March Study Guide 2020 (update): homeschooling during a pandemic

I never, *ever* thought I’d be writing that title.

It’s March 11, 2020. The World Health Organization just announced that we’re facing a pandemic. COVID-19 aka the Coronavirus is spreading across our globe. In the United States, the epicenter began in the Seattle area, literally a few miles from where we live. Today, after many weeks of following CDC and Public Health recommendations, the local school district finally decided to close through the end of the month. Seattle Public Schools (the largest district in the state) has also closed.

Guess what? I’m really, *really* glad I can homeschool my kids.

So what’s changed for us as homeschoolers? Nothing really. Except no extra curricular activities.

• Our local library system cancelled all events (no book clubs or game days for us).

• Our local parks department has cancelled all activities until Spring (no daddy/daughter dance).

• After a survey to participating families, our forest school decided to close for this week but my feeling is they will extend the hiatus until at least spring quarter.

• Ballet hasn’t been cancelled (as of this post), but we have decided to bow out of classes for the time being. A few of our friends have also done the same thing.

• Tee ball is on hold, at least for now.

• We were going to sign the kids up for swim lessons and spring/summer classes with the parks department. That’s on hold, too.

The anxiety level for me (as the primary educator) has of course, gone through the roof. Trying to maintain normalcy and a happy frame of mind has been difficult at times. I’m torn between keeping informed and staying engaged with the kids.

The kids seem to be handling things well despite their disappointments. We’ve taken to lots of free play, watching educational programs (like Mister Roger’s Neighborhood and PBS KIDS) and playing outside. The kids are experts at creativity and with coming up with things to do.

What I’ve found interesting about these changes to our schedule is that we just adapt.

• Friends of ours who attended ballet this last week, broadcast a live video through our newly created Facebook group.
• Our forest school teachers have been posting “read-alouds” and other videos to the school’s Facebook group.
• We’re compiling letters to our book club friends to send by mail in lieu of our meeting.

Sure, I had all kinds of goals to hike with our family, see our friends more and learn through workshops, game days and book clubs. But the priorities have shifted and we’ve made do. I know we’re at the beginning of this and we’ve just got to settle in for the long haul.

As an aside, I’ve noticed a lot more families have joined the local homeschool groups, looking for guidance for their forced-temporary switch in learning. Some caregivers and have outright said that this virus was what they needed to pull their kids out permanently.

What else are we studying (sans extra curricular activities?) Check out my original post March Study Guide 2020.

I’d love to hear how what you’re doing to adapt to this uncertain time.