Homeschooling- during the coronavirus quarantine

Are you homeschooling?

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading quickly and doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. At this point, every child in the United States is being homeschooled.

Well, maybe. 

Some parents are opposed to teaching their children during the lockdown. However, many appear to be trying their hardest to keep their children engaged in academics. You have come to the right place if you are one of those parents. 

With schools closed, parents interested in homeschooling can give it a shot now. There are free trials and resources all over, not to mention endless help from teachers and parents who are familiar with the homeschooling process. 

Fortunately, I have always loved the idea of homeschooling. I briefly homeschooled my oldest daughter in the past. Before the coronavirus hit, we were still trying to determine which type of schooling and schedule worked best for us.

Reading Resources

Scholastic is offering a free learn-at-home section for little ones. My daughter loves the stories and learning activities.

One thing I love about this website is that while the stories are being read to the child, the words are highlighted. This teaches them to recognize words, one of the first steps in learning to read. 

Raz-Kids is a great place to turn to when teaching reading skills. This website and app are geared towards children from kindergarten to 5th grade. It is full of interactive e-books.

Your child can be read to, read to themselves, or even record themselves reading. Unfortunately, it is not free, but you can sign up for a free trial to see if you love it.

Reading IQ is another excellent website for learning to read. It appears to be similar to Raz-Kids.

I haven’t used this one yet, but I am considering it. Like Raz-Kids, you can sign up for a free trial to see how you feel about it. When I finish both free trials, I will come back and explain their pros and cons.

Math Resources

Khan Academy appears to be one of the leading math resources for those trying to homeschool right now. It is perfect for any age, but more specifically, for children ages 2 to 18.

It is FREE and allows children to work at their own pace. 

Khan Academy also includes science, engineering, computer, and art lessons. 

Websites that cover most subjects

Right now, I have been using ABC Mouse for my youngest daughter. She seems to enjoy it, and it’s simple enough for her to use. This program is educational and fun for children 2-8 years old. I was lucky enough to receive a code from her school allowing us to use it for free during school closures. However, I do love it enough to purchase it in the future.

Adventure Academy is another resourceful learning program for children in the 3rd to 8th grades.

My oldest daughter tried it out during our free trial, and she loved it. However, I would not suggest using this as your only learning program. My daughter became easily sidetracked with the games. 

Teaching a foreign language

My favorite language learning program is Duolingo. It is free and allows you to choose from over 30 different languages. I am actually considering using this program for myself and my children. 

Homeschool curriculum 

The learning program I am most familiar with is Time4Learning.

I used this program to homeschool my daughter in the past. You pay a monthly fee, and while not the cheapest, it is well worth the price. 

For Pre-K to 8th grade, you pay $19.95 monthly, and $30 monthly for high school students. If you are unhappy with this program after two weeks, they will issue you a refund. 

The thing I like most about Time4Learning is that your child can work at their own pace. It also tracks the time they spend on each subject and creates a schedule and assignments for them. This helps them stay on track and know what is expected of them.

You can print progress reports and record their work, which is excellent if you need proof of their completed work and grades.

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool is another place you can go to find the curriculum you need to homeschool your child. This free curriculum can be used for children from preschool through high school. I have not had a chance to use this program, but I am considering using it for all three of my children. 

While the main difference between these programs is cost, the most significant difference for me was what the programs offered. I chose Time4Learning over Easy Peasy because I did not have time to do more work. My life is hectic, and Time4Learning does all of the hard work for you. So, if you can afford it and you live a busy life, it could be your best option.

Worksheets and Packets

Teachers Pay Teachers is one of the best sites I have found and used. Here, you can find worksheets, lesson plans, and basically anything you need to print out to help your child learn.

While you can find some things for free, most things you print out will cost a small fee. There is a little bit of something for children of all ages here. 

Have fun teaching is a great resource right now. They have posted coronavirus relief packets for children in preschool through 5th grade. 

Making the best of it 

There is an endless list of resources available. I could create an exhaustive list, but I chose to stick with what seems to be working the most for other parents and me. 

Before choosing a program or curriculum, consider what you want to teach your child. What do they need to learn? How do they learn best? What do they struggle with the most? What subject comes easily or naturally to them?

Asking these questions first will help you determine what resources you need the most. 

Most importantly, as long as your child progresses, they are on the right path. Learning is not a race or a competition, take it all one day at a time. Oh, and try to have fun.

Photo by BOOM 💥