Seemingly, just a month ago, homeschooling was a niche market. Most people had heard of it, but didn’t really know much about it, maybe didn’t know any families whose kids didn’t go to conventional school. Deep down we all knew that something could happen to radically change our lives, but perhaps wouldn’t have guessed how that would impact our understanding and experience of homeschooling. Ken Danford’s recent post “Everyone is Not Homeschooling” likely reflects the feelings of many homeschooling families: “The word ‘homeschooling’ is already problematic enough without becoming entangled with the crisis version of online schooling many parents and students are suddenly facing.” Ken goes on to explain how the current online school-at-home approach that many schools have implemented is the worst kind of homeschooling. “This compulsory activity of online assignments is mostly adding stress to our culture in this difficult moment.” In a conversation with a local school superintendent, Ken suggested a different kind of role for schools:
The students do need the school and teachers to offer some opportunities through online learning platforms, and a range of video book groups, demonstrations, discussions, and other presentations would be valuable. Some platforms allow for socializing as well. It is the school’s role to offer connection and opportunity to its students.
This is the approach that Liberated Learners centers have taken. Across the network, centers are moving their programming to an online platform, often offering many of the formerly in-person activities and opportunities in a new online format, as well as adding a number of new options. For example, Cassidy Younghans at Epic Life Learning Community hosted our first “LL Teen Zoom Call” on Friday, with teens attending from across the network. The LL Google group, comprising staff from all of the centers, has been alive with questions, feedback, and offers of help, and we have started a weekly online video call where center staff share and support each other. We are all taking it day by day, knowing we have the flexibility and capacity to make incremental improvements to our programs, and if necessary move in a completely new direction. As Ken says: “We are in uncharted territory, with no timelines to guide us.” Glad we are in this together.
A number of centers have shared thoughts and ideas and feedback, as we all navigate ourselves into what’s next.
For families with kids home from school, Catina Franklin Sweedy at Embark Center for Self-Directed Education offers “…tips and ideas to keep you and your child (at least partially) sane during this time of madness” in “Welcome to the Wild Wonderful World of Homeschooling!“.
In “Reset“, Maria Corse of Deep Root Center for Self-Directed Learning in rural upstate New York, reflects on what role Deep Root can play for families as we all shelter in place.”[W]hat if the point is that folks (everyone, not just DRC families) are realizing that they can opt-out of anything that does not serve them at this moment?”
Ken’s March 15 post “Keeping Our Distance to Flatten the Curve“, offered his thoughts as our new reality was just coming into view.
[A]t the risk of being pedantic, remember, “You don’t need school to learn.” and “Everything counts.” Just because you haven’t been assigned a task and just because you won’t receive a grade for doing it, what you do still matters! Please, in your good health, go do something interesting and feel satisfaction from your efforts.
On Princeton Learning Cooperative’s Facebook page, Katy Burke shared:
In a recent mentoring meeting, a PLC teen shared with me her “In Quarantine” and “After Quarantine” lists. The former included new skills and projects she wants to work on as well as classic films she wants to watch. The latter included social activities and job opportunities that she wants to pursue. I thought this was a great idea. If nothing else, it makes for one heck of a historical artifact. What’s on your “In” and “After” quarantine lists?
Beacon Self-Directed Learning, in New Haven, CT, shared this heartwarming feedback from a current parent on their Facebook page:
I just want to say Thank You to you and all the teachers and Beacon people. Thank you for creating Beacon, thank you for all the love and support you have given my children and family since I took them out of school.
Thank you for adapting so quickly to this current situation. I’m so grateful that the kids have a sense of normalcy and continuity with the classes online. I’m in tears over the irony that the school system closes and Beacon prevails. All the grief I got from family over the years about taking them out of public school. And now look at where the most resiliency lies. Definitely not in the system.
Tons and tons of gratitude to you all of Beacon.
With so much of our lives stressful and fraught at the moment, we look to each other for guidance and support. Please be in touch if we can lend a helping hand.
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