Stop Telling Me We Are 'Crisis Schooling'

We enjoyed a 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'
activity after reading the book! Colored paper,
glue, and some old Food Network Magazines
for the win! 

By now, everyone is well aware of the challenges social distancing is posing for families across the country.  We are big advocates for the importance of social distancing during this time, not only to protect ourselves, but to protect the vulnerable people we may come in contact with.  Social distancing is a necessary means in protecting our at-risk population.

With the need for social distancing in our state, came the mandated release of schools state-wide in an attempt to do our best to flatten the curve.  While socially responsible and necessary, the closures have posed some interesting challenges for families. For families like us, it was a little easier! We live a rural life.  We don't run through a drive-thru often or make daily trips to the store.  We are content in our micro-community and are adoring the extra time with our horses and in the sunshine!

With a school-aged child, I felt it was now my responsibility to help my son maintain grade-level education in preparation to enter his next grade in the fall.  So, we set out! Thanks to Pintrest, talks with my homeschool mama friends, lots of great Google searches, free resources for parents like us schooling at home as a result of COVID-19, and a few orders from the 4-H Shop, we were ready to begin our time of home-bound education.  Let me start off by saying- I am NOT a teacher.  A few Sunday School classes somewhat prepared me to find the resources and be able to come up with fun ideas, but I am far from the amazing teacher our son had! His entire school system is truly one of a kind. 

Butcher hog spelling and Lego
building are fun lessons.  Use
what you have, no need to go
out or spend a lot of money.

We have done some fun units! Plant science, George Washington, crafts, color by Sum/Difference math sheets (a HUGE hit in our house), LOTS of reading, gardening, caring for our horses, art, and PE (ok, I call it PE...its extended outdoor playtime lets be honest).  I was really feeling confident in our ability to rock this time.  We play, we learn, we take breaks when someone needs it.  We enjoy our time together.  We enjoy our yard, our horses, and planning our garden.  We enjoy finding treasures outside and having indoor dance parties.  We enjoy making our own snacks, cooking lunch together, building with Legos, and watching documentaries on kid-picked history lessons.  We enjoy using markers, paints, and scissors (ok, scissors still give me anxiety--I'm getting better!).


Then I see it.  The 'you aren't homeschooling, you are crisis schooling' condescending posts.  Well, I can only speak for us an our household, but we are FAR from "crisis schooling."  Just because our world is navigating a new virus full of unique challenges, does not mean that we all must live in a fear-fueled crisis mode.  I can't think of a single one of those activities above that came about because we felt we were in crisis.  We are learning. We are playing. We are thriving.  We are looking at silver linings and finding bright sides while we do our part to protect our community, our friends and family, and ourselves.  But crisis? Now, that is a mindset.  We are not looking at this as a time of extreme crisis.  We are finding the ways to thrive and the ways to control and excel in the areas we can.  We are talking about all of the things we can make to exhibit at the fair! Do we know if there will be a fair? No, we don't.  Should we focus on the "might not be's"? No, we choose not to. 

Stop telling me I'm crisis schooling.  I am not.  I am a mom, teaching her kids the things they want to learn about using the tools and resources I can find.  I am a mom allowing myself to remember my favorite things about grade school.  I am a mom allowing myself to be creative, childish, and fun again.  I am a mom letting my kids wear whatever they want and play outside as long as they want.  I am a mom doing my part to keep our family isolated to protect ourselves and others.  I am not a mom in crisis. 

 

Plant science, George Washington and the Revolutionary War,
daily journaling, reading (always!), a little math, and some handwriting
complete our days.  We break it up. We choose what we want to do first.
We have LOTS of recess.