Another deviation - Class options for overnight homeschoolers

This is an edited version of a response I sent to a friend who is faced with organizing her children's education from home suddenly. I thought some of the information might be helpful to others so we are sharing it here:

It's sort of short notice to build a solid curriculum overnight, which you are all having to do, but then again we don't know how long you are even going to have to go this route so you don't want to overcommit either I would imagine. 

My two cents - don't try to recreate school precisely because school is designed to suit a general undefined student, whereas your children are real and you know them. So enjoy the flexibility of this weird and wacky experiment and do a little custom-tailoring to your specific children. 

In my experience it is highly beneficial to do a mix of independent work and some live classes - especially with children who are not used to this much self-guided learning and organizing. So that is why I would throw an online class with a person into the mix if it is at all financially feasible. You could even recruit a friend to do instruction via Skype, etc. if there is a subject they are knowledgeable or passionate about.  

Beyond that, for your sanity, for your budget, and for the flexibility, check out Khan Academy to keep math rolling. Check on the other options offered on Kahn Academy - you know what your kids are going to be most interested in doing. 

I would also encourage you to explore having them take up a new language - why not go a little nuts and explore things they didn't have time to learn while in school. italki is a low-key  option with a range of prices that provides individual language tutors a place to list their services. You can scroll through with your kids and watch each tutor's introduction video to get a sense of them, and you don't have to commit to too many classes up front. It is also a way to help the global economy because it employs other people around the world who are likely experiencing lockdowns themselves. 

If kids can have a language tutor and/or other live class that meets once or twice a week, the Kahn courses as often as you choose to run them, plus independent work for the two live classes, and hands-on projects that you can organize for them as well, they will really do fine during this time. 

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