Let’s look beyond the mask.
Homeschool parents and students must look with no small surprise at the problems faced by traditional schools. Because homeschool families require minimal changes to their routine, classroom teachers strive to find the balance between in-person and online learning.
Of course, some change is inevitable, even for homeschoolers. Football games are suspended, parks and hiking trails are closed, even the gym is unavailable.
While these closures are disappointing and upsetting, homeschoolers know how to create, innovate, and survive mentally and emotionally.
Even though the weekly group meeting is electronic, homeschoolers can connect online with confidence with other students and parents who understand the dynamic nature of learning and life.
Homeschoolers get it!
They know that life changes daily, and yet they continue to grow as individuals and as a community. Every day is an adjustment to change, some changes subtle, others profound. Homeschooling families are not fully controlled by autocratic decision-makers or government regulations.
The homeschool learning system is built on solid learning principles, one of which is that you should confidently adapt to a changing environment when necessary. There is no waiting for lengthy committee meetings or infinitely delayed administrative statements. Your mind is most important and enables you to make the right decisions in this rapidly changing cultural environment.
In fact, the current pandemic can become an effective teaching tool that integrates something real into our lives with traditional “school stuff.” This integration, while not in the books, can create lifelong learning while enhancing our analytical skills, knowledge base, and creativity skills.
It’s not in the books, but who cares!
Actually, it is in life… and we should all take care of it!
Take a close look at the following list of how the Covid-19 pandemic relates to traditional school courses.
1. History: What are some historical worldwide pandemics?
2. Math: Drawing various charts of infections, hospitalizations, deaths, etc.
3. English: Write short stories or poems about masked people and don’t see smiles.
4. Science: How is a virus different from bacteria?
5. Politics: Does the ongoing pandemic favor one political party over another?
6. Literature: Is this a sequel to 1984 or Beautiful new world?
7. Debate: State control versus individual independence.
8. Physical Education: Build a training ground with household items.
9. Economy: Why are some businesses essential and others not?
10. Art: Depict peaceful protests and violent riots in watercolors.
11. Music: Compose evocative music or words that show inner emotions of older people currently living in nursing homes.
12. Psychology: Dig deep. What’s on your mind?
13. Technology: What if we didn’t have our smart devices?
The suggestions listed above are just kick-starters for our minds. Each of these sections can have multiple associated assignments. Start with a blank piece of paper and make a mind map of where you can go with each one.
Always look at the big picture.
face the truth We’re in a pandemic and it’s not fun. It’s not fun, but we can learn from it. We must not become victims of media manipulation. It is crucial that we keep our minds alert and active. If we look seriously at the relationship between the pandemic and real learning, we may find relationships of a larger nature than first meets the eye.
Our nation was founded on solid principles grounded in genuine truths. Our independent minds must remain focused on these truths. We must continue this tradition. We cannot allow anarchy and riots to change the nature of our country.
fight the fight
keep the faith
Thanks to John H Hitchcock
