Whether we are traditional homeschoolers or schooling from home due to the crisis, this year is going to be especially challenging.  Every spring homeschooling parents begin to focus on fall. Thinking about the new curriculum, co-op membership, and the ambitious even start the field trip calendar. This spring is no different and yet there are things to be considered that we didn't before. Will we be able to use the library? Will the museums be open? How will the co-op keep the kids safe? We are all faced with the same questions.  

I saw a post this morning that said if you want to stop schooling for the year, stop and don't feel guilty. I am all for a shame-free society when it comes to parents making choices for their children! We should be able to decide our own calendar in these times where we can decide little else. We should take mental health days, beautiful weather days, 2-week break to grandmas to help put in the garden right after a 1-week spring break to put in our own days. We know the burnout that comes with beautiful spring weather and the desire to quit early. We make a mental tally of who finished what, make a note for the next school year to start little Suzy with a refresher on nouns and verbs and Johnny never got ahold of multiplication. We make our plans and declare the year over.  

Can we make plans for the fall? Most school districts have only made decisions for the rest of the school year and some, not even that. Videos of schools overseas reopening show images of children being disinfected and wearing masks throughout their school day, is this what we want to choose for our children? Maybe you have decided to keep your child home and you must decide what curriculum will you use? How will you socialize? What about math or science or English who will teach your student these topics if you don’t feel able? Back to the plans for fall, what about field trips?  What will you do for extra-curricula activities? These and many more questions can be answered at A-TeC Academy.