Adapting Home Learning
We have entered a new era where all the rules we knew and roles we played seem to have been thrown out the window. For families with school-aged children, that change has been magnified. Juggling work from home or the loss of a job while maintaining the home, trying to cope with all the changes in your typical routines (shopping, worship, entertainment, dining out, etc.), and attempting to switch roles from parent to teacher and back--stress has taken on a new meaning for everyone! For families parenting a child with disabilities, adding the roles of physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, etc., to an already overloaded plate can send you running to. . .well. . .where can you run?? Nowhere. You’re stuck at home with your full plate. But don’t worry--YOU CAN DO THIS!
Here’s a checklist for creating a home learning plan for your child. It’s simple and straightforward and will set you and your child on a productive path forward.
Breathe. First and foremost - step back and BREATHE! No one is expecting you to recreate your child’s classroom and supports at home. So… BREATHE! Remember, you are participating in what has been termed “crisis teaching,” not homeschooling. Good enough is good enough, and there are lots of different ways to learn. So BREATHE one more time. Okay, now we’re ready.
Create a Schedule (but be flexible with it). It can be helpful to set up a routine for your child (and for you). Build in breaks, movement, instruction, and fun. Here is a guide from ScaryMommy to give you a starting point for how much time to devote to “school” (you’ll see a little homeschooling goes a long way). Make this schedule visual, so it’s easy to reference for you and your child, but don’t feel confined by it--you will not get in trouble for not following it! Here are a couple of resources with free visual schedules (A Day in Our Shoes, And Next Comes L). If you prefer to use an iPad, here are some apps recommended by KGH Autism Services. Your child’s social and emotional health is enormously important, and so is yours, so if something on the schedule isn’t going according to plan, switch things up! Have backups in mind and at the ready, like a favorite book, song, toy, or game. And remember, every day chores like cooking and laundry involve a lot of wonderful skill development--it’s all learning!
Establish Communication with School. Next, be sure you have a system in place to communicate with your child’s teachers. It can be a weekly call, a shared Google doc, an email thread--whatever works best for you. Treat your child’s teachers as thought partners, collaborators, and co-problem-solvers. They are learning on the fly just like you are, so let them know what they’re doing that’s working for you, and also what isn’t working so great. Be open about the challenges you’re facing and ask for ideas and support. You and your child’s teacher are in this together. The key is to stay in touch.
Use IEPs as Guides. If your child has an IEP, use that as a guide as you assess assignments/work from your child’s teacher. Look especially at the section of the IEP that lists the supports that your child needs as he/she learns, and make sure you understand and are prepared to provide those supports to the extent you can. For example, if your child needs manipulatives to accomplish math activities, consider ways to add household items to your lessons, like practicing concepts of same/different by matching shoes, or adding/subtracting/counting using preferred toys or even spoons if that’s all you can find. And if the work coming from school just feels too challenging in the home setting, use your child’s IEP goals to brainstorm everyday activities that might help your child advance toward his/her goals. For example, if your child’s goal is to sequence steps in an activity, think about all the things you do at home like getting dressed, washing hands, and brushing teeth, that can be broken down piece by piece to help your child understand and practice this concept. You know your child best--use that knowledge, that gut understanding, together with the IEP information, to guide you as you work with your child.
Prioritize. You don’t have to work on everything every day. First, decide what’s most important. Then, when you tackle the assignments for the day, do it stepwise, not all in one go. I recommend doing what you are confident in first to get some good momentum going. Then try the assignments that seem harder. Celebrate your successes, even if they seem small. And when you hit roadblocks, reach out to your child’s teacher with questions. Things may be rocky at first, but over time, as you, your child, and your child’s teacher build this new learning system, it will get better!
Multiple Kids? Strategies for Juggling: I know many of you are thinking, “Yea, thanks Janie, this would work if I only had one child, but how can I do all these things when I have other kids (maybe other kids with unique learning needs) who need my attention and teaching time too?” I hear you. There is no need to try to run a multi-age classroom at home. Here are a few strategies you may find helpful, and no matter which strategy you choose, remember good enough is good enough!
Take Advantage of Technology - Is one child studying math and the other is working on reading? Find a free educational game or video for one on the computer while you work with the other, then switch (if you have time). Our friends at Unique Learning Solutions are offering free special ed resources for parents, including instructional videos. Your school may even have a subscription to their full database.
Rotate - If both (or all) of your children need hands on support, work with one on school stuff while the other(s) play, do chores, or (gasp) get some screen time.
Play Teacher/Student - Siblings make great teachers. Have a more advanced learner teach their sibling a new concept or model a new skill. Or have them work together on chores--practicing sharing, teamwork, patience, problem-solving.
I hope you take three things from this article. First, keep on breathing. Second, just do what you can and don’t go it alone--your child’s teacher is your teammate. Third, there are all kinds of creative ways to learn--schoolwork is just one of them. You CAN do this.