Suddenly being thrust into homeschooling can be a challenge but advocates recommend doing your best to ease into a new normal. (Pixabay)

By Spencer Sterritt

best practice

Homeschooling providing new challenges for students and parents

Apr 2, 2020 | 5:52 AM

NANAIMO — Local homes are becoming classrooms and it’s not expected to be a smooth transition.

Dallas Cavan with Nanaimo Home Learners spoke to NanaimoNewsNOW about how families can best handle being thrust into such a complicated situation.

“You have to let the kids take the lead,” Cavan said. “They might not know it on a conscious level, but if you follow their lead they will settle into a routine which is comfortable for them.”

Cavan has home schooled for six years and said her first experiences were challenging but they managed to find a system which works.

“It took me a long time to let go of the idea of having prescribed amounts of time dedicated to each subject and touching on every subject area every day. I think you have to just trust that children are made to learn.”

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In such a tough and chaotic time among the COVID-19 pandemic, Cavan said establishing a sense of well-being in the house will be one of the most difficult challenges.

“Making sure they are in a good space emotionally because a scared and anxious child will not learn.”

Krista Whaley has homeschooled her young children for four years.

“The best thing I can suggest is to create a space where the kids are comfortable and you are comfortable,” she said. “If you can make an environment that’s quiet and comfortable, make it the way your kid likes it.”

She recommended adding a white board or some sort of flat surface to draw or write on, to turn a room into a relaxed classroom.

“If your child really likes sitting on the floor, let them sit on the floor and give them a book to write on. If your child really likes music, find some music which is really conductive to their learning.”

Parents now homeschooling won’t be the only educator in the home.

Teachers are crafting online learning lessons and resources are being released by the province, broken up by age group, to facilitate proper learning at home.

Whaley said parents need to remember they aren’t necessarily homeschooling but crisis schooling.

“Your kids are in crisis and trauma as much as you are and are changing to what their new normal is. They need you to let them know they’re safe.”

There was no instruction from the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District the week of March 30.

District staff said educators were taking the week to plan their continuity of learning to be back in virtual classrooms as soon as possible.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit