tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34183695248264138562024-03-13T12:30:53.778-05:00How to Work and HomeschoolPragmatic advice for practical parents Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-50928032322020499022020-04-04T16:26:00.001-05:002020-04-04T16:28:52.787-05:00Suddenly Homeschooling a Gifted Child<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
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<i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Editor’s note: It’s a privilege to share this post by Australian writer Kathleen Humble. And while this content is geared to parents of gifted children, there’s plenty to be found of note for all parents in her recommendations.</i></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Stuck at home with the kids, working from home, freaking out? </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Here’s some simple steps to get you started with gifted or twice-exceptional (gifted/2e) learners.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(47, 84, 150); color: #2f5496;">Don’t Panic!</span></div>
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</span></span> It feels like we are in a disaster movie at the moment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">If you feel <a href="https://yellowreadis.com/2017/02/homeschooling-through-long-term-illness.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">overwhelmed, sad, terrified, and angry</span></a>? That’s cool. That’s normal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I started homeschooling my gifted and disabled kids over 10 years ago <a href="https://yellowreadis.com/2012/10/why-we-homeschool.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">because I had no other good choices</span></a>. So, I get it. Don’t ignore those feelings. Go have a cry in a cupboard. Get a cuppa. Vent to a friend over the phone. I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">But the one thing you don’t need to panic about? Your kids learning. Really. It’s going to be OK.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Keep an Eye Out on Your Country /State / Education Department’s Advice</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">If your state or country is in lockdown, you don’t need to register for homeschool. Your school and your state education department will have a plan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Check out your local homeschool parents’ association. They will have information on homeschooling in your state. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">But what to do now? Here are some tips.</span><br />
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Resources</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Full-time work at home? You need a routine, and options that require low adult input. Pack away the glitter and paints. Save them for when you aren't working. Instead look for online resources that are hands-off where you can pre-schedule activities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The best online resource ready to go is <a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Khan Academy</span></a>. It covers K-12+ using the US curriculum. You can set assignments, and get weekly email summaries of your kids’ progress. It’s also free. We have used it for years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">For kids who "<a href="https://yellowreadis.com/2017/10/want-play-games.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">just want to play games</span></a>," gamify it! There is a game – computer or board game for every subject. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Here is a very short list of examples:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Computer Games</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Maths: <a href="https://www.prodigygame.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Prodigy Game</span></a> (K-8, Free) or <a href="https://dragonbox.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">DragonBox games</span></a> (Algebra, multi-digit addition + subtraction, geometry, chess) </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0563c1; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Coding: <a href="https://scratch.mit.edu/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Scratch</span></a> (free) or <a href="https://tomorrowcorporation.com/humanresourcemachine"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Human Resource Machine</span></a> </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">English: <a href="https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Teach your monster to read</span></a> (Free online, UK program) or <a href="https://www.peoplefun.com/games"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Wordscapes</span></a> (Free with ads, turn internet off for ad-free version, US + UK spellings) </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Science: </span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Chemistry: <a href="https://www.msichicago.org/play/goreact/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Go React</span></a> (Free) </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0563c1; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "courier new"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Physics: <a href="https://www.kerbalspaceprogram.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Kerbal Space Program</span></a> </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Biology: <a href="https://www.spore.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Spore</span></a> or <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/622440/Pandemic_The_Board_Game/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Pandemic</span></a> (Yes, the irony is not lost on me) </span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Geography: <a href="https://www.geoguessr.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Geoguessr</span></a> (free) or <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/255710/Cities_Skylines/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">City Skylines</span></a> </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0563c1; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">History: <a href="https://civilization.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Civilisation</span></a> or <a href="https://steamcommunity.com/app/7600"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Sid Meiers Railroads</span></a> </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Art: <a href="https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Minecraft</span></a>. Really! <a href="https://youtu.be/LtCUoZma7iY"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Do Build Battle challenges</span></a>. Ask your kids, they will know what I’m talking about. We do them at least weekly.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Foreign Language: <a href="https://www.duolingo.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Duolingo</span></a> (free) or <a href="https://www.rosettastone.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Rosetta Stone</span></a> </span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Board Games</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">For great board game options, go to gameschool guru, <a href="https://my-little-poppies.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">My Little Poppies</span></a>. Do a search for game schooling communities online. Other parents are your best resource. No idea how to play the games? Look for board game playthroughs – <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Board Game Geek</span></a> and <a href="https://geekandsundry.com/shows/tabletop/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">TableTop</span></a> are great places to start. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Setting Up Spaces</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Forget the Pinterest-worthy homeschool space. Let kids learn where they are comfortable. That might be in their beds, or under your table! <br />
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Set up a space to do phone calls / Skype /Zoom without kids. Commandeer a corner of your house, and don’t forget the headphones. Headphones are a godsend. Particularly for kids who need you close now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s OK to <a href="https://yellowreadis.com/2017/01/homeschooling-maths-resources.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">set the kids up with a video</span></a> or computer game. Really. There are oodles of lists online for great education videos. But if they want to watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC32w6uX5qtmUtF4QQQ2PKaQ"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">endless playthroughs of Minecraft</span></a>? Let it go. You’ll be surprised at how much they will learn anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Young Children and Working</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s tough to work with young kids at home. If there are two adults, create a routine where each parent looks after the kids at different times. Not just one of you. You will burn out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Create a ‘busy box’ to keep kids occupied when you need a few minutes to concentrate. Think paper and pencils, puzzles, a squishy toy, colouring-in book, pipe cleaners, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com.au/mrswarde/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">print outs</span></a>. No glitter! (It’s too messy.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Teens and Working</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">For teens at home, this is the time to <a href="https://www.bjshomeschool.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">let them lead</span></a>. Do they have a passion project they always wanted to work on? Let them <a href="https://yellowreadis.com/2014/01/derailed-by-le-grande-project.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">research and put together their own learning</span></a>. <a href="https://www.mooc.org/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">MOOCs</span></a> are a great idea too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Disabled Kids</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Kids with social / behavioural challenges are going to be super stressed at the moment. You may need to ramp up on the <a href="https://yellowreadis.com/2019/07/transitions-are-hard-here-are-things-that-help.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">level of organisational support</span></a>. Remember – destress, and be kind. They may stim and regress. And that is OK. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Use this <a href="https://littlepuddins.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Corona-Virus-Free-Printable-Updated-2-The-Autism-Educator-.pdf"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">easy-language resources to explain what is happening</span></a>, and consider creating a picture schedule of what time at home looks like. <a href="https://yellowreadis.com/2016/03/ideas-for-creating-adhd-friendly.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Here are some things we have done</span></a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Grace and Forgiveness</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">This is a tough time. No one is perfect – not even you. <a href="https://yellowreadis.com/2018/11/im-tired-and-thats-ok.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">Things are not going to go according to plan</span></a>. Everyone is stressed. Go and <a href="https://yellowreadis.com/2015/12/ill-be-over-here-hiding-in-cupboard.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 99, 193); color: #0563c1;">hide in the cupboard</span></a>, then come back out when you are ready to cope. You’ve got this. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i>Kathleen Humble lives in Melbourne, Australia. She writes at </i><a href="http://yellowreadis.com/"><i>YellowReadis.com</i></a><i>, about gifted/2e homeschooling. Her book, “</i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Myths-Easy-Read-Twice-Exceptional/dp/0692174974"><i>Gifted Myths:An Easy-to-Read Guide to Myths on the Gifted and Twice-Exceptional</i></a><i>” is available from GHFPress. </i></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">She has been published in Victorian Writer, The Mighty and Otherways, and was recipient of 2018 Writers Victoria Write-Ability Fellowship.</i>Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-38078168805439774912020-03-22T14:59:00.000-05:002020-03-22T15:12:31.002-05:00Resources for Working While Homeschooling at the Same Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNgzC5vJ0Tk/XnfDQUZowQI/AAAAAAAAPZg/DQCVtxZ1zaEa7nrjXWtb12IFTqglCZBhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Online%2BResources%2Bfor%2BWorking%2BWhile%2BHomeschooling%2Bat%2BSame%2BTime%2B%257C%2BHow%2BTo%2BWork%2Band%2BHomeschool.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNgzC5vJ0Tk/XnfDQUZowQI/AAAAAAAAPZg/DQCVtxZ1zaEa7nrjXWtb12IFTqglCZBhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Online%2BResources%2Bfor%2BWorking%2BWhile%2BHomeschooling%2Bat%2BSame%2BTime%2B%257C%2BHow%2BTo%2BWork%2Band%2BHomeschool.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s a lot of information out there about working while homeschooling at the same time, especially in the wake of the developing COVID-19 pandemic.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, for some of us more seasoned homeschoolers, not all of it passes the sniff test.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To help parents decide what’s worth reading and sharing—especially when it time to explore one’s options is limited, we’ve prepared a well-curated list.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please be sure to stay tuned to the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Work and Homeschool Facebook page</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as well</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, where we’ll be sharing out additional information to support families who find themselves suddenly working while homeschooling at the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note that there are six sections to this page: </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">General information for Homeschool Families</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling High Schoolers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling Middle Schoolers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling Pre-K and Elementary Children</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling Special Needs Learners</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Family Health and Wellness While Homeschooling</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">General Information for Homeschool Families</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.homeschooldiner.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">The Homeschool Diner</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a wonderful resource to get acquainted with general homeschooling concepts - and, if you’re exploring different homeschool approaches, there’s even a handy quiz.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Homeschool Mom</span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A clearinghouse of resources for new and veteran home educators. Their blog offers encouragement from several veteran homeschooling moms with a variety of perspectives, and the resource area provides links to educational resources, online lesson plans and worksheets, online unit studies, and other helps for supplementing or creating a homeschool curriculum. TheHomeSchoolMom also offers free homeschool planners.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://a2zhomeschooling.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">A2Z Homeschooling</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A2ZHomeschooling provides information about homeschooling, a place for homeschooling families to connect, and free and low-cost educational materials for all students. The site includes activities, support groups, an overview of homeschool laws by state, and more.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic" style="text-decoration: none;">Common Sense Media</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Typically known for its ratings of movies and TV shows, Common Sense Media also provides information about online learning, games, apps, and more. They even have a special section to help parents navigate coronavirus information and resources. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling High Schoolers </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.classcentral.com/?fbclid=IwAR2xZxhuqf4caqDt9W_A9jdTybJzooJXDNK1HuFmodcS5boiDkQzDS-W4ZU" style="text-decoration: none;">Class Central</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Class Central is an online clearinghouse for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). They aggregate courses from providers such as MIT, Harvard, Coursera, Udemy, and more, in a searchable database that provides course content and schedule information. Set up a free account with them to receive notifications about content areas you are interested in studying. This site will save you massive amounts of time over searching MOOC provider sites individually! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/163503591115/khan-academy-is-the-official-practice-partner-for" style="text-decoration: none;">Khan Academy Advanced Placement Resources</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beginning in 2018, Khan Academy became the official practice partner for AP, offering free instructional videos, articles, and practice exercises designed to build the knowledge and skills needed for AP-level courses. Lessons for many AP courses are available for daily classroom activities, homework, and independent learning. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://hippocampus.org/" style="text-decoration: none;">HippoCampus</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HippoCampus.org is a free, core academic web site that delivers rich multimedia content (videos, animations, and simulations) on general education subjects to middle-school and high-school teachers and college professors, and their students, free of charge.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://braingenie.ck12.org/" style="text-decoration: none;">Brain Genie</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free resource for middle and high school where students can learn, practice, and quiz themselves on 5,000+ skills in math and science, compete in real-time multiplayer matches, and win badges for a top spot on the leaderboard.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling Middle Schoolers</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/" style="text-decoration: none;">Smithsonian Learning Lab</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a free, interactive platform for discovering millions of digital resources, creating content with online tools, and sharing in the Smithsonian's expansive community of knowledge and learning. While it has resources for all grade levels, many are of particular interest for middle grades learning. Be sure to check out their </span><a href="https://www.tweentribune.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tween Tribune</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for current events aimed at middle grades learners. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/" style="text-decoration: none;">Khan Academy</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Founded after a young man started tutoring his cousin online, Khan Academy is now known far and wide as a reliable education resource. Khan Academy has instructional resources appropriate for elementary, middle and high school students. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://about.readworks.org/about.html" style="text-decoration: none;">ReadWorks</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ReadWorks provides reading comprehension activities using interesting topical articles for learners of all ages.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling Pre-K and Elementary Children </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.brainpop.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This popular app is used in homeschool and school settings to great success because it breaks down complicated topics into easy-to-digest pieces. There are two versions, with one more appropriate for younger kids.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enchanted Learning</span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking for fun, free, downloadable projects and lessons in several topics? In operation since the mid-1990s, this website is a reliable go-to for parents.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Khan Academy</span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although most people are familiar with Khan Academy courses in relation to older kids, the reality is that the popular website also has courses for lower elementary and preschoolers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PBS Learning Media</span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">PBS keeps a useful collection of resources available to educators - and homeschool families. Parents may find some videos useful and may even want to utilize lesson plans. Useful when working with older kids, too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.starfall.com/h/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Starfall</span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">For an affordable annual fee, parents of lower-elementary kids can access effective online lessons that align with state standards.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling Special Needs Learners</span></div>
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<a href="http://spedhomeschool.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SpEd Homeschool</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the most comprehensive websites devoted to supporting homeschooling families with students that have special needs or struggle with learning or behavior. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.homeschooling2e.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling2e</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This website supports families with twice exceptional (aka 2E) learners. Twice exceptional is a term used to describe the wildly varied combinations of children who are both gifted and have learning disabilities and/or behavioral challenges. </span><br />
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<a href="https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/supporting-individuals-autism-through-uncertain-times" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A new online toolkit from an interdisciplinary team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to assist families and caregivers supporting individuals with autism during the COVID-19 epidemic. The toolkit provides user-friendly, evidence-based resources for people supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/coronavirus-homeschooling-parent-strategies/?utm_source=eletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=webinar_march_2020&utm_content=031620&goal=0_d9446392d6-049aae7e7a-297270053" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keeping Kids with ADHD in ‘Study Mode’ While Home from School</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A free webinar replay from ADDitude Magazine to assist parents to manage your child’s academics during the coronavirus outbreak. ADDitude has a host of resources for addressing the needs of students with attention difficulties. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Family Health and Wellness While Working and Homeschooling at the Same Time</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This section is written with the current pandemic in mind.</span></div>
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<a href="https://afsp.org/taking-care-of-your-mental-health-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/?fbclid=IwAR2PyvxkhLyQOqAeQPsQXlzDFHbhIy4tHB2_B-hq25uEeUdVGT65wtqKU40" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Timely information from Doreen Marshall, Ph.D., Psychologist and Homeschooling mother. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource?fbclid=IwAR20e0y_EMC_izbDd49gGFWgVEWUodqWn0ExK7PIB9XQ-5bN322gcP1qRKw" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tips for talking to children of all ages about the current pandemic, from the National Association of School Psychologists.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.secondstep.org/covid19support?fbclid=iwar2j0qtuzguyacwgq775b0c3-i0wg4o0ubsdp3k3r70zizr6-rqjm15dqa0" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ways to Cope in Trying Times</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second Step</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Social Emotional Learning (SEL) resources for preschool through high school. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second Step</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is an SEL program widely used in schools and other agencies that serve children. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/pandemics?fbclid=IwAR2PyvxkhLyQOqAeQPsQXlzDFHbhIy4tHB2_B-hq25uEeUdVGT65wtqKU40" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pandemic Resources from the American Psychological Association</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resources to address anxiety and other mental health issues in light of the coronavirus pandemic.</span><br />
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<a href="https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/?fbclid=IwAR0IpJXzF3xiu6zskK3bRXUJh45LxotrCq0QRoUnjbFYC4EwFGA9-znK3Jk" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Supporting Families During COVID-19 from The Child Mind Institute</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Child Mind Institute shares resources to cope with the pandemic, manage anxiety, and deal with behavior/discipline. Resources include Facebook Live chats with clinicians twice daily. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kathryn Grogg, Ph.D., is a school psychologist, educational consultant, and veteran home educator. You can find and follow her on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegroggpond" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katgrogg/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LinkedIn</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or </span><a href="https://twitter.com/katfrogg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-88723720023997678452020-03-21T20:22:00.001-05:002020-03-22T10:36:05.790-05:00Balancing Work and Homeschool: Scheduling Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaW6qtcnjX0/Xna8mPYu4iI/AAAAAAAAPY8/qm8JGVu-TJA0diN2CLaZUIWktIHDctnwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Schedules%2Bfor%2Bbalancing%2Bwork%2Band%2Bhomeschool%2B%257C%2BHow%2BTo%2BWork%2Band%2BHomeschool.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaW6qtcnjX0/Xna8mPYu4iI/AAAAAAAAPY8/qm8JGVu-TJA0diN2CLaZUIWktIHDctnwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Schedules%2Bfor%2Bbalancing%2Bwork%2Band%2Bhomeschool%2B%257C%2BHow%2BTo%2BWork%2Band%2BHomeschool.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mastering the art of balancing work alongside homeschool responsibilities takes time and practice. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But where does a new-to-homeschooling parent or guardian begin? And what’s a poor grown up to do if they’ve got to ramp up fast—like, say, during a pandemic? </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They start by experimenting with schedules.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The key word in that sentence? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Experimenting</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finding what fits for a family involves a fair amount of trial and error over time. In other words, homeschoolers are always tweaking their plans. Sometimes what works one year doesn’t work the next. And sometimes what works with one child (or household) doesn’t work for another. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, feel free to regard the following fundamentals as prompts to help you begin the experimentation process.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getting Started</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though I love my computer and apps, I strongly suggest that you go analog and sketch out your plans with paper and pencil (or, even better, colored pencils). At least in the beginning, there’s something about the tactile experience that really helps parents wrap their heads around what they need to do (and get done).</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, crack open a calendar or print out a blank weekly schedule. You can print something out either from a computer app or by using </span><a href="https://www.freecollegeschedulemaker.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a free schedule maker</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ideally, the calendar should be broken down by the hour, so that you can schedule things with some measure of precision.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, on a separate sheet of paper, sketch out how many hours per each week you need to cover the things on this list that reflect what your family gets done every week:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Work</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember: In two-parent households, there’s no rule that one parent has to shoulder all the teaching. Or the childcare or chores. In fact, many families find that, by dividing up the workload, the experience of working while homeschooling is less stressful for everyone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">If home instruction is to be shared, then be sure to assess how many hours each person has to work each week.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">School (2 - 4 hours per day, per child)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wondering why so few hours are allotted for school? Because it’s the rare homeschool family that teaches a kid (or kids) 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Afterschool or formal enrichment activities (1 - 2 hours per day, per child)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">During a natural disaster or pandemic, these will likely be informal.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Additional childcare supervision (typically only for younger children or kids with special needs)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Commuting time</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daily health and hygiene </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Physical activity (30 min. per day, per person)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personal hobbies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Church and/or self-care time (daily, weekly)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Household chores</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meal prep and time</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scheduled family time (daily and/or weekly)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planning time (for lessons, meal planning, etcetera)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sleep</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that you know what you need, you can begin to budget those hours over the course of the week to fashion a basic calendar.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First things first</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your success as a homeschool family—whether you do it for a few weeks or a few years—is gonna hinge on everyone learning to take care of themselves. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that includes </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">parents</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This means blocking off hours for meals, sleep, health and hygiene, and physical activity </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Wellness is, after all, a cornerstone of success in life. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Making time for work </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, if you have set full- or part-time working hours—and are expected to be on call or away from home during that time, start blocking off those hours on your calendar.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More often than not, work-at-home parents have a little more wiggle room in their schedules than parents who must commute. For instance, you may have a standing call at 9 a.m. but have some degree of flexibility during other hours where you might be available to help kids with lessons. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In two-parent households, it’s helpful to code (either with colored pencils or initials) who most needs to be available to the outside world (a.k.a “work”) when. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Staggered work schedules can be a big help, especially when working with younger kids. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes it may be essential that one parent be the primary adult “on call” during certain hours. This may vary from week to week, as work duties change. Either way, good communication is critical to keep things running smoothly.</span></li>
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<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you’ve factored in work and any required school obligations, it’s time to add necessary schooltime. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A word about childcare</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When people find themselves contemplating homeschooling for the first time, they frequently struggle with the idea of how to keep kids busy all day.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, it’s vital to remember that this issue isn’t really about school per se as it is about childcare. Even when kids are in school, they’re not working on lessons non-stop. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that’s why most homeschool parents allocate just a few hours every day to having their kids study.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, if you’ve got young kids or high-needs children, then make an effort to tease out those two pieces and tackle them for the separate issues that they are. That may mean parents staggering schedules or relying upon another family member (like an older child or relative) to help. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Obviously, when there’s a pandemic going on—or if you’ve got no one close by who can help, there are limitations on that approach.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, don’t hesitate to rely upon documentaries, quality television programming, board games, art, gardening, reading and other things to occupy days. If it helps, try treating those non-school hours much like you would during summer or winter vacation.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Making time for school</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It may feel funny at first, but one need not restrict home education to standard school hours. In fact, many working homeschool parents — especially single parents or shift workers — find freedom by teaching in the evenings or on weekends.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other things to keep in mind:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When children are close together in age (within 2-3 years of one another), you may be able to teach the bulk of their lessons in tandem. This is especially true when teaching the humanities and science. It can be trickier with math, when teaching children how to read, or when you have a child who has a learning disability and needs more guidance.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When there’s a wide difference in age or ability, some (or all) lessons may be better addressed separately.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In households with a range of ages, time to work with older kids on more complicated topics may be found after younger children go to bed or on weekends when another adult can help.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When using web-based or computer services, keep in mind that you may need to stagger lessons to allow everyone time to get their digital tasks done.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">For digital classes offered through online providers (or school districts) and homeschool co-ops, kids and teens may have to participate at the set time. Plan accordingly by treating those obligations as “work” time and adding them first, before more fluid obligations.</span></li>
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<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Making time for everything else</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you’ve sketched out work and school, it’s important to go back and sprinkle other things to round out your schedule. Physical activity, self-care time, etcetera — these things bring richness to our days. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t feel wedded to that list above, however. Think about what you need and plan accordingly.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example, one busy mom shared recently that she and her husband have a “do not disturb hour” where everyone retreats to a corner of the house for a set time daily. This lets everyone (especially parents) take a break.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s next</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After you’ve got your schedule sketched out, implement it for at least a week before changing it too drastically.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Big shifts in how households are run can bring unease and discomfort (as much for parents as kids!), so give yourself plenty of grace.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, if you don’t like your plan, don’t hesitate to make modifications so that your home education experience reflects your family’s values, culture and needs.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pamela Price wrote How to Work and Homeschool, which is no longer in print, and homeschooled for almost a decade. Now, like many parents, she's juggling a full-time job (in corporate marketing) while helping her public school teenager adjust to digital learning. She's also sharing practical tips and pragmatic advice with a team of seasoned homeschool moms at</span><a href="http://facebook.com/HowtoWorkandHomeschool" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #878787; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook.com/HowtoWorkandHomeschool</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
<br />Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-50770913314636549832020-03-21T11:02:00.001-05:002020-03-21T20:34:18.708-05:00Homeschooling While Working in a Pandemic: 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Parents<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-4861baa3-7fff-ecb2-0e63-760dd65eb3ec" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLEJwXpIwyk/XnY575ay9_I/AAAAAAAAPYw/jMZk1Pok6GQqqvUiyPkp3i2k_rsPKqM0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Do%2527s%2Band%2Bdon%2527ts%2Bof%2Bworking%2Bwhile%2Bhomeschooling%2Bduring%2BCOVID-19%2B%257C%2BHow%2BTo%2BWork%2Band%2BHomeschool.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLEJwXpIwyk/XnY575ay9_I/AAAAAAAAPYw/jMZk1Pok6GQqqvUiyPkp3i2k_rsPKqM0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Do%2527s%2Band%2Bdon%2527ts%2Bof%2Bworking%2Bwhile%2Bhomeschooling%2Bduring%2BCOVID-19%2B%257C%2BHow%2BTo%2BWork%2Band%2BHomeschool.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homeschooling while working is, for many people, already part of their ordinary routine. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But for families new to home education—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be hard to know what to do, where to begin and how to get organized.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s a lot of advice flying around right now—some good, some… well, not good. Not good at all. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s because what works for one family might not work for another. And goodness knows many a seasoned homeschooler knows that the pricier curricula isn’t always the best option.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To provide gentle guidance, we’ve got some dos and don’ts to guide you sensibly through working while homeschooling. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t feel like you have to re-create school at home. </span></h3>
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<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether you decide to purchase curricula for your family, use what the local district provides or embrace unschooling, the reality is that it’s the rare homeschool family who spends a full eight hours hunkered down “schooling” every day. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Follow their lead to develop a sensible time to teach your kids at the same time daily during the week. Then fill the rest of your hours doing things you enjoy: watching documentaries, playing games, making art or creating projects.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’ll be less stressed out—and so will your kids.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do keep your sense of humor.</span></h3>
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<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ability to step back and see the humor in life is a critical skill. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By modeling it for your children, you’re preparing them for whatever the future holds. Sharing funny memes, watching a favorite film or television show or playing (harmless) practical jokes on one another can bond your family together while releasing frustrations.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t overschedule.</span></h3>
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<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honestly, this is as true for your kids as it is for you. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many families are experimenting with schedules and adapting to new routines, from where and when they get food to where work and school take place. It may be tempting to schedule every minute, but no one likes to be micromanaged. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Allow free time to play, stare at the wall or take a walk. Breathe a little.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make space to give grace. And then . . .</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do give grace.</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This pandemic stuff is hard. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But so is work, school and being cooped up with people we love. Factor in the fact that some folks may be dealing with illness and grief, and, well, there’s just a lot happening at once. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Give grace where and when you can - including to yourself.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t fear a new normal.</span></h3>
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<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s face it, no one knows how long this COVID-19 pandemic is gonna last. Or how long kids will be out of school and parents will have workplace disruptions. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children and teens (and moms and dads) need to mourn the loss of routines, vacations, special events and other things we’ve come to rely upon or anticipate. Give space (and grace!) to allow that to happen. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And then work to create daily and weekly rhythms of life that reflect your family’s unique culture. Over time they’ll come to be reassuring.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do plan your meals.</span></h3>
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<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Veteran working homeschoolers will tell you that meal planning helps them stay on top of things. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In light of the food supply issues some communities are (or will be) encountering, you may take comfort in planning meals to stretch what’s in your freezer and pantry. In fact, if you’ve got older kids and teens around, now is a good time to teach this kind of essential life skill. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t assume you’ll suck at teaching your kids.</span></h3>
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<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s a lot to be admired about teachers. It’s a noble profession, and there are many excellent educators out there. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But that doesn’t mean that you can’t do a good (or even great) job teaching your kids, for however this pandemic lasts. The things that make a teacher great - thoughtfulness, patience, a willingness to listen, the ability to get excited about a topic - can be cultivated and practiced. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have a subject that just doesn’t thrill you - and fear that’ll rub off on you? Find an alternate way of teaching it, perhaps through online learning, videos or documentaries. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or ask your partner, a friend or a relative to help—even if that means using Skype, Face Time or Zoom to have your kids meet with them.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do find someone to listen.</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talking through everything that is happening is a good stress reliever. Give a friend a call or send a text. Arrange to have a Zoom chat. Or just invite your neighbor out back for a chat over the fence.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fun fact: One of my closest friends is a homeschool mom, </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GHaQhJ1yHQ5GgBtwPpaljhAQzbdVHTi2E161L7FbWMY/edit?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">author Pamela Humphrey</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, who helped me write this post!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t compare yourself to everyone else.</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just because your college roommate is on Facebook sharing amazing art projects her children are making daily while she Skypes with the home office in London doesn’t mean you’re a failure. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Far from it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your kids need you right now. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just you. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, don’t try to keep up with the homeschooling Joneses right now. There’s a lot of people slinging advice right now, especially about home education. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, frankly, it’s not all accurate or relevant to other family’s unique needs.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But there’s a hidden beauty to be found in homeschooling - which is why so many people were doing it before the pandemic. See, once you know what’s required for you to do in your own state, you can get down to the business of cobbling together a satisfying homeschool plan that fits you and your family of learners.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To get started yourself, develop daily and weekly routines that work for you and your brood. Use whatever your school district sends home to use—or find some curriculum online to use. This journey is definitely one for which you get to chart a custom roadmap.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do take care of yourself.</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may feel spent and exhausted, but there’s no reason to be a total martyr. Pump the brakes. Find some time to pursue a passion project or put in a garden. Curl up for an hour with your favorite Netflix movie and a nice beverage. Do a little yoga or take up tai chi with YouTube. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just try to squeeze in a few minutes to be good to yourself, if only so that you can feel better about taking care of all you have to do.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pamela Price wrote How to Work and Homeschool, which is no longer in print, and homeschooled for almost a decade. Now, like many parents, she's juggling a full-time job (in corporate marketing) while helping her public school teenager adjust to digital learning. She's also sharing practical tips and pragmatic advice with a team of seasoned homeschool moms at <a href="http://facebook.com/HowtoWorkandHomeschool">Facebook.com/HowtoWorkandHomeschool</a>.</span></div>
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<br />Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-67584340122477154432020-03-19T11:46:00.000-05:002020-03-21T20:38:26.668-05:00Working from Home While Homeschooling during COVID-19<center>
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<br />
In the wake of this pandemic, there's a ton of advice flying around on “how to homeschool,” but some of the central issues of this defining cultural moment are getting lost: especially for working parents.<br />
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From where we work to how we work to job loss and having a kid (or kids!) at home all day while trying to figure out where to buy food... it's a lot to process at once.<br />
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But we really are in this together.<br />
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See, even seasoned working homeschool parents are experiencing changes and disruptions to their routines.<br />
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And some folks, including myself, are finding themselves returning to home education while juggling full-time or part-time remote work. <br />
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It can feel overwhelming, but it's important for us to remember to take a breath, recenter and sort out what's truly urgent and what we can take our time with. Think of it as parenting triage.<br />
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To get through it, it's smart to collaborate and work together to solve problems (while always staying at least 6 feet away).<br />
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That's why, for the next few weeks, a few of us seasoned working homeschool moms are leaning in together to provide practical, pragmatic advice, resources for parents experiencing serious disruptions on multiple fronts.<br />
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Stay safe, wash your hands, and join us at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool/">Facebook.com/HowtoWorkandHomeschool</a>.<br />
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<i>Pamela Price is the author of How to Work and Homeschool, now out of print. Today she works full-time remotely in a corporate marketing department and is adjusting to a sudden return to home education.</i>Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-74222719343692456972020-03-15T21:01:00.002-05:002020-04-04T16:27:57.180-05:00How to Work and Homeschool During the COVID-19 Pandemic<br />
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Below are recent posts, all crafted with the current pandemic in mind:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2020/03/homeschooling-while-working-in-pandemic.html">Do's and Don'ts for Parents</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2020/03/balancing-work-and-homeschool.html">Scheduling Tips</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2020/03/working-homeschooling-same-time.html#more">Online Resources</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2020/04/suddenly-homeschooling-gifted-child.html">Homeschooling a Gifted/2e Child</a></li>
<li>(Video) <a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2020/03/working-from-home-while-homeschooling.html">What Parents Need to Remember</a></li>
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Older posts of note: </div>
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<li><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2013/07/singleparentswhohomeschool.html">What Successful Single Homeschool Parents Have to Teach Us (2013)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2017/08/dinnertime-hacks-for-busy-homeschool.html">Dinnertime Hacks for Homeschool Families (2017)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2017/08/need-to-homeschool-in-hurry-after.html">How to Homeschool in a Hurry (2017)</a></li>
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Books and workbooks:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/p/recommended-reading-for-working.html">Recommended Reading</a></li>
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Note that, although the book advertised on this website is now out of print (and outdated), the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool/" target="_blank">How to Work and Homeschool Facebook page</a> remains up and running—with the help of a couple of other seasoned homeschool parents who have stepped in to help me come up with fresh, relevant content.<br />
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If there is enough demand, we may also hold special workshops. <br />
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Stay tuned to <a href="http://facebook.com/HowToWorkAndHomeschool">the Facebook page</a> for updates.<br />
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<br />Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-91567704925137341952017-12-04T08:34:00.000-06:002017-12-04T08:34:03.604-06:00{Yes, I Work and Homeschool} Meet Melanie<style>
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<i><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/search?q=Yes+I+Work+and+Homeschool" target="_blank">This post is part of a series.</a></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can’t tell you how excited I am to introduce you to <a href="http://quemeanswhat.com/latina-blogger-san-antonio/">Melanie Mendez-Gonzales</a>, a working homeschool mom and a fellow San Antonio resident. ~ Pamela</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tell us about the work you do. Is it paid or volunteer? Full-time, part-time, or seasonal? How many hours a week do you spend at work? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I'm a full-time blogger on my own site <a href="http://quemeanswhat.com/">QueMeansWhat.com</a>. I'm also a freelance writer, social media consultant, and volunteer for my own college-prep non-profit organization as the program director. The amount of hours I work varies each week, but I do work from home. I work a minimum of 30 hours per week and up to 60 hours per week.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tell us about why you chose to homeschool. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When my oldest was old enough for kindergarten, something just tugged at me that it wasn't his time to go. So, we chose to give homeschooling a try for at least one year. That was five years ago. Today, we appreciate the individualized education I can give both my boys, and we cherish all of our family time together. Selfishly, I'm honored that I get to witness so many learning moments with my kids, who are elementary aged. When they read something, at times, I think to myself, "I taught them how to do that." It still blows my mind. </span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are some of the challenges you face balancing working while homeschooling? What are some of the delights?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One major challenge is that 'it' never stops. If I'm not teaching, I'm planning, or working or cooking or cleaning. Another challenge is that teaching my kids when mommy is working and not available to them. As time has passed, they have learned when I need to close the door to take a work phone call or to sit and write. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The biggest delight is that I can include my kids in my work. My son and I just returned from a social media conference that we both attended because there was a track for kids his age. He was able to learn more about what I do and how he can do it, too. It was both working and homeschooling at its best.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What's the best piece of advice you've ever received about homeschooling? What are your favorite homeschool resources?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The best piece of advice I've ever received is that homeschooling doesn't have to look like school at home. That came in handy five years ago when I found myself, and my son, in tears at the end of the day because I was forcing him to sit at a desk for 7 hours. We don't 'do school' like that any more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With regard to my favorite homeschool resources, they include <a href="http://twitter.com/quemeanswhat">PBS LearningMedia website</a>, our local children's museums, and our local city parks.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What's your best advice or tip for someone who wants to work and homeschool? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's not going to look how you think it is and that's okay. Give it your best shot and find your groove. That groove will change and, again, that's okay. Oh, and ask for help.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks, Melanie! </span></i><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Readers, you can learn more about Melanie and her work through her <a href="http://quemeanswhat.com/">website</a> and social media accounts (<a href="http://instagram.com/quemeanswhat">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/quemeanswhat">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/quemeanswhat">Twitter</a>)</span></i></div>
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Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-77127875584191976982017-11-20T08:08:00.000-06:002017-11-20T08:08:02.190-06:00{Yes, I Work And Homeschool!} Meet Care<style>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VE7-L7UB0wE/WdA_8uOUt8I/AAAAAAAAC4Y/pYLr8Y6uXbcRlTdUCK6net5uxS0qfiwIACLcBGAs/s1600/Care%2Bis%2Ba%2Bworking%2Bhomeschool%2Bparent%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VE7-L7UB0wE/WdA_8uOUt8I/AAAAAAAAC4Y/pYLr8Y6uXbcRlTdUCK6net5uxS0qfiwIACLcBGAs/s640/Care%2Bis%2Ba%2Bworking%2Bhomeschool%2Bparent%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" width="425" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/p/meet-parents.html" target="_blank">For this week’s parent profile</a>, we’re going to work with a
different format. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since finding convenient ways to earn extra money is an
issue for many homeschool parents, I interviewed someone who has been through
the process of finding—and securing—a contract gig with one particular company that’s been
receiving a lot of press of late.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My friend Care, whom I've known for
years through the online homeschool community, found herself looking for extra
money earlier this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"We ran into a situation where
some of our income stopped in-coming. Our expenses didn't, and there weren't
many extras at the time to cut. So we cut what we could and started looking for
something that I could do, either opposite hours to my husband or from
home," said Care, who lives in Canada with her husband and elementary-aged
son.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like a lot of homeschoolers, she
briefly considered multi-level marketing ("MLM") endeavors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Naturally, the first thing that
people recommend when you're a stay-at-home mom is MLMs,” she said. “But I
don't like sales. I never have. And the idea of a huge buy-in to start working
was well out of range even if I loved sales."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a series of false starts, Care's
husband emailed her about <a href="https://t.vipkid.com.cn/opportunity">VIPKID</a>,
an international education firm that offers online, American-style classes to
Chinese children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"So I looked at it. It was an
opportunity for part-time teaching. You must have a bachelor's degree, and at
least one year's experience working with kids. With a bachelor's degree in
Elementary Education, yeah, this is right in my wheelhouse, I thought," she
said. "But, teaching 1:1 in a flipped classroom, based on US Common Core
to China?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hesitant to apply—and skeptical that
she could make the promised $14 - 22 per hour from her living room as an
independent contractor, Care set aside the idea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But not for long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"A friend sent me a link. Her
friend had been doing this teaching thing for awhile now, was making pretty
good money, and loving the [money]. Did I want to look at it? Sure enough,
right back to VIPKID. I crossed my fingers and clicked the link."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Having made her way through the highly
selective screening process, Care now provides online English instruction
through four classes a day, five days a week for a total of ten hours a week.
Her tech tools include a good headset with a mic, a stable Internet connection,
and a computer to run video calls. The individual classrooms are hosted on
VIPKID's website and features a three-way split screen with a large whiteboard.
Lessons last no more than 28 minutes and include a review of previous content
and new material. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-06/virtual-u-s-tutors-are-helping-chinese-kids-gain-an-edge" target="_blank">a recent Bloomberg report</a>,
the billion-dollar company is working to meet pent-up demand for English
tutoring in China. To that end, they're recruiting actively in North America.
And, yes, they're targeting homeschool parents for their recruiting. Note also that
current employees give the company a solid 4-star average review on <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-VIPKID-EI_IE1105111.11,17.htm" target="_blank">Glassdoor</a>,
an indication that satisfaction is high.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although Care personally has a degree
in education, she believes that teaching her own son at a home was the best
preparation she could have for VIPKID.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"My degree prepared me to manage
a classroom of elementary schoolers. It prepared me to design tests, and it
gave me a baseline knowledge of most elementary subjects. Homeschooling? That's
where, for me, the actual learning happened. I learned more about teaching in
our first year of homeschooling than I ever did in school. In university, you
learn how to write the test, how to write the lesson plan, how to make what
you're doing fit the listed curricular standards. But you don't really learn
how to teach."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For Care, homeschooling taught her how
to assess a child's strengths and weaknesses in real time and how to adapt a
lesson to better fit the child. In addition to bringing her home education
experience to the online classroom, Care went through VIPKID's required online
training program. She also opted to review additional material the company made
available to enhance her teaching. Still, she said, she had a learning curve as
she worked to find her own unique style and approach as an online teacher. With
practice, she's gained confidence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Does she think the company is a good
fit for other homeschool parents looking for extra money? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Honestly, I think if you enjoy
kids, and you enjoy teaching kids, it might be a pretty good fit," she
said, adding that having an upbeat, quick-thinking, self-starter personality
helps. "You have to be able to handle oddball hours [because of the time
difference] and sweet little kids telling you that they love you."</span></div>
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Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-67838256284776388412017-11-06T08:41:00.000-06:002017-11-06T08:41:04.387-06:00{Yes, I Work and Homeschool!} Meet Caitlyn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/search?q=Yes+I+Work+and+Homeschool" target="_blank">This post is part of a series.</a></i></div>
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<b>Tell us about your work, Caitlyn.</b><br />
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I volunteer between 30 and 40 hours a week. For my paid work as a freelance writer, homeschool blogger, and transcriptionist, I average 10-20 hours a week.<br />
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<b>Tell us why you homeschool.</b><br />
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We made the choice for a variety of reasons, but what it really boils down to is this: the public school system failed my husband and myself when we were children. Also, our children are gifted, and our local school system (like many others) comes up short serving that population.<br />
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<b>What are some of the challenges you face balancing working while homeschooling? What are some of the delights?</b><br />
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Finding time for it all. Also, finances are an issue, especially since I spend more time per week at my unpaid volunteer position than I do at my actual paid employment.<br />
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<b>What's the best piece of advice you've ever received about homeschooling? What are your favorite homeschool resources (books, blogs, websites, curriculum, etc.)?</b><br />
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Don't compare your homeschool to anyone else's. They're going to be different and that's a good thing. You want your homeschool to fit your family's needs, not another family's needs.<br />
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<b>What's your best advice or tip for someone who wants to work and homeschool?</b><br />
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It's ok to say “No.” “No" to the overpriced curriculum. “No" to the many, many activities and classes that take up a your time. “No" to the volunteer requests that, again, take up all your time.<br />
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Say "yes" only to the things that bring you and your family joy. (Or at least more joy than stress.) Say "yes" to making memories, "yes" to lazy days, "yes" to that which sparks aflame a love of learning within your child(ren), "yes" to that which makes all the hard work worth it for you.<br />
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"No" to everything else.<br />
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<i>Thanks, Caitlyn! Readers, you can find and follow Caitlyn ("Suzy") on <a href="http://suzyhomeschooler.com/">SuzyHomeschooler.com</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/raisingwellroundedgeeklings" target="_blank">Facebook</a> , and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/caitlynsuzystock/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-89932457530682921482017-10-30T10:13:00.000-05:002017-10-30T10:13:03.154-05:00{Yes, I Work and Homeschool!} Meet Cathy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/search?q=Yes+I+Work+and+Homeschool" target="_blank">This post is part of a series.</a></i></div>
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<strong>Tell us about the work you do, Cathy. </strong></div>
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I work between 30-40 hours a week working as a Health Information Technology consultant.</div>
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<strong>Tell us about why you chose to homeschool. </strong></div>
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I homeschool my 8th grade son. I chose to homeschool to put him in a more positive learning environment.</div>
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<strong>What are some of the challenges you face balancing working while homeschooling? What are some of the delights?</strong></div>
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Most
responsibilities fall on me: cooking, cleaning, homeschool, etcetera.
The blessing is that despite the craziness we can follow our own
schedule!<br />
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<strong>What's the best piece of
advice you've ever received about homeschooling? What are your favorite
homeschool resources (books, blogs, websites, curriculum, etc.)?</strong></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">The
best advice? That it's okay if your child learns at a different pace.
No need to "keep up" with the brick and mortar school logic of just
covering a subject and moving on. </span></div>
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My favorite resources are my local homeschool co-ops. I could not homeschool without them.</div>
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<strong>What's your best advice or tip for someone who wants to work and homeschool?</strong></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">You
can do it! Look at how you and your spouse can adjust your schedules to
make it work. You won't be disappointed! Coops are the <em>best</em> for working parents.</span></div>
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<em>Thank you, <span class="highlight">Cathy</span>! </em></div>
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Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-13747686225609400572017-10-16T10:02:00.000-05:002017-10-17T09:13:18.123-05:00{Yes, I Work and Homeschool!} Meet Kathleen from Australia <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span data-mce-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic;"><i><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/search?q=Yes+I+Work+and+Homeschool" target="_blank">This post is part of a series.</a></i></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Tell us about the work you do, Kathleen. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">I’m a part-time volunteer for three organizations. I'm on the board for one and answer emails. (It's a parent support group.) For the other two, I'm a first point of contact for gifted/twice-exceptional (a.k.a “gifted/2e”) families for that organization in my area. I also run a website, edit a magazine, and write.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Tell us about why you chose to homeschool. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">We chose homeschooling as the only option for our 2e son. Our daughter is also 2e, and so we homeschool her too now. They are 10 and 6, respectively.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">What are some of the challenges you face balancing working while homeschooling? What are some of the delights?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">As for the challenges, the first is trying to fit all the work in in between other events. I often underestimate the amount of time it will take. Other challenges include making sure the kids have enough activities scheduled when I need to be working or thinking.</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">The delights? Having something I can sink my teeth into that is intellectually challenging while I educate my kids.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">What's the best piece of advice you've ever received about homeschooling? What are your favorite homeschool resources?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Take it one year--or sometimes one day--at a time. Don't get upset at what doesn't get done. Instead, focus on what worked that day. My favorite resources include </span><a href="https://giftedhomeschoolers.org/" target="_blank"><span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-weight: bold;" style="-en-paragraph: true; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">GHF: Gifted Homeschoolers Forum</span></a><span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><a href="https://giftedhomeschoolers.org/" target="_blank"> </a>and the </span><span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-weight: bold;" style="-en-paragraph: true; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><a href="https://home-ed.vic.edu.au/" target="_blank">Home Education Network</a></span><span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-weight: bold;" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">What's your best advice or tip for someone who wants to work and homeschool?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Have realistic expectations about what you personally can do. Be prepared to have some activities that can be done with low levels of supervision. Build in buffers and down time or you may find yourself getting run down and sick.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic;">Thanks, <span class="highlight">Kathleen</span>! </span><br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic;">Readers, you can follow <span class="highlight">Kathleen</span> at <a href="http://yellowreadis.com/">YellowReadis.com</a> as well as <a href="http://twitter.com/YellowReadIs" target="_blank"> Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/YellowReadIs" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com.au/yellowreadis" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.</span><br />
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<br />Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-47659685633157859502017-10-02T07:34:00.000-05:002017-10-02T09:17:55.277-05:00{Yes, I Work and Homeschool!} Meet Angie<div>
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<i> </i><i style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/search?q=Yes+I+Work+and+Homeschool" target="_blank">This post is part of a series.</a></i></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Tell us about the work you do, Angie. </span></div>
<div data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">I do both paid and volunteer work. For paid work, I do freelance writing for the educational market. Most recently I wrote a series of picture books in conjunction with educational researchers at a research university. I also write children's books, and I'm actively seeking publication and an agent. I have one board book published so far and another was just accepted for publication next spring. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">On the volunteer side, I have done quite a few things over the years: taught Sunday school classes, served on multiple committees, etcetera. Earlier this year I helped organize our local <a href="http://www.marchforsciencecu.com/" target="_blank">March for Science</a></span><span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"> including all the website work and social media. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Currently I am building a website for <a href="http://www.kidlitnation.com/" target="_blank">Kidlit Nation</a>, a new national non-profit. Kidlit Nation’s goal is to address the lack of diversity in children’s literature by supporting diverse authors and </span>illustrators. </div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Tell us about why you chose to homeschool. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">My husband and I had several friends in college who were homeschooled. It appealed to us for many reasons: the ability to tailor instruction to the child, increased flexibility, not being tied down to a school schedule, and so forth. When our oldest was 3 we put her in part-time preschool. Even then it wasn't clear that she didn't fit well. That was when googling led to me to “giftedness</span><span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; color: #ff2600;" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">,” and from there I began to see what would work best to teach her at home.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Today the kids are 7 and 4. The youngest will be doing part-time preschool this year, but she will be homeschooling the rest of the time with her sister.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">What are some of the challenges you face balancing working while homeschooling? What are some of the delights?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Time and stress are the biggest challenges. There just does not seem to be enough time in the day to do everything. On the other hand, the flexibility is wonderful. When I'm up against a deadline, we can take a break from homeschooling. The reverse is also true. Work can take a backseat when homeschooling needs to be emphasized. Plus, since my husband also telecommutes part of the time, we have been able to take trips without worrying about school schedules and can work along the way.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">What's the best piece of advice you've ever received about homeschooling? What are your favorite homeschool resources (books, blogs, websites, curriculum, etc.)?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">The best advice is to follow the child. That can mean abandoning curriculum you labored over choosing when you realize it won't work for your child. Or it can mean modifying curriculum, skipping whole grades, or making your 2nd grader do kindergarten handwriting work because they need it. My favorite book is </span><span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-style: italic;" style="-en-paragraph: true; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Creative Homeschooling: A Guide for Smart Families</span><span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"> by Lisa Rivera. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">What's your best advice or tip for someone who wants to work and homeschool?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" style="-en-paragraph: true; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Be realistic about what you can achieve and let the rest go. Don't be afraid to outsource somethings or ask for help: create childcare swaps, hire a tutor to cover your least favorite subject, pay for a cleaning service (I wish!). These are all valid options that let you put your time and energy where you feel they matter most.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic;">Thanks, Angie! You can follow Angie on Twitter ( <a href="http://twitter.com/aisaacswrites" target="_blank">@aisaacswrites</a> ).</span><br />
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</i> <i>Today’s featured working homeschool parent is one of my favorite colleagues! I interviewed Kathryn for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Bullied-Resilient-Perspectives-Homeschooling-ebook/dp/B01133T378/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&btkr=1&redirect=true&ref_=dp-kindle-redirect&linkCode=sl1&tag=rewhgrvigaanm-20&linkId=116925197c881d6285982d118b5ab71d" target="_blank">my second book</a>. In it, she included some helpful tips to help parents address school bullying. </i><i style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/search?q=Yes+I+Work+and+Homeschool" target="_blank">This post is part of a series.</a></i><br />
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<b>Tell us about the work you do.</b><br />
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</b> I am the owner of <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GroggEdConsult/" target="_blank">Grogg Educational Consulting, LLC</a></b>. I assist parents or guardians in making the best educational decisions for their children, by helping them understand their choices, processes for assisting struggling learners, and setting up record keeping. I also provide academic testing for homeschoolers (individual and group-administered). From time to time, I do some educator training for schools or associations. It's part time and somewhat seasonal, and as such my hours vary greatly week to week and month to month. But I try to spend 4 to 6 hours a week doing social media and other efforts to put my business out there and stay current with the literature in my field.<br />
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<b>Tell us about why you chose to homeschool. </b><br />
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I have identical twin girls, who are in middle grades now. We had planned on homeschooling for middle school, but found ourselves starting in second grade. <br />
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Our local elementary school was not a good fit for our family.<br />
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<b>What are some of the challenges you face balancing working while homeschooling? What are some of the delights?</b><br />
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In the past it was challenging to find somewhere for my girls to be when I needed to be at a school for a day for work. Now my husband works from home, plus my girls can work from a list of assignments on their own, so I am looking forward to more weekday contracts. The delights have been the ability to set my own work hours for the most part and work around our family life. Additionally, I can take my girls with me to most conferences if I choose. Since I often work with families that homeschool, we have also added new folks to our circle of homeschool friends.<br />
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<b>What's the best piece of advice you've ever received about homeschooling? What are your favorite homeschool resources (books, blogs, websites, curriculum, etc.)?</b><br />
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Think of it as home <i>education</i>. It does not have to look like the schooling you know in any way, shape or form, but it doesn't have to look like full on unschooling either. Do what works for your family. <br />
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My number one favorite resource is a small group of other homeschooling moms with similarly aged kids that have forged a circle of friends for me and my girls. They rock! <br />
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Otherwise, I like: <b>How to Work and Homeschool </b>(the blog, <a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/p/thebook.html" target="_blank">the book</a>, and the <a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank">Facebook page and group</a>); <b><a href="http://seahomeschoolers.com/" target="_blank">Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschoolers</a></b> (a Facebook group that now has a conference!); the<i> <b>Free Range Learning</b></i><b> </b>book; the <b><a href="http://savvyhomeschoolmoms.com/" target="_blank">Savvy Homeschool Moms</a></b> podcast; <i><b>Real Science Odyssey</b></i> from Pandia Press; <b><a href="http://www.bravewriter.com/" target="_blank">Brave Writer</a></b>; Patricia Zaballos’s <b><a href="http://patriciazaballos.com/" target="_blank">Wonder Farm</a> </b>blog (and her book about writing workshops); and finally <b><i>The Big Fat Notebook</i> series </b>which covers several topics (English language arts, math, science, and world history) and could be a great “spine” for a middle school curriculum. [<i>Editor's note: Amazon.com links to books mentioned appear at the end of this blog post.</i>]<br />
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Also, I like everything from <b>NPR</b> and <b>PBS</b>, particularly <b><a href="http://www.gpb.org/" target="_blank">George Public Broadcasting (GPB)</a></b> which gives me access to <b>Discovery Education</b> streaming and all PBS-educator materials for free. <br />
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<b>What's your best advice or tip for someone who wants to work and homeschool?</b><br />
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It's a bit of a cliché, but do "think outside the box.” <i>Think outside of the box for work </i>and<i> school.</i><br />
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What you create for your family--what works for your family--may not look like anything you previously knew or imagined. Transforming your thinking is going to be messy and busy and exhausting at first. Period. But you will find your groove. Your groove. The one that works for your family. <br />
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And as soon as you do craft your custom approach, it'll change, and change again, because kids change. Yet you can do all of it--work and homeschool--if you are committed to making it work. To help you out, find some great home educating friends (online and in real life) for yourself and your kids. (And, no, they don't have to be the same families, but it's nice when they are.)<br />
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<i>Thanks, Kathryn. You can find and follow Kathryn on her company's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GroggEdConsult/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katgrogg/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> or Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/katfrogg" target="_blank">@katfrogg</a>.</i><br />
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</i> <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Relevant & Recommended:</b></span><br />
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<i>Doresa and I met through our involvement with GHF: Gifted Homeschoolers Forum. In fact, I cited some of her work on the topic of gifted minority students in my second book, </i><a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/books/" target="_blank">Gifted, Bullied, Resilient: A Brief Guide for Smart Families</a><i>. </i><i style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/search?q=Yes+I+Work+and+Homeschool" target="_blank">This post is part of a series.</a></i><br />
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<b>Tell us about your work.</b><br />
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I work full time as a Senior Faculty member for a university. I’m also an adjunct for two other universities, and I teach exclusively online. I work a minimum of 40 hours per week, but it is not unusual for me to work 50 hours per week.<br />
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<b>Tell us about why you chose to homeschool.</b><br />
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We chose to homeschool for a number of reasons. The primary reason was because all three children are gifted as well as dyslexic. We started in 2010, and we live in a district where dyslexia was not considered a learning disability for accommodation until the 2015 school year.<br />
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Also, in our state, a child does not quality for services unless they work significantly below grade level. Due to our children being gifted, they rarely work below grade level, although their dyslexia is severe. They still needed both remediation and accommodation, but would not have been granted those things in our local school system. There were not private schools in our area that could accommodate their needs either, so--here we are!<br />
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I have a set of twins that are in the 5th grade this school year as well as a 7th grader. Yes, all three are homeschooled.<br />
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<b>What are some of the challenges you face balancing working while homeschooling? What are some of the delights?</b><br />
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The biggest challenge is honestly getting other people to understand that working from home is still working.<br />
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When I am working, I am doing things like evaluating Master's level thesis for students pursuing a graduate degree in Education or reviewing presentations for Speech Communication courses. While it might 'look' like I am just at home in my office, I am fully engaged in the work I am doing.<br />
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Another challenge is feeling a little out of place. Some of my friends who work outside of the home lament or celebrate time away from their kids; I can't relate. Even though I work full time, I am also home with my kids and interacting with them for most of the day. Meanwhile, my friends that homeschool may talk about having to give up their career or talk about the joys of getting to sleep a bit later. My career is still moving forward and going strong, but my sleeping late? Absolutely not. I start my work day around 3:30 A.M. every morning, seven days a week.<br />
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The delights of working are that I am happy that I got to keep 'my' identity. Although I went into a different field full time when I started homeschooling, I still have a thriving career. I am contributing to my retirement account. I earn sick days and vacation days and make a fair salary. While I enjoy being a wife and mother, I also enjoy being "Dr. Jennings" and having that as a part of my identity as well.<br />
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</b> <b>What's the best piece of advice you've ever received about homeschooling? What are your favorite homeschool resources (books, blogs, websites, curriculum, etc.)?</b><br />
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The best piece of advice I got was right when we started homeschooling. It was from a homeschool mom who had recently graduated her last child and they entered college with a full-ride, merit-based scholarship. She said colleges wanted to know one thing: what had the student done with their gift of time. That was so powerful to me. One advantage of homeschooling is time--and freedom--to make interesting choices and explore unique avenues. I have tried to keep that in the forefront of my mind.<br />
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Being homeschooled is a unique experience, so what are my kids having an opportunity to do that they wouldn't be getting in a traditional school environment? I love finding resources! I enjoy mixing and matching, but have found the best 'nuggets' by scouring government and organizational websites. Look for "education" or "outreach' resources. There are a ton of high quality, free resources to be found this way.<br />
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<b>What's your best advice or tip for someone who wants to work and homeschool?</b><br />
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The biggest pieces of advice I would say is that it can be done. Just make sure you are choosing avenues that work for you and your family. You do sometimes have to make sacrifices; I sacrifice additional sleep by getting up early. But, working while homeschooling is doable.<br />
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The other thing is to make sure you are doing cost benefit analysis when it comes to your time. Take opportunities only if they will allow you to continue to homeschool in the way you want (and that your children need). These choices will be different for each family. If I wasn't allowed to set my own schedule, my current positions would not be a good fit. However, that is what works for my family.<br />
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Also, I want to be honest that it can feel lonely at times. You don't quite fit with your working friends that don't homeschool and don't quite fit with your homeschooling friends that don't work. That is okay. You will find your tribe in due season.<br />
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Last piece of advice: If you can make working while homeschooling fit your family--do it. I think working makes me a much better homeschooling parent. Since time is valuable, we don't get caught up with trends or fads. My kids work independently when needed, and I am forced to think strategically about what we do and commit to. I think all of these things have had great benefit for my children and their education.<br />
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Plus, when it is time to end our homeschooling journey--either when they have all graduated or we feel another option is a better fit--I won't feel like I am starting over professionally.<br />
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I am on my own journey just like they are on their own journey.<br />
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</i> <i>Thank you, Doresa! Such great advice and insights offered here. </i><br />
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<i>Readers, you can find and follow Doresa on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/DAJedu" target="_blank">YouTube</a> and Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/dajedu1" target="_blank">@DAJedu1.</a></i><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Related & Relevant: </b></span><br />
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<i>I've got an excerpt from my book on bullying that includes comments from Doresa on challenges facing gifted children of color. You can read it <a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/2017/09/05/gifted-cubed-lets-talk-about-gifted-students-of-color/" target="_blank">here</a>, on my main blog. </i><br />
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<br />Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-57261718534470986912017-08-31T21:17:00.000-05:002020-03-21T16:36:16.423-05:00How to Homeschool in a Hurry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a Texan, I'm hearing reports of families planning to homeschool in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. This is an understandable reaction, especially with so many school closures in the area.<br />
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Because parents who opt to go down this path (even temporarily) are juggling disaster recovery with homeschooling, it's similar enough to "working while homeschooling" for me to feel comfortable making some suggestions rooted in my years of coaching parents.<br />
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Therefore, I've pulled together a quick, stepwise crash course on homeschooling. (Feel free to ask questions in the comments section if I've overlooked something you need to know.)<br />
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Here goes:<br />
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<b>Step 1: Assess your schedule.</b><br />
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If you're reclaiming your life and belongings from wind or floods, then you're only going to have so much bandwidth to dedicate to teaching your kids. <i>But here's the good news: most people vastly overestimate the amount of time it takes to teach a child <b>at home</b>. </i>Yes, you can "school at home" and spend 8 hours doing academics, but most homeschoolers I know <i>do not</i> spend a full day, every weekday on teaching. Tips for creating a schedule that helps you, the parent, juggle needs can be found <a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2013/03/organization-basics-of-creating-weekly.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<b>Step 2: Keep the curriculum simple.</b><br />
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Frankly, since most of you likely plan to send your kids back to school--and your budget is likely tight, then I suggest taking a hard look at basic <a href="https://www.workman.com/brands/brain-quest" target="_blank"><i>Brain Quest</i></a> branded activity books to begin with for your elementary aged kiddoes. (These are usually available in Target and similar stores, but look for "Relevant and Recommended" at the bottom of this post for Amazon links.)<br />
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For tweens and teens, curriculum options get trickier because of the complexity of their academic load. Thus, I'd suggest, if you have more than one kid, that you focus on sorting out the plan for the oldest kids first and then move down to the younger kids.<br />
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Great places to learn about specific curricula include: <a href="http://cathyduffyreviews.com/">Cathy Duffy Reviews</a> and the <a href="https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/">Homeschool Buyers Co-Op</a>. I also like <a href="https://www.time4learning.com/" target="_blank">Time 4 Learning</a> if you want to go full-tilt digital with your curriculum--and you can be set up with them in a matter of ours. (They're affordably priced, too, and cover elementary through high school.)<br />
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<b>Step 3: Ease into things.</b><br />
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Your family has been through a shock. There's no reason to expect that you need to be a full-fledged, pedal-to-the-floorboard homeschooling family by mid-September. Take it easy. Add a new book or a topic each week. Begin with schooling three days a week and expand to five. Carve out time daily to read aloud a classic book or, at a minimum, listen to an <a href="http://audible.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audible</a> book together. <i>Give yourself some grace with this process and let it unfold. </i>(And while you're at it, populate your Facebook feed with useful, encouraging <a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2017/08/best-Facebook-pages-for-homeschool.html">pages</a>.)<br />
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<b>Step 4: Supplement learning with online options.</b><br />
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Seasoned homeschool families know that websites like <a href="http://pbskids.org/" target="_blank">PBS Kids!</a> and apps like <a href="http://brainpop.com/" target="_blank">BrainPOP</a> can help provide a fruitful, enriching home-learning environment. Use them alongside your local PBS station's kiddie programming freely. (A collection of parent-tested online resources can be found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/howtoworkandhomeschool/photos/?tab=album&album_id=534053530071307" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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<b>Step 5: Don't forget that life itself offers the greatest lessons of all.</b><br />
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Whether its helping you calculate how much wood to purchase to fix a rotten door frame or helping unload groceries, essential lessons of living are waiting for your children, yes, <i>even in the wake of this disaster. </i>In your understandable eagerness to get back to normal, try to remember that we parents can be ideal teachers for our kids.<br />
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Trust yourself.<br />
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Trust that you <i>can</i> teach your own.<br />
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And don't forget: we're all pulling for you! <br />
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<i>Have questions? Need support? Reach out to the <a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank">How to Work and Homeschool Facebook community</a>.</i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Relevant & Recommended: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="color: black;">I've included a link to Brain Quest Grade 1 in this Amazon ad, but there are other grade levels.</span></i> </span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0761149147&asins=0761149147&linkId=df283da667cf726827c16022ffa49319&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0609805851&asins=0609805851&linkId=3af39fbb9d739eec5c8218d69390287d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0345543734&asins=0345543734&linkId=4cdfe0c973cde06a6393056b5b866c42&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0741LDPHZ&asins=B0741LDPHZ&linkId=6c8c47a5cfff06464192b215a2f5ed12&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-68857671717239839802017-08-28T09:52:00.000-05:002017-09-23T11:11:46.167-05:00{Yes, I Work and Homeschool!} Meet Heather from Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lt5NIn8wJdM/WYiCdMyyaVI/AAAAAAAACxI/3LQtuFdqrOEVjWTTpJq7kzAFm8fVGnbqgCLcBGAs/s1600/Heather%2Bis%2Ba%2Bworking%2Bhomeschool%2Bparent%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lt5NIn8wJdM/WYiCdMyyaVI/AAAAAAAACxI/3LQtuFdqrOEVjWTTpJq7kzAFm8fVGnbqgCLcBGAs/s640/Heather%2Bis%2Ba%2Bworking%2Bhomeschool%2Bparent%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" width="425" /></a></div>
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<i>This post is the first installment of a <a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/search?q=Yes+I+Work+and+Homeschool" target="_blank">series</a> about working homeschool parents. In truth, this project is something I've been wanting to do </i>forever<i>, so I'm excited to see where it leads.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i> <i>Because the start of the traditional school year is a season in which many folks are just taking flight on their home education experiences, I thought it would be fun to start this multi-week series with a new homeschool parent. So let's talk to my friend (and fellow Texan) Heather! ~ Pamela</i><br />
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<b>Tell us about the work you do.</b><br />
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I work as a contract dietitian part-time. I'm on an as-needed basis with a couple of hospitals, covering vacation/family leave for other dietitians. I also do employee health training and facilitate support groups. My weekly work schedule varies from zero to forty hours, but on average it’s ten to fifteen hours. I also do a lot of volunteer things—attend public events for nutrition education, serve on a medial advisory board, and work for my chosen religious organization.<br />
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Luckily, some of that can be done at home.<br />
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<b>Tell us about why you chose to homeschool. </b><br />
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My youngest child is five and will be in “Kinder" in the fall, but we are already doing homeschool-type things at home. Our son has severe allergies, and we keep a tight schedule of various therapies and specialist appointments. That's why we're homeschooling primarily, for medical reasons. I may also teach my teenager at home next year, but that’s still to be decided.<br />
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</b> <b>What are some of the challenges you face balancing working while homeschooling? What are some of the delights?</b><br />
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There is a lot of work on the front end here with preparation/planning, since I am a beginner. As I get older myself, I'm finding it a little harder to multi-task, but that may be because I have so many tasks to juggle: the ever-changing work schedule, school stuff, medical stuff, carving out time for family fun, and house maintenance. <br />
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Since I am an introvert, it has been challenging to seek out groups and play dates. At the same time, being an introvert helps me, since I’m focusing on one child right now. Honestly, it's a delight spending time with this hilarious kid, and I love that he's getting more science at home than he would in a traditional school. <br />
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Also, my mom watches him when I'm working, and as a retired teacher/children's librarian, she's fully capable of helping with homeschooling.<br />
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<b>What's the best piece of advice you've ever received about homeschooling? What are your favorite homeschool resources (books, blogs, websites, curriculum, etc.)?</b><br />
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I don't know whether it was advice; it was more of an example. I worked with a brother and sister who were homeschooled in the late '90s. He was 19 and she was 16, and they were two of the most wonderful, active, intelligent people I've ever met. It helped me move past the then-prevalent homeschool stereotypes.<br />
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As for curriculum, I love <a href="http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/mindup/" target="_blank">Mind Up</a> and <a href="https://www.workman.com/brands/brain-quest" target="_blank">Brain Quest</a>. I'm using <a href="http://tea.texas.gov/index2.aspx?id=6148" target="_blank">my state's list of essential skills for public schools</a> to be sure I don't miss anything. <br />
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<b>What's your best advice or tip for someone who wants to work and homeschool?</b><br />
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Ask for help.<br />
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<i>Well said, Heather, and good luck on your family’s fall homeschooling adventure! Readers, you can follow Heather on Twitter (<a href="http://twitter.com/momofnorank" target="_blank">@momofnorank</a>) and on her blog, <a href="http://momofnorank.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mom of No Rank</a>. </i><br />
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<i> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0_xa65cLvs/WYt0zVvS8FI/AAAAAAAACyI/AAwdBzY-zusQRFZcbyZM9MSTYD-ULPFowCLcBGAs/s1600/Heather%2B-%2BSocial%2BMedia%2BGraphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0_xa65cLvs/WYt0zVvS8FI/AAAAAAAACyI/AAwdBzY-zusQRFZcbyZM9MSTYD-ULPFowCLcBGAs/s400/Heather%2B-%2BSocial%2BMedia%2BGraphic.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This post is the first in a series. Stay tuned for more profiles!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Relevant & Recommended: </span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0761149147&asins=0761149147&linkId=df283da667cf726827c16022ffa49319&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0609805851&asins=0609805851&linkId=3af39fbb9d739eec5c8218d69390287d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0345543734&asins=0345543734&linkId=4cdfe0c973cde06a6393056b5b866c42&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-7937686190863310782017-08-21T07:41:00.000-05:002020-03-21T20:54:25.584-05:00Dinnertime Hacks for Busy Homeschool Families<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0RCHMi9sVC4/WYe5HFnKSDI/AAAAAAAACw8/YeJj8fl-UeMyjO__yBASj3sC2TqEyZ1OQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Dinnertime%2BHacks%2Bfor%2BBusy%2BHomeschool%2BFamilies%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0RCHMi9sVC4/WYe5HFnKSDI/AAAAAAAACw8/YeJj8fl-UeMyjO__yBASj3sC2TqEyZ1OQCPcBGAYYCw/s400/Dinnertime%2BHacks%2Bfor%2BBusy%2BHomeschool%2BFamilies%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.</i></div>
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Whether we work or volunteer outside the home or <i>just spend a lot of time and energy keeping our households running smoothly</i>, sooner or later we homeschool parents finding ourselves running out of steam.</div>
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More often than not, that problem seems to coincide with the dreaded “arsenic hour” which in turn coincides with the need to nourish everyone before bed time.<br />
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Phooey to all that hunger-charged chaos, right? Well, with the right tools and strategies in place recommended by veteran homeschoolers, you can say “L8R!” to supper hassles.<br />
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To get you started are these tips from the <a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank">How to Work and Homeschool (HWHS) Facebook community</a>.<br />
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All set to dig in?<br />
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<i>Let’s go...</i><br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>Plan your meals in advance.</b><br />
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Meal planning isn’t just for those folks with large families, on tight budgets, or following strict diets. With a little advance scheduling a week or two out, you can ensure the good, nutritious food is at the ready. There are all kinds of nifty tools to get you started with meal planning, from apps to cook books. Currently I’m kinda digging <i>Cooking Light</i>’s <a href="http://www.cookinglight.com/weeknight-meal-planner" target="_blank">weekly meal planning too.</a> <br />
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Don’t forget that, for older kids, participating in meal planning, prep, and presentation is a valuable life skill. (Heck, even the littles can learn valuable lessons from helping you think about what to prepare and serve!)<br />
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You can even turn it into a mini-class with the help of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoU1XiQJ1vo" target="_blank">this video</a>, courtesy of TEDEd.<br />
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<b>Embrace meal prepping. </b><br />
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A step up from meal planning is meal prepping. Broadly speaking, there are two different approaches with some occasional overall. Popular with the “eat right and get fit” crowd are <a href="http://amzn.to/2hACD2a" target="_blank">various books </a>on how to use meal prep planning to slim down. (They also use those fancy <a href="http://amzn.to/2flevQu" target="_blank">individual containers </a>which they up every Sunday in anticipation of the week ahead.) The second type of meal preppers can be termed the “fill the freezer” group. They create meals to reheat later or craft “<a href="http://amzn.to/2varLN7" target="_blank">freezer meal</a>" kits to dump into the slow cooker later. <br />
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<b>Take it easy with the veggies.</b><br />
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No, I'm <i>not</i> suggesting that you ditch them. Rather I'm suggesting you experiment with easy prep tips, from <a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/2011/11/04/roasted-veggie-spectacular-part-1-the-roasting/" target="_blank">pan roasting</a> to steaming and reheating. One of my favorite things to do is to steam mixed veggies at the the start of the week and then convert the leftovers into a quiche for breakfast. (The kid isn't a fan of quiche, but my husband finds it convenient--and we parents gotta eat well, too!)<br />
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Beans make a great protein source and foundation for chili or tostadas and other quick meals. I've shared two family recipes for beans (<a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/2011/11/11/simple-crockpot-black-beans-recipe/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/2012/02/16/arlies-pinto-beans/" target="_blank">here</a>) over on my other blog, <a href="http://redwhiteandgrew.com/">RedWhiteandGrew.com</a>.<br />
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<b>Get tech savvy!</b><br />
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There are dozens of different ways to enlist the Internet to help you out with dinnertime, from <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=meal%20planning&rs=typed&term_meta[]=meal%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=planning%7Ctyped" target="_blank">Pinterest boards</a> chock-a-block with meal planning ideas to clever apps that help you with your shopping. <br />
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To whit, one of my homeschooling friends, Melody, just went through an intensive, multi-week training program as she prepares to go back to work. She had this to say about one of her favorite services: "We have been using <a href="https://www.shipt.com/" target="_blank">Shipt</a> to have groceries delivered. It has made the transition a lot easier. Both hubby and I can add to the same grocery list through the app on our individual phones.”<br />
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Your delivery service options may vary by your community, but don’t hesitate to ask around. There may be some great service that you’re missing out—even if it’s a humble <a href="https://www.localharvest.org/csa/" target="_blank">CSA</a> that will bring you fresh-from-the-farm produce. <br />
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<b>Stock up on the right tools.</b><br />
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You’ve got your plans and your food, so let's cook it! Homeschoolers are famous for using clever gadgets to prepare meals, from breakfast to lunch to dinner. Chief among those kitchen tools is the famous (and aforementioned) slow cooker. (I’ve yet to meet a homeschooler who doesn’t own and use a slow cooker.)<br />
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As one member of the private HWHS parent group commented: “I love my slow cooker! Ironically, I leave the house early enough in the morning that my slow cooker was actually overcooking things. I purchased a timer for the outlet where I plug in my slow cooker, and now my recipes turn out perfectly. . . . I got [an analog version] at a local hardware store.” (Amazon has both digital and analog versions. See below.)<br />
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My friend Kathryn meanwhile mentioned how much she relies upon her electric pressure cooker aka the “Instapot.” (She added that she's partial to <a href="http://amzn.to/2vaIvUC]" target="_blank">this brand</a>.)<br />
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<b>Finally, don’t be afraid of take out.</b><br />
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Obviously, you probably don't want to make it a habit. Delivery service and frozen meals can be pricey, and the food quality isn’t as good if you go DIY. That said, a little grace is called for now and again, and it doesn’t hurt to keep a stash of coupons and gift cards to your favorite pizzeria handy.<br />
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Also, keeping one or two frozen, family-friendly sized meals (with a package or two of veggies) is a good idea. (Don’t tell anyone, but my “famous” lasagna is actually a store knock-off of a well-known brand. For years I carted it to a holiday party in our neighborhood where people gobbled it up like it was homemade. <i>Shhh…</i>)<br />
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I’d love to hear your ideas in comments, and don’t forget to join us on the <a href="http://facebook.com/Howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank">HWHS Facebook page</a> for more clever ideas to make working while homeschooling a little easier.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pamela-Price/e/B00PXKMC8K" target="_blank">Pamela Price</a> is the author of </i>How to Work and Homeschool <i>and </i>Gifted Bullied Resilient: A Brief Guide for Smart Families<i>, both from GHF Press. </i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Relevant & Recommended: </b></span> <br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0191ZGELS&asins=B0191ZGELS&linkId=465070f6ccfbe3b3709d653af0b59050&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B006LYHED0&asins=B006LYHED0&linkId=ada496b0687346460d225761ec036b45&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00FLYWNYQ&asins=B00FLYWNYQ&linkId=5bfe61675cd2c8d0a1f1c9095919ae8f&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01NBKTPTS&asins=B01NBKTPTS&linkId=a594d962201cf234407f66580c58d5e7&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-16940294989093860572017-08-06T08:54:00.000-05:002017-08-06T12:53:12.884-05:0025+ Helpful, Awesome Facebook Pages for Homeschool Parents and Families<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0v2Xbw4_vo/WWF--9OcVLI/AAAAAAAACuA/B1BBUV-WZDs-73jNcTkTZSZrnnJZNg7yQCLcBGAs/s1600/Best%2BFacebook%2Bpages%2Bfor%2Bhomeschoolers%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0v2Xbw4_vo/WWF--9OcVLI/AAAAAAAACuA/B1BBUV-WZDs-73jNcTkTZSZrnnJZNg7yQCLcBGAs/s640/Best%2BFacebook%2Bpages%2Bfor%2Bhomeschoolers%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com%25282%2529.png" width="426" /></a></div>
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Maybe you're new to homeschooling and are just getting your bearings. Or perhaps you're a seasoned homeschool parent seeking some inspiration. Either way, the following compendium of quality Facebook pages will give you food for thought. </div>
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Some pages are large; others, small. Some target homeschoolers, and others have a more general academic focus. </div>
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Still each of the following pages offers ideas, reliable links, information, and, in some cases, services to homeschool families.<br />
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Find and follow your favorites, and soon you may find that your Facebook feed feels a little <i>smarter</i>.<br />
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<i>Have a page to suggest? Drop a note in comments (below) or via the <a href="http://howtoworkandhomeschool.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to Work and Homeschool Facebook page</a>. </i><b> </b><br />
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<b>Homeschool Pages </b></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/a2zhomeschooling/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A to Z Home's Cool</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CathyDuffyReviews/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cathy Duffy Reviews</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ConfessionsofaHomeschooler/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Confessions of a Homeschooler </a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/EclecticHomeschoolers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eclectic Homeschoolers</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FreeHomeschooling101/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free Homeschooling 101</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GiftedHomeschoolersForum/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GHF: Gifted Homeschoolers Forum</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreatHomeschoolConventions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Great Homeschool Conventions</a></div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hiphomeschoolmoms/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hip Homeschool Moms</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolbuyers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Homeschool Buyers Co-Op</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheHomeschoolScientist" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Homeschool Scientist </a></div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HomeschoolSnark/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Homeschool Snark<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank">How to Work and Homeschool</a> </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/iHomeschoolNetwork/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: normal;">iHomeshool Network</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SecularHomeSchool/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Secular Homeschoolers</a></div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/simplehomeschool/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Homeschool</a></div>
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<b>General Education & Academics</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/artbarblog/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Art Bar Blog</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bedtimemath/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bedtime Math</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Braincraft/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brain Craft</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/brainpopofficial/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brain Pop Official</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourse/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crash Course</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Deep-Space-Sparkle-51340204099/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deep Space Sparkle</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DIY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DIY.org</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">It's Okay to Be Smart</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/khanacademy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Khan Academy</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mathnasium/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mathnasium</a></div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PBSDigitalStudios/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PBS Digital Studios</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScienceSparks/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Science Sparks</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SciShow/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SciShow</a></div>
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Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-14170664560117246872017-07-24T07:59:00.000-05:002017-07-24T09:23:55.361-05:00Before You Decide to Homeschool, Try This Technique!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6cMkEszfvk8/WWGCJyV00eI/AAAAAAAACuE/LOsVVo4rITM8ak3u0vaku3dCLO6jMADYwCLcBGAs/s1600/Thinking%2Bof%2Bhomeschooling_%2BSTART%2BHERE..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6cMkEszfvk8/WWGCJyV00eI/AAAAAAAACuE/LOsVVo4rITM8ak3u0vaku3dCLO6jMADYwCLcBGAs/s320/Thinking%2Bof%2Bhomeschooling_%2BSTART%2BHERE..png" width="320" /></a></div>
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A few years ago I used to host online webinars for prospective homeschool parents. It was a great way to build some community around the decision-making process and encourage grown ups to make custom education choices based on individual needs.<br />
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One of my favorite tools for this undertaking was one that I picked up back when I was a career adviser at UT Austin. It's called a "force field analysis," and it provides form and structure for making a decision. Kurt Lewin developed it in the 1940s. (A good overview and general how-to can be found <a href="https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_06.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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For homeschool parents, I find that force field analyses help lay out visually where the obstacles and opportunities lie.<br />
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Here's a step-wise approach to get you started.<br />
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<b>A Force-Field Analysis Process For Deciding Whether or Not to Homeschool</b><br />
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<b>Step One:</b> The simplest way begin is to create one is to turn a sheet of people sideways and divide it into thirds. In the middle, write your goal, "To homeschool."<br />
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<b>Step Two:</b> In the left column, write out what prompts you to think it's a good idea. Common forces "for" the movement to home education include frustrations with the pacing of material in the classroom, to address a learning disability, a desire to center learning at home for greater family connection, and so forth.<br />
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<b>Step Three:</b> In the right column, jot down your obstacles, fears, or barriers. Common forces "against" the choice to homeschool include fears about socialization, concerns about parent readiness to teach, <a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/2013/03/02/sulia-saturday-what-to-tell-the-homeschool-skeptics-a-k-a-your-parents-or-inlaws/" target="_blank">resistance from family members</a>, and personal worries about family income or your own career prospects being impacted.<br />
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These are <i>all</i> important issues to parse, and you're welcome to ask questions along these lines in the comments section below, if you'd like. Better still, message me on my <a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> and we'll share your question anonymously with other readers.<br />
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<b>Step Four:</b> Go back through and score each of the entries in the left and right columns on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the least important and 5 being the most.<br />
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<b>Step Five:</b> Take a break from the process and double-check your lists and rankings. (I suggest leaving it over night, in case you forgot either a pro or con. Sometimes solutions miraculously pop into your head overnight, too, leading you to change a ranking on an entry.) <br />
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This break from the process is also a good chance to talk with your partner or co-parent. If he or she is resistant to homeschooling, then that obstacle should appear on your sheet of paper and talk through their fears, concerns, and reservations. Together you might consider a trial run of one semester or one year.<br />
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<b>Step Six:</b> Determine whether or not you personally have time, patience, energy, and resources to address the most problematic aspects. Do you need to do some more research on homeschooling, including the "how to's"? Do you need to reach out to other homeschoolers online or in real life to get a better picture about what's possible? Is it time to have a <a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/2013/03/02/sulia-saturday-what-to-tell-the-homeschool-skeptics-a-k-a-your-parents-or-inlaws/" target="_blank">heart-to-heart with your resistant in-laws</a> about why the education path you're choosing is valid--even if unfamiliar to them? These issues come up all the time, and writing them down and working through them is powerful stuff.<br />
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At this point in the force field analysis usually one of three things happen: Either parents decide to go another route education wise (stay in school, opt for public or charter education); <i>or</i> they delay the decision for another year; <i>or </i>they opt to come up with plans to address head on their biggest fears and concerns in a logical fashion <i>and just go for it with homeschooling</i>. <br />
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All three options are valid because, ultimately, your decisions about education should always be rooted in your family's unique set of needs and options.<br />
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<i>- Pamela Price is the author of </i>How to Work and Homeschool<i> (GHF Press, 2014) and the founder of <a href="http://redwhiteandgrew.com/" target="_blank">RedWhiteandGrew.com</a>.</i><br />
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<a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank"><b>Join HWHS on Facebook</b></a></div>
Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-8009666891037929662017-07-10T14:32:00.000-05:002017-07-13T19:40:08.271-05:005 Essential Tips for Homeschool Moms Returning to the Workforce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gB-LFXYty5k/WV6XfVdjAQI/AAAAAAAACsA/Ih36dZIkZqQzDCrgoxqsVo5fb4ex5KCPQCLcBGAs/s1600/Tips%2Bfor%2Breturning%2Bto%2Bwork%2Bafter%2Bhomeschooling..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gB-LFXYty5k/WV6XfVdjAQI/AAAAAAAACsA/Ih36dZIkZqQzDCrgoxqsVo5fb4ex5KCPQCLcBGAs/s320/Tips%2Bfor%2Breturning%2Bto%2Bwork%2Bafter%2Bhomeschooling..png" width="320" /></a></div>
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At the very beginning of our homeschool journey I intentionally kept one foot in the working world, thinking that I'd ease my transition back into the workforce. That is until a couple of years ago, when my "job" became helping my <a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/2017/05/07/the-dearly-departed-a-mothers-day-musing/">elderly disabled mother</a> through her last days. I let my work slip to be a caregiver.<br />
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Since <a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/?s=grief" target="_blank">Mom died last summer</a> I've floundered a little professionally. It seems that the "world of work" is changing so rapidly that people move on, technology changes, and tried-and-true options vanish in the blink of eye.<br />
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And so, at 46 years of age and with a child still at home for a couple of more years, I became a "workforce reentry" gal.<br />
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<i>Oof.</i><br />
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In my mind that phrase conjures up images of 1980s women in professional dress toting briefcases. Fortunately, even though I struggled with my own mid-life reality, I had an extra set of tools in my tool kit. <i> </i><br />
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You see, once upon a time, I ran a university career center.<br />
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Granted, that was a long time ago, before I became a writer and stay-at-home mom and eldercare provider. Nevertheless, that old job gave me a framework for figuring out what I could do to get things moving in the present. <br />
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If you're a homeschool mom ready to go back to work, then I think you can learn something useful from my knowledge and experience. (Plus, since I've used these tips and tricks myself over the last couple of months, I've picked up some new work, new leads, and outlined a long-term career plan that has me<i> pumped</i>.)<br />
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Here's what I suggest you try:<br />
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<b>1. Assess your skills and interest. </b>Take a hard look at what skills you have to offer and which ones might transfer readily to other domains. If you get stuck here, look to your college alma mater or even local community college for career services support. City- and state-run career development centers may be available to you; if so, use them. Library books can come in handy as well. (A few select book recommendations appear below, beneath "Explore More.").<br />
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<b>2. Research your options.</b> Come up with a list of jobs that you might be able to find--locally and/or online--that are good possibilities. Talk to trusted friends and family about what you'd like to find. Join online groups related to your field and, when appropriate, ask questions. Get informed and let people know you're looking. <br />
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Thinking of starting your own business? Seek out local agencies that may provide start-up assistance specific to women.<br />
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<b>3. Close experience gaps. </b>I've been writing professionally for years, but I just completed a round of webinars to get a better sense of field. The online classes helped me to see better my strengths and weaknesses, giving me insights on where to refine my resume.<br />
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Depending upon your unique career concerns, you may need a class. Or perhaps you can find what you need in a book or website related to your chosen field. Don't forget to reach out to old contacts like coworkers and employers to see what's new and interesting in your field. More information in your head and conversations with colleagues increases your self-assuredness.<br />
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And you don't need me to tell you that confidence is attractive to prospective employers and other people in your professional network. <br />
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<b>4. Revisit your resume and LinkedIn profile. </b>What worked well on paper years ago may seem outdated now. Look up resume samples online and at the library. Create a rough draft and ask a friend to edit it. If you have a LinkedIn account, make sure it reflects your strengths and projects your ability to work in the field of choice.<br />
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Actually, whether or not you have a LinkedIn account--and even if you're looking for part-time or lower key seasonal work, it's a good idea to take a look at your "digital footprint," ensuring that there are no public comments or photographs that might derail your job hunt. (Food for thought on that topic can be found here.)<br />
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</b> <b>5. Start the job search process mindfully. Trust that it takes time, trial, and error to get back on your feet.</b> It can be frustrated to see jobs on contracts filled by other candidates, and you may find you need to go back through steps one through four a few times. <i>Don't give up.</i> Remember too that the higher the salary you're aiming for, the longer it will take to find a job. If necessary, you take a harder look at going back to school or picking up temporary work to bring your references up to date.<br />
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Restarting your career is a process, and processes take time. But I bet you'll get where you want to be with patience, persistence, thorough research, good planning, and a little faith in yourself. <br />
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<i>Pamela Price is the author of </i>How to Work and Homeschool<i> (GHF Press, 2013) She blogs at <a href="http://redwhiteandgrew.com/">RedWhiteandGrew.com</a>. </i><br />
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<i>Find and follow How to Work and Homeschool on <a href="http://facebook.com/HowtoWorkandHomeschool">Facebook</a></i>.<br />
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<b>Explore More:</b></div>
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<b>• </b>A helpful compendium of online sites for work-from-home job seekers can be found <a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2017/07/a-few-helpful-resources-for-homeschool.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
• Helpful related articles on workforce reentry can be found at <a href="http://monster.com/">Monster.com</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/08/14/how-opt-out-women-can-opt-back-into-jobs/&refURL=https://www.google.com/&referrer=https://www.google.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Forbes</a>, <a href="http://www.vogue.com/article/can-stay-at-home-moms-go-back-to-work" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vogue</a>.<br />
• <a href="http://pathforward.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Path Forward </a>is a non-profit that helps women with reentry issues. </div>
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</i>The following books may be of interest to you regarding this article's topic. You can purchase them via Amazon or use these links to help you locate them in your local library.<i> Good luck! </i><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=039957820X&asins=039957820X&linkId=6765bee2773ac721351ce10dd0bd57c0&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=160774497X&asins=160774497X&linkId=cd5bd502d96938dd159859d34677ac03&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1451608322&asins=1451608322&linkId=37cf8c30e712ad33828ae30954ecc25b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=031623673X&asins=031623673X&linkId=1404907f7f4ebc0e769a812c771c3c98&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
√Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-30532977051711130332017-07-09T17:03:00.000-05:002017-07-09T17:03:03.250-05:0025 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Decide to Homeschool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfjF9oDRAJU/WWKnOr_kB0I/AAAAAAAACus/kxPMT-cud-4uVt2EnWp_n16gXxfmbV3KwCLcBGAs/s1600/25%2BQuestions%2Bto%2BAsk%2BYourself%2BBefore%2BYou%2BDecide%2Bto%2BHomeschool%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfjF9oDRAJU/WWKnOr_kB0I/AAAAAAAACus/kxPMT-cud-4uVt2EnWp_n16gXxfmbV3KwCLcBGAs/s320/25%2BQuestions%2Bto%2BAsk%2BYourself%2BBefore%2BYou%2BDecide%2Bto%2BHomeschool%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each homeschool family has a different journey, from start to finish.<br />
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If you're contemplating homeschooling, however, these questions will get you thinking sensibly about the road ahead.<br />
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Answers will vary, of course, and if you get to feeling "stuck" feel free to come ask the question via a message to the <a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank">How to Work and Homeschool Facebook page</a>.<br />
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<ol>
<li>What are your motives for homeschooling?</li>
<li>What are the state and local rules about homeschooling where you live?</li>
<li>If partnered or co-parenting, are you both on-board with it?</li>
<li>Do you see homeschooling as a short- or long-term endeavor?</li>
<li>Will you homeschool by semester, academic or annual calendar?</li>
<li>When will you take breaks (fall, winter holidays, spring, and/or summer)?</li>
<li>Do you understand your child's strengths and weaknesses?</li>
<li>Have you researched homeschool approaches?</li>
<li>Do you know which approaches will work best for your child? For you?</li>
<li>Are you willing to modify how you teach to fit your child's needs?</li>
<li>Do you have a budget for homeschooling?</li>
<li>Have you researched curriculum options with your budget in mind?</li>
<li>What might a typical homeschool day look like for your family?</li>
<li>If you have small children, how will you keep them occupied while teaching older kids?</li>
<li>When might you need childcare to work or tend to another family member?</li>
<li>If you plan to use a co-op, are you comfortable with their rules and regulations?</li>
<li>How will you evaluate your homeschool progress?</li>
<li>Are you prepared to teach your own with patience and compassion?</li>
<li>What are your academic and emotional strengths and weaknesses?</li>
<li>How will homeschooling affect your own personal goals and ambitions?</li>
<li>Are you prepared to sequence home education to put your children's needs first and, if needed, delay some personal and professional gratification?</li>
<li>Do you have emotional support from friends and family? </li>
<li>If you don't have support, can you find it locally or online?</li>
<li>How will you know that you've found your homeschool groove?</li>
<li>What do you want to look back and say about your homeschooling years? </li>
</ol>
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<a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank"> Find & Follow How to Work and Homeschool on Facebook</a></div>
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Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-58822865575044616062017-07-07T13:28:00.002-05:002017-07-10T19:17:41.961-05:00A Few Helpful Resources for Homeschool Parents Trying to Find Work-from-Home Jobs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GN2xw0EIJOc/WV_dyTrp_eI/AAAAAAAACtU/BK9HU5Tor4UlTjFDMQ24ODsCXg1tYgc5QCLcBGAs/s1600/Work%2Bat%2BHome%2BResources%2Bfor%2BHomeschool%2BParents%2Bfrom%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GN2xw0EIJOc/WV_dyTrp_eI/AAAAAAAACtU/BK9HU5Tor4UlTjFDMQ24ODsCXg1tYgc5QCLcBGAs/s400/Work%2Bat%2BHome%2BResources%2Bfor%2BHomeschool%2BParents%2Bfrom%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com%25282%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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With the word "work" and the root word "home" (from "homeschool") in this website's name, I get a lot of spam from disreputable sources about "work from home" options. Similarly, I spend a great deal of time on the <a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank">How to Work and Homeschool Facebook page</a> banning spammers.<br />
<br />
It's tiresome but necessary. <b>Nothing rattles me quite as much as people preying upon stay-at-home moms and dads</b>, especially when they're trying to figure out <a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2017/07/balancing-work-with-homeschooling-quick.html" target="_blank">how to work and homeschool</a>.<br />
<br />
At the same time--whether they're just starting our with homeschooling, dealing with a temporary financial setback, or preparing for an empty nest--I know that some homeschool parents <i>need</i> good online resources for finding paid, flexible work.<br />
<br />
If you're in one of those situations, here are some good places to help you get started--bearing in mind that this is <i>not </i>an outright endorsement by me of any of them.<br />
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<a href="https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>The Work at Home Woman</b></a><br />
With the goal of helping "women find remote jobs and businesses that they love" this site provides tips and tricks as well as a helpful newsletter. The related <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheWorkatHomeWoman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> is a useful read, too.<br />
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<a href="https://jobspresso.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Jobspresso</b></a> <br />
This site "curates" remote positions tech, marketing, customer support and so forth. <br />
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<a href="https://www.indeed.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Indeed</b></a> <br />
Purportedly "the world's number one job site," there's a wide array of job options here, but beware "sponsored" ads. <br />
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<a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/work-from-home-jobs-SRCH_KO0,14.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Glassdoor </b></a><br />
Popular for its commitment to transparency, Glassdoor does a good job of vetting companies. According to <a href="https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/jobs-making-money/sites-to-find-work-from-home-jobs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this story</a> over on Pennyhoarder.com, you'll find work-from-home jobs by selecting "Remote (Work from Home)" in the search bar.<br />
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<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>LinkedIn</b></a><br />
This option is best for people with college degrees and professional training. That said, I've been surprised lately at how much work I've captured through my own private LinkedIn page. <br />
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<a href="https://www.thebalance.com/best-work-from-home-jobs-and-companies-2064299" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>The Balance: Best Work from Home Jobs </b></a><br />
This last entry is actually a collection of pages from TheBalance.com has a great round up of work from home job options and website leads. (I will say regarding the entry for Craig's List, <i>caveat emptor</i>. Yes, some good local jobs may turn up there but so can a lot of scammers.)<b> </b><br />
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<b>--</b><i> Pamela Price is a former academic and career adviser at The University of Texas at Austin. She's also the author of How to Work and Homeschool (GHF Press, 2013). You can find her here at HowtoWorkandHomeschool.com, on the <a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool" target="_blank">HWHS Facebook page</a>, or her main blog (<a href="http://redwhiteandgrew.com/" target="_blank">RedWhiteandGrew.com</a>). </i><b><br />
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<b>Explore More: </b><br />
<br />
Below are some suggested reads on this topic via <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a>.<br />
<b>On a budget? </b>Remember that that your local library may have these and similar titles.<b><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1101979828&asins=1101979828&linkId=7581372854044ad3662262d0c11058b4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1608323641&asins=1608323641&linkId=a6c2856014a61557001b5d442bd24f89&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1942952732&asins=1942952732&linkId=adb33ed8c066676763f798b517844a07&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1440579075&asins=1440579075&linkId=18cd0929f23d3d45f285347034397089&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-28962010529392042452017-07-06T12:24:00.000-05:002020-03-21T20:56:20.001-05:00Is Your Homeschool Group Friendly to Working Parents?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xh7ZtcmPLKc/WV5xCTaTHSI/AAAAAAAACrk/KegTVdhGh40g2l5V3awzcirdev6Rhz2ywCLcBGAs/s1600/Homeschooling%252C%2BWorking%2BFamilies%2Band%2BCo%2BOps%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xh7ZtcmPLKc/WV5xCTaTHSI/AAAAAAAACrk/KegTVdhGh40g2l5V3awzcirdev6Rhz2ywCLcBGAs/s320/Homeschooling%252C%2BWorking%2BFamilies%2Band%2BCo%2BOps%2B_%2BHowtoWorkandHomeschool.com.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Pragmatic homeschool parents spend a lot of time thinking about "socialization." Concerns about ensuring children know how to "get along" with non-family members can motivate parents to sign up for co-ops as much as academic ambitions.<br />
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But here's the thing: <i>some co-ops and traditional homeschool learning communities are challenging for some working parents.</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
Co-op and other learning group organizers usually expect a parent to always be in attendance, and some may turn away substitutes like grandparents or nannies.<br />
<br />
This topic came up today in a conversation today and, to be honest, I'd never really thought about it much. I mean, I work from home but my work is also portable, for the most part. Yet some working homeschool parents find themselves needing to stay in an office or business and must rely upon someone else to do the shuttling and to help manage school work. (That's a common solution, in fact, as mentioned <a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2013/05/faq-can-we-both-work-full-time-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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On the one hand, I understand organizers wanting to have a parent on hand to supervise kids and keep trouble-making behavior to a minimum during class time. On the other, I think there's a conflict at root here between old school homeschoolers (primarily faith-based folks who believe parents should be hands on with education) and new school homeschoolers (a mix of faith-based and secular parents who, for whatever reason, need to keep working).<br />
<br />
In large metro areas with a vibrant, diverse array of options for homeschoolers, exclusion from one group is just an excuse to find (or start) another one. But for families out in rural and small-town America this could be tough to take because it feels a bit judgmental, even if it's not intended as such.<br />
<br />
It's no big secret that some homeschool communities can be insular and prone to "icing out" questions and objections from newcomers. This makes it harder for dialogue and progress. And that's truly unfortunate because, as our child matures, I'm finding common ground--as a working homeschooler--with moms who are ready to go back to work.<br />
<br />
Surely there's room for growth here? A way to nurture strong communities, good academics, and learning spaces where parents with diverse needs can be included?<br />
<br />
Some thoughts.<br />
<br />
<b>For working parents who find themselves in the situation of being excluded</b>, you'll have to take a hard look at the motives for group participation in search of alternative options. Academics may be addressed via online curriculum or classes and social opportunities can be found in play groups, churches, and even eclectic choices like game nights at comic book stores. <br />
<br />
<b>For existing groups who'd like to open up options for parents who must work</b>, it might be worthwhile to revisit the "whys" of the rules that exclude participation. Rather than just keeping things the same, consider getting input from members on what might make for some middle-ground solutions. (<a href="http://surveymonkey.com/">SurveyMonkey.com</a> is a handy tool for this, especially if you want to collect data from members anonymously.)<br />
<br />
I'd really love to hear from more people with different perspectives on this topic.<br />
<br />
Drop a note in comments if you'd like.<br />
<br />
<i>Pamela Price is the author of </i>How to Work and Homeschool<i> (GHF Press, 2013). </i><i style="text-align: center;">Find and follow How to Work and Homeschool on <a href="http://facebook.com/HowtoWorkandHomeschool">Facebook.</a></i><br />
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Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-15748979480576730862017-07-04T09:09:00.001-05:002017-07-05T11:12:31.729-05:00Balancing Work with Homeschooling: The Quick and Dirty Guide<br />
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One of the most common critiques of <a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/p/thebook.html">my book</a> is that it doesn't tell readers <i>exactly</i> how to work and homeschool down to which specific curriculum to buy for each child and which paying gig to line up. <br />
<br />
Fair enough. <br />
<br />
Having once been a new homeschooler, I understand that desire, as a parent, to have someone lay it all out for me hour by hour, year by year. Yet as a <i>seasoned homeschool parent</i> I know that cookie cutter approaches seldom work. <br />
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The best, most successful attempts to balance jobs and careers (and volunteerism and caregiving or whatever your "work" is) with home education involve trial and error. One year, one month, one season can vary a great deal from the next. That's a tricky concept for those of us who grew up with traditional education. But tinkering doesn't mean that you're failing or floundering. <br />
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Here are some tips to find your work and homeschool groove.<br />
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<b>Take care of the childcare issue first.</b> Hands down, this is the biggest problem parents face: what to do with kids when your hands are full with other tasks. Solutions include enlisting family members, hiring a nanny or babysitter, and staggering parent work schedules to get the job done. This isn't, however, a problem unique to working homeschool parents. Many moms of young children, for example, struggle to keep one child busy while attending to another. It's part of the work of parenting. <br />
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If you can't get it to work--and traditional education options remain on the table out of necessity but you still want to supplement what your kids are learning, then consider after-schooling your child on evenings and weekends using online services, apps, or curriculum targeting home educators.<br />
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<b>Be realistic about how flexible your career is.</b> Your job options vary by a lot of factors: your location, your skills set (and demand for it), and even the economy. A lot of working homeschoolers <i>do</i> work out of their homes as freelance or contract labor, but that can present challenges for income. Many homeschool families reevaluate their "needs" versus their "wants" and downsize homes and lifestyles to accommodate their efforts, but other people find that home education presents a financial hardship (or loss of healthcare coverage) they can't manage. (Note that while most homeschool families are two-parent households, there are a number of successful single moms and dads teaching their own--an important point made in my book.)<br />
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<b>Work out the learning schedule.</b> The biggest misconception, in my opinion, about homeschooling is that it <i>must take place between the hours of 8 AM and 5 AM, Monday through Friday, September to June</i>.<b> Not true!</b> Homeschoolers have all kinds of schedules! Here at home we go year 'round, more or less, which allows us to take regular breaks to travel. Others spend 4 to 6 weeks on, 1 to 2 weeks off. I've known people who homeschool every morning of the week and others who concentrate the action on evenings and/or weekends. If you can't wrap your head around what that might look like, then take a look at the appendix of the <i>How to Work and Homeschool</i> {<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Work-Homeschool-Perspectives-Homeschooling/dp/0615811728/ref=as_sl_pc_as_ss_li_til?tag=rewhgrvigaanm-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=613acd45a77fb6e4ba818a6d9248922c&creativeASIN=0615811728">Amazon Affiliate Link</a>} for ideas.<br />
<br />
<b>Select a learning approach that fits for you.</b> If you know other homeschoolers, they may try to "sell" you on their approach. Trouble is, what works for one family may not work at all for yours. Let me tell you a secret: when working with clients, my favorite resource for selecting an approach is the <a href="http://www.homeschooldiner.com/quiz/click_o_matic_guide_to_homeschool.html">Homeschool Diner's Click-O-Matic guide</a> coupled with a personality assessment (<a href="http://www.howtoworkandhomeschool.com/2013/04/homeschool-tips-part-1-working-with.html">see this post</a>). Using the tools laid out in those two links, you can discern better what curriculum (if any) will work optimally. <br />
<br />
<b>Introduce curricula or new classes gradually.</b> There's no need to rush into things. In fact, if you've pulled a child from school due to poor educational fit, then some deschooling is in order. Work on your relationship, let them follow their bliss a bit. (Many parents end up staying in this vein of learning and resort to what's called "unschooling.") After a few days or weeks of deschooling, begin to add curricula or classes. Great places to learn about curricula include: <a href="http://cathyduffyreviews.com/">Cathy Duffy Reviews</a> and the <a href="https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/">Homeschool Buyers Co-Op</a>. There are online resources, too, with popular ones among the <a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool">How to Work and Homeschool Facebook community</a> including <a href="https://www.time4learning.com/">Time 4 Learning</a> and courses offered by <a href="http://www.athenasacademy.com/">Athena's Academy</a> and <a href="http://ghfblog.com/giftedhomeschoolers/ghf-online-cat/">GHF: Gifted Homeschoolers Forum</a>.<br />
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<b>Find social support for the entire family.</b> Most people worry primarily about finding socialization for their kids. In truth, parents need it, too. Look for Facebook pages and groups, play groups and classes in your community, and your neighborhood or community for places to connect with other people. That's right--people don't have to homeschool in order to make good friends for you or your kids, and online groups dedicated to homeschoolers can be a great source of support and information. In fact, I've just relaunched the How to Work and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/workinghomeschoolparents/?source_id=143835752426422">Homeschool parent discussion group on Facebook</a>, a moderated community. We'd love to have you! <br />
<br />
Have questions? Leave a comment or reach out to me on the <a href="http://facebook.com/howtoworkandhomeschool">Facebook page</a> or via <a href="https://redwhiteandgrew.com/about-2/contact/">RedWhiteandGrew.com</a>. (Note that I do take on a limited number of coaching clients every fall, but only if I feel that we'd be a good fit and that I can genuinely help you.)<br />
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<i>Pamela Price is the author of </i>How to Work and Homeschool<i> (GHF Press, 2013) and the founder of <a href="http://redwhiteandgrew.com/">RedWhiteandGrew.com</a>.</i><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1413307019&asins=1413307019&linkId=b3c488254aa6363778b2d1199fcffc2d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0761527885&asins=0761527885&linkId=2172afb3af5c316d6b2e8e2c5bed7409&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1580051863&asins=1580051863&linkId=8fd49fa35c6cdf5e6d516eb7e756fdfe&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=rewhgrvigaanm-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0609805851&asins=0609805851&linkId=3554d2d92677cb861c5aa5a3839582d4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440306286962105757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418369524826413856.post-5769012420928211752017-05-05T16:59:00.001-05:002017-05-05T17:17:46.397-05:00The FIRST Book Dedicated to Parents who Work and Homeschool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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