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?

That's very true about routine avoids battles. We had a fair few battles in the beginning but they lessened as the teachers got into a better routine as did we.

They set maths, literacy every day and usually something else. I tend to skip the science, history, well being stuff. Mainly as I don't want my toddler watching any more telly.

@Frazzledmrs

The reception work is s lot more along the lines of what you list. Daily phonics, maths, grammar (all aged appropriate but still... essentially it is quite boring and they give you a time frame for it all to be done... including scheduled breaks )

The Y2 still has all the worksheets and tests and spellings etc but there are lots of things to choose from on top of this so you can find something that fits into your schedule. Also lots of websites are given. Mathletics, Oddizzi etc...

That's our y2 list. Reception is dire, just links for Geraldine the giraffe really but the reception teacher is a nightmare so it's just getting through that year from experience and y1 is better

A teacher of over 20 years experience & I haven’t taught my dc over lockdown. Well done to those who have managed to teach & please don’t worry for those who haven’t. They will all be ok. They will all catch up. Mental health is much, much more important.

ProsperTheBear While some home education groups may opened to those temporarily doing so due to school closures, I don't really know any. Hell, I know groups that don't even like flexischoolers or asking for any transition to school advice. Also, please don't divide us into 'real' or, what, I guess fake (there is already the handy home schoolers for those doing school at home for lockdown and home educators for those of us who were home educating before - whether we consciously chose it or, as true for many, it was a pushed choice after bad situations.) -- or assume none of us use 'strict' curriculums. I've helped many transition in and out of home education, and I pretty much always recommend those. I would never recommend the pulling it on your own together as many are being pushed to do at the moment. It's far harder than typing one's opinion on a website or finding one resource online.

Getting into a home learning routine is hard for many. It's even harder when balancing work, other caring responsibilities, all the stress and restrictions from lockdown, and with no experience or choice in the matter. Just finding a resource isn't enough with a lot of kids, even my most academic kid can't do that in every subject -- and in some subjects, they're going to find it boring no matter, few finds every subject fascinating. I'm glad two of mine decided to join a school last year and are having work set to take some of the burden right now off. I do not blame anyone for struggling and wanting to wind things up for the year. I know I do at times, and I've been doing this for over a decade and gathered a fuckton of resources for it.

I saw a couple people ask for tips, some probably sarcastic, but I'll give a bit just in case it helps someone. Even now, with them in a good if a bit burnt out flow, I only do mornings. I know some schools are recommending 9-3 with subject blocks, but I've never had that work at home and find that way lies madness. I have a task list that they work through and when they're done, they're free to go play and when they're all done, they can watch shows (normally picking something on youtube, pick whatever reward works to help them not distract each other). Right now, I am finding discussion based things and things that do not involve them having to wait for me to correct are working best. One things that's for them felt fun is Pobble365, which has a lot of picture-based writing exercises. It's one of the best things I've found for low-stress primary/early secondary level English or when you need them to write a bit because of deteriorated penmanship.

During resistant times, especially when it's one acting up and it's bothering the others, I would have them sit with us, I'd tell them they didn't even have to be bored, they could read, sketch pictures from our drawing textbooks, a few other things mostly educationalish things, but they had to stay in there until everyone else was done or they finished their work, the weren't going to get to go to their room to play. With my older daughter who tends to be great unless it's one of the subject she absolutely hates (had to do this earlier this week for an RE assessment), I'll outline what she needs to do and put on a timer - as long as she works the time well enough, we'll call it done. With her, knowing when done is has been a huge help over the years.

During a really hard time when we had multiple family losses really close together and I had so much that needed to get done, I would put on an audio book for them. Trumpet of the Swan on LibriVox was one of the first ones, I chose it because it's read by the author and includes actual trumpet sounds, I really recommend it. We went through a lot of the 'classics'. It helped, in part because it didn't feel like lessons, but it was engaging enough to talk about and having that time of day after breakfast as a routine I think helped us transition back later. We'd listen and they'd draw or do card/dice games (as long as they didn't fight) or do map jigsaws or similar things to what's in the 'educationalish' list they now do if cranky or needing to wait for the computer, later in the day they'd take turns telling their dad about what they'd heard. It's not the greatest, but good enough. With my kids the ages the are now, I'd probably have tried to push the secondary aged ones to do MEP (maths, bit more rigorous than Khan Academy) and either Breakfast from Mars (essays, there is a free teaching guide online, but just reading well-written fun essays before needing to write them can help) or the Toastmasters, they have guides to writing and giving speeches that can be found online which my oldest really liked doing as a 'not-English' when he needed a break as (to him) it seemed more useful than writing about descriptive devices. With primary, I might add penmanship and a little bit of reading aloud, only because we've learned the hard way that those of mine who struggle with English lose skills quick without it.

I think some type of daily mental/educational engagement is part of being healthy, but a lot of the online or worksheet easy-go resources are really draining especially if there is no end in sight. I have plenty of worksheet based programmes that I love, especially for maths, but part of that is that they're finite. One cannot subsist on Twinkl sheets and video links alone.

I'm not homeschooling. Dont finish work until 7pm or later most days so it just isn't possible.

Feel a mix of jealousy and guilt when comparing to non working or part time parents, and feel sad my kids are missing out but there's no way I can teach them.

@RoomOnOurBroom and @CampDragon - in your instances you absolutely do not force it. Forcing a child to learn at home when they are completely resistant to it will turn them off learning in school when they go back.

Instead, get them to help you do things around the house which they don't see as school work - get them to write your shopping list while you go through the cupboards, counting out eg roast potatoes or carrots or Yorkshire puddings for roast and making sure everyone has the same amount. Weighing and measuring as you bake. Nature scavenger hunts - the woodland trust have some great printables.

I have children who can at times be utterly resistant to the idea of doing their schoolwork and it's absolutely ok to say to them 'we won't do it now'. But I also have children who will use every excuse in the book not to do something and for whom bribing with something they really want - usually gaming time - is a huge carrot to do a piece of work.

Every day is a new day and what works today or for one child might not work tomorrow or work for the others.

We do have a routine, where learning is done in the morning before lunch. And if it's not all completed there are sanctions - ie loss of game time. But you literally cannot sit a child at a table and expect them to work when they really don't want to so on those occasions you really are just best to leave it.

How do you say it's ok to leave it, when the next week teachers are building on what as learned last week?

It's not so noticable with literacy but it's clear with the maths. The problems are becoming more difficult.
They have been teaching coins and money. They started with figures under a pound, they are now adding in pounds too?

A class of 30 is never the same level-especially in primary

But unlikely in, say a P7 class you’d have a P1, P4 and P7 split. And certainly not with in a ratio of 1:3

My phrase was “same-ish”

If I had Primary School children the very least I would be doing is reading, both to them and listening to them reading, even Y6. There are so many resources out there at the moment, many of which are free.

Forcing them to learn is not a good idea, but most children seem to do better with some sort of routine, so that might help. Finding games that are educational without them realising they are educational are also good.

If your child likes playing with Sylvanians could you get her to write a story for them to act out, or draw them, or maybe animate a film with them, but get them to write a script first. She could even read them a story. This is what I did with DS when he was a reluctant writer and not into art, so one summer holiday we worked on a very short animated film together. Also used lego. Most phones/tablets have the technology needed for this. Another thing I used to do to encourage him to write was make up crosswords for him, he was a bit younger then, so they were very simple words and clues, but he also liked to try and create one for me. So if you are busy trying to WFH, get your DC to try and create one for you. They can be quite time consuming.

If your children aren't tech savvy, now maybe the time to get them into tech, if you can afford it. Doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive. If things go on at school as they are now into the next academic year, technology may be handy as it is possible that school may consist of some days in school and some working at home.

It must be hard op with three children plus SEN. I think just try to do some work but take each day as it comes. Plenty of reading if nothing else

In the last couple of weeks before half term I’ve been massively struggling to get DS 6 to do the stuff set by school (probably because it’s dull and there’s little attempt made to engage them such as a brief intro video etc).

I’ve been paying for him to have an online spanish lesson and he takes part in some zoom discussions. He’s been reading a fair bit (Roald Dahl books rather than school reading books). He’s also done some SATS practice books which he seems to enjoy - perhaps the almost puzzle format of them and feedback (marks) helps, I’m not sure.

We did try a couple of Oak National Academy lessons as well - science ones which he seemed to enjoy.

It’s bloody hard (almost impossible) though trying to think of educational things for him to do, encourage and support him with them, as well as work. I’m dreading back to home school next week!

I’m planning to sit with DS to do schoolwork for the first 2 hours of the day as he is more likely to do it if I actually sit with him to discuss etc. It’s a pain as ideally I’d like to work while he does school work. But at least this way he will have done 2 hours and I can then try to work for a few hours whilst he plays. Well that’s the theory anyway, it’s the pestering for technology which becomes difficult and stressful.
Going to have a rule of no technology for games before 3pm.

I haven’t read all the responses OP but YANBU. Both my and dh are expected to WFH, we have a preschooler who requires almost constant input and/or supervision and a DD older primary who has an EHCP. This means that for her education she requires support from more than just the teacher. She refuses to do the work sent home which is just like homework activities, there has been no online learning and no offe r of support or differentiated activities. We have tried to engage her in doing things in our garden as she won’t go out walking she has done some baking and engaged with the organisation she goes to a club with normally. That is it and I feel crap about it but we have to get through this mentally in one piece. I have emailed her school about the work, returning to school and transition and so far had no reply.

Op how old are your dc?. What sort of student? Strong, able? Struggling?

I've got two very different students. One I wouldn't about at all, even if didn't do a day's work in all this time, even if her peers did. She's very bright, able, naturally inquisitive and wants to do well.

The other dc makes up for the first 😂🤪. Everything a struggle, battle, bribes.

I manage to squeeze max 15 mins a day out of her and for her capacity and needs I'm thrilled with that because I don't want her going backwards.
We do handwriting. About 2 words and 2 letters a day.
A few pages of book.
Some spag. Some maths.

I've tried the larger projects eg Florence nightingale... But that's been too complicated for her. However at the very least she knows she was a famous nurse!

I've not gone near the weekly school challenge or any of that!

Too much!!

In short, it depends surely on your capacity and your dc needs.

Only 9% of my students are home learning in the traditional sense (I.e. producing written work for marking) and I will continue to set it but more like 85% of my students are engaging in really important activities that they might not otherwise get the chance to do such as gardening, baking, diy etc. I advocate practicing basic skills such as reading, writing, number work but it doesnt need to be formal- writing a shopping list is practicing writing for example.

I'm still doing it but finding it a struggle. I have to say we're doing it in a half hearted way and rushing through it each day. Some other kids are going above and beyond producing beautiful PowerPoint presentations and doing projects which no one has asked them to do! We're doing the bare minimum and not to a very high standard. I just find it hard. It's an absolute battle each day to get my kids to do it - and to get them out for a daily walk. I'm also working from home as is DH. I feel although they're not producing great work it's still worthwhile. Every day they're doing a bit of maths, reading and writing and I feel it keeps their brains ticking over. I sometimes get them doing activities on BBC bitesize too. They're good.

I am not formally home schooling mine.

One is a Year 10 and so finished GCSEs and not yet started A levels, school has set a small amount of preparatory work to do, she does this herself, I am not chasing beyond this.

The other is Year 8 and has struggled at school, she has done some set tasks but not consistently. I don't think mental health wise this is the time to push this, so there's lots of cooking, gardening, walking and art, and less formal education than I'd like, but I am not keen to be in daily conflict over this.

I would say you need to be doing some kind of maths and English as a minimum op. I wouldn’t say I’m actively home schooling; dd is being taught by bbc bitesize, white rose and the oak academy. Her school haven’t set any work at all so I guess they won’t be too shocked when half the school haven’t done anything.

I don't even know what Spag is.

Year 1 and Year 6 here and it's been getting less and less. The only thing I insist on now is reading and I bought some of those CGP workbooks so at least I can say "if you do 4 pages we can go out" or the older one gets to go on his Xbox. They just have no interest and trying to get an 11 year old to do work that he knows his teacher isn't going to see or mark is really bloody difficult.

SPAG = Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar. A test is taken as part of Y6 SATs

"Instead, get them to help you do things around the house which they don't see as school work - get them to write your shopping list while you go through the cupboards, counting out eg roast potatoes or carrots or Yorkshire puddings for roast and making sure everyone has the same amount. Weighing and measuring as you bake. Nature scavenger hunts - the woodland trust have some great printables."

@minisoksmakehardwork thank you, I do honestly appreciate the suggestions. Unfortunately in our particular situation this isn't really possible. A lot of the problem is me: I'm autistic and working 12+ hours per day from home, also trying to keep on top of the house and support DH with his substantial mental health problems. My executive functioning skills are shite, as you might expect. I can't cook by most people's standards, anything I made she wouldn't touch anyway and I'm fussy as hell (sensory issues) myself. We have occasionally done baking of course but it's not something that gets factored into the average day here. Shopping is all done online and has been for years - I can't cope in a supermarket, especially at the moment, and taking DD along makes it even harder. So the making of lists etc doesn't happen - when we need something we tell Alexa and then I just hit the relevant buttons on the supermarket website when doing the shop. She would look at me as if I was insane if I tried to involve her, and then she'd want to start adding random stuff we didn't need. Can't get her out of the house for love nor money, she's become quite agoraphobic (who'd have thought that 'stay home, save lives' would cause autistic kids to take it very literally and never want to go out again LOL) and has an old injury that makes it painful to walk any distance. (Normally we'd swim, or drive to a playground, but neither are possible at the moment.)

This is honestly one of those situations where we can only do so much and for some parents formal education of any kind isn't going to happen. Might be circumstances, might be the kid, might be the parent, might be all three. I have to try not to stress about it, or I would never stop.

Doesn't mean she's learning NOTHING, though. Her typing speed has improved considerably through playing Roblox, 'talking' to other people in game. I've noticed that when she is typing, her spelling is pretty spot on. She's obviously reading everything that everyone else is writing, in order to respond. She's watching TikTok which is about the most brain-melting activity a kid can engage in these days, but she's also learning things from that which we then talk about. Today we had a very mature discussion about racism and the George Floyd protests and the nature of power and the way in which various prejudices have been embedded in our society for longer than any of us can remember. So even while 'wasting time' playing video games and watching internet 'drivel', she's actually practising her literacy skills and - crucially - developing a strong ability for critical thought.

But she's not done a single worksheet. Therefore I will be judged.

We've both been working FT at home since lockdown began and our DS14 has needed fo be cajoled into doing work but we've only had input into one or two subjects and the rest he's got on with. He's 14 though so easier than primary children. If I had a child in years R-6 I would have just been doing reading spelling and some maths. That's all.

@campdragon my dyslexic and dyspraxic 7 year old (with autistic trades thrown in for good meassure) is doing a lot of minecraft. its doing wonders for his spelling.
school does a full online curriculum , so he’s doing regular work as well, but computergames do help

I try and use Minecraft time or roblox as carrots too

I use anything at the moment to keep leading her on even a little bit

It's almost like ... teaching is a vocation, a highly skilled job that takes much training with guidance from experienced senior professionals to learn to do do even half-competently. Like maybe the skill gets better with many (hundreds and thousands of) hours of practice and focused extra training courses, peer review and structured self-reflection. It could be that there could be many aspects of being an excellent teacher that may not come intuitively, or that don't suit many personalities.

But I might be silly & naive to think all that.