBU to do none at all.

If trying to home school will cause more tears, arguments and a negative environment/experiences then yes OP I suggest you avoid it. However...depending on their ages I suggest reading to them and getting them to read to you at least once a day (informally) and setting up play based learning situations for them.
Like- lego challenges, counting blocks, making slime, baking, small world play( for oral language skills), get them to write a postcard to someone who they haven't seen in a while etc etc. Home school doesn't have to be sitting down with a school book, it can be fun.

How old are they OP?

It depends on the ages of the children and what you mean by not home schooling them'

If they're little and you're doing all the normal stuff, but no worksheets/school stuff then absolutely fine.

If they're older or you mean they're doing absolutely nothing (just screens/moping about) then YABU.

Depends what you mean by nothing... A five year spending their time doing puzzles, board games, gardening, and baking etc is different to a 15yo spending their time playing Call of Duty.

However...you are human. You can only do your best. I make sure we do some sort of Maths and Literacy each day, but it's not teams of worksheets.

I've struggled, as a single parent trying to work from home it's been hard. The only computer we have here is my work laptop so it's not even like I can set her up on some online learning during the day, as I'm using it to work.

School haven't set much work, a few online learning links here and there and suggestions on books to read.

It's hard trying to have conference calls, or getting deadline work done with all this going on. My daughter is still reading every day, but other than that its whatever I can get done with her while working.

We’ve been told do what you can but for younger ones especially to try and do some reading each day.

We are unschooling. Tbh i think the best thing to come out of this is that SATS have been cancelled. A break from the high pressure that our young are under is no bad thing.
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@Playdonut I don't think telling the OP to ignore people saying she is BU is helpful. The children have been off school since March, there is a strong possibility they won't be back full time until November time. Seven months of no education at all is going to be detrimental. If the OP needs a break from it then fair enough but to do no work at all for weeks on end isn't good is it.

OP how old are your DC?

Yes I have, but then I'm furloughed and my kids are both in the same key stage which helps. Everyone has different circumstances though so I wouldn't judge anyone who isn't doing the same as me.

I'm lucky that the school have provided a lot of help. I must admit I don't bother with the music (they do have instrument lessons), drama and games, even though the school set some I feel we have enough to do to keep on top of maths, English and science.
I think you have to try and find the happy balance between managing a bit but not so much it breaks your spirit!

@sparepantsandtoothbrush op sounds like she is under a lot of pressure. I dont think that scaremongering about no school till November is helpful. I'm just trying to be supportive and let her know that most of are in the same boat as her and under less pressure than her.

My daughter’s school teaches her online. Thank goodness, because if it was down to me, she’d refuse to do any work.

No, I’m doing some maths and English each day with each child, then they read or draw or we play board games or practices music or similar and we go out for a couple of hours each day for exercise. We do nature hunts and that sort of thing outside which I think counts as ‘learning’.
They get lots of downtime but aren’t allowed tv or devices til 5pm. They play, make dens, help tidy, are learning to cook some basics ( ages 7&9) do laundry, wash car or whatever.
It’s not easy and it’s a pain and they don’t always like it but with the absence of school until autumn at least I don’t really feel like I have a choice.

We are unschooling.

Lol, what is 'unschooling'?