You’re Not Homeschooling; You’re Crisis-Schooling

When the world shut down during COVID-19, and parents were required to keep their kids indoors, the next question was, "Now, how do I get the kids to continue school?"

At work, I found myself in many conversations with parents who were panicking about the idea of homeschooling. While the world outside was eerily quiet, inside homes transformed overnight into bustling mini-schools. Parents were thrust into the role of being teachers without any preparation. It was a time of chaos, coffee, and countless Google searches on algebra and history. This unexpected journey wasn't just about keeping up with schoolwork; it was a profound emotional rollercoaster filled with frustration, pride, and everything. There were countless times I had to comfort a parent crying, "How am I going to manage work and homeschool?"

I respond, "You're not homeschooling; you're crisis-schooling.”

Instead of the right tools, materials, and curriculum freedom, parents were shackled to the mountain of online materials, unreasonable timelines, and limited on how they could teach. Homeschooling requires a state of mind, structure, intentional environment, and resources, all working together to offer the child the most effective and nurturing learning experience. It also means surrounding them with community, in-person osmosis, human interaction, and enriching curricular activities that invite reflection of the world around them.

So if your child is in their room following a syllabus from seated school and learning through a screen all day, understand they are simply at home being schooled.