https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:45:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918172 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 22:17:07 +0000 ModernDayJibarita 2918172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had little hope that COVID would be sorted out by now so we unenrolled our son from PreK in May and started homeschooling in June (so K could make the most of my maternity leave) </p> <p>We are doing Torchlight Pre-K, Kindergarten Math with Confidence and Pinwheel program flr phonics.</p> <p>I started slowly doing TL only for a month, then added Math in July and just started the phonics program. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918072 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 22:34:31 +0000 Alexandra603 2918072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm withdrawing my 1st grader and will homeschool her for the year. Our schools will be all virtual. I'm the school psychologist at my kid's school and I still don't feel any obligation to "stay in the system." I'm having a baby at the end of September so I'll be on leave for most of the year. I have zero desire for my kid to engage in virtual learning. We do minimal screen time and I have no desire to change that and I also don't think what will be offered will be particularly helpful. I'm confident my kiddo will better served by reading books with me, playing outside and following a curriculum of my choosing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918069 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 13:59:59 +0000 HappyBaker 2918069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: we’ve since decided to send DS back to daycare pre k instead of just homeschooling him, but this summer we picked and started our curriculum. We were/are using Blossom &amp; Root, Logic of English, and Kindergarten Math with Confidence. We want him to enter first grade next year so I’ll continue doing a couple of Logic of English lessons a week with him so he stays on track with reading, and next summer I’ll do math review / boot camp if he doesn’t get enough math in daycare this year. If daycares get shut down again I’ll pick back up Blossom and Root too, but I think the majority of that will get covered in daycare pre k anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918063 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 08:19:44 +0000 caitcat 2918063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: We’re using Singapore Math and All About Reading, and a combination of handwriting workbooks. I’m supplementing with math extras on my own and pulling extra stuff here and there from Teachers Pay Teachers...my daughter loves color by word/sound kind of worksheets or anything she can use letter stamps to do...and she’ll happily do that kind of stuff, not even thinking of it as “school.” </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918062 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 07:19:18 +0000 cat620 2918062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: I'm going to homeschool my 5 year-old who will be in kindergarten, and I've picked out Blossom and Root for him. It includes a nice overview of everything including science and art. We're supplementing math with RightStart, which I like because it included lots of games and hands-on activities versus having the focus be on worksheets. I'm also considering Logic of English for learning to read/write, because I want him to have a solid foundation for that. All of these curriculums are secular. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918060 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 06:45:08 +0000 pinkb 2918060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: I chose Easy Peasy. It came recommended from our good friend who homeschools her 4 kids. It is Christian based but in all the stuff I have gotten there is no religion just normal school work. I only got math and language arts books though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918058 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 21:24:05 +0000 catgirl 2918058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For those of you who have decided to homeschool, or even if you are thinking about it, have you picked a curriculum?. Just wondering what others are thinking about using, especially curious if it’s a curriculum that is not religion based. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918054 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 20:30:17 +0000 MoonMoon 2918054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Other people have given much more thorough and useful responses. The only thing I want to add is that like you, I strongly support the idea of public schools and we've made it a priority to stay in our city school district. Our district is doing a hybrid back to school plan, with 2 days in person, which I absolutely do not want to send my son to. I struggled with the idea of going fully remote, but have come to the conclusion that for whoever is able to do it, keeping kids home at this moment is actually an act of solidarity. During a pandemic, the fewer kids in the classroom, the better for teachers and other students and their families. Whatever you decide to do would probably only be for a year, tops, and then you could revisit. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918034 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 08:43:10 +0000 Becky 2918034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If our district goes virtual we will homeschool. We also may do it either way. The virtual instruction and things sent home in spring were seriously lacking. We both work FT and I just had a baby so it will be so hard but I feel if we just choose and stick to a curriculum it will be much easier than looking at what the school sends, decoding what isn’t worth doing, then searching for other things to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918033 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 08:32:57 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 2918033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our district just went virtual for the first quarter and no one seems to be able to tell me what to expect. It's beyond frustrating. I work from home, my husband works from home half the week and is out of state the other half. We/I can't babysit our kids (1st and 4th grade) and nag them to be on Zoom all day when we are trying to do our own jobs. I can see the appeal of setting up a homeschool curriculum that is less strenuous. I just don't want to go there until I have some answers, but no one is giving them ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918032 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 08:32:41 +0000 DesertDreams88 2918032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katsupgirl: ". I think they are going hard with the live instruction because that was seen as lacking last time and it’s a way to appease people saying teachers aren’t working if it’s remote."</p> <p>This is exactly it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918031 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 08:30:25 +0000 DesertDreams88 2918031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: what about asking his future or previous teacher?</p> <p>In my district (we're all so different, I know) we required nothing in the Spring. So going into the fall, we are really emphasizing that attendance and grades are required, BUT, in terms of attendance, almost anything counts (a submitted assignment, email, phone call, text, or live instruction), . All live instruction is recorded for vieiwng later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918027 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 23:56:05 +0000 ALV91711 2918027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So if school is online and that much time required on zoom per day what do households with two working parents do? </p> <p>And if you are able then how do you keep young kids engaged for so many hours? We had a tough time with the few assignments a week and one half hour meeting a week last spring with our grade oner. </p> <p>I think you have to do what will work best for your family. If it was myself in that situation I would do one year of home school. </p> <p>Our school district has broken the year into 4 10 week quarters. For each quarter you can choose in person or online. We have chosen in person for September as this is what will work best for us, how our guy will learn the best and we deal the risk is low where we are. We will assess how it goes and to determine what we choose for the second quarter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918026 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 23:00:08 +0000 Mama Bird 2918026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katsupgirl: I feel for you and all the teachers and principals here. You're in a tough spot. And all of this not knowing is so frustrating. We had an info call with our principal yesterday, and parents were asking what to expect, and most of her answers were along the lines of "we don't know, we're waiting for DOE to tell us"... </p> <p>Yeah, the homeschooling rules here are not so simple. I think I'll give it a try though, if I end up having no job. I'm staying up at night finishing my reports anyway. Might as well keep staying up at night doing homeschooling paperwork :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918025 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 21:48:37 +0000 katsupgirl 2918025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m in NYC ( I teach in a public school as well) and to officially homeschool your child here you need to file a letter of intent and submit a curriculum and there’s compliance reports. It’s too much for me right now. Also, a few parents I know are doing the hybrid cause you can switch to remote at any time. If it’s simple enough to do homeschooling in your district and you feel pretty sure you want to do it then I’d try to let the school know sooner rather than later.</p> <p> I feel bad for principals because they are in a tight spot. They have no idea what their staff breakdown is ( accommodations are still being vetted) and they have no idea how many students they will have because the deadline to decide is tomorrow. Our anticipated start date is September 10th. </p> <p>I know confrontation isn’t your thing (It’s not mine either) but I would still ask the what if questions to the principal. You definitely aren’t the only one who has them. I think they are going hard with the live instruction because that was seen as lacking last time and it’s a way to appease people saying teachers aren’t working if it’s remote. </p> <p>Trust your instincts and try not to overthink all the ramifications. We all have to do what works for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918012 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 15:34:24 +0000 Mama Bird 2918012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I get laid off, I will definitely homeschool. And if I try to go with the remote school plan, I WILL get laid off. It's basically a full-time job for each child. You've got to keep track of their time, make sure they're on for the live part of the class (which is supposed to be 15 minutes at a go - WTF?), force them to do things that elementary-aged children kind of... don't do well and definitely don't enjoy (so effectively, I'm being a jailer to my own children), make sure their assignments get done and turned in, and when the school says "jump" you just ask "how high?" In exchange you've got zero consideration that there are actual living people on the other end, that possibly have a job to hold down and may need to plan for that. They won't tell us what day school will start. They won't tell us how many days it will be live (only that it's two at most and that the schedule will jump from week to week). They won't tell us what we're supposed to do with the kids the other four days, or how it's making teachers safer that those kids are who-knows-where for four days and then go back into the classroom. </p> <p>And the latest kicker - I'm told that even if most people leave the system, they'll stick with this ridiculous schedule. So our school has about 800 kids. I've been asking around the parents I know, and I'm guessing we'll actually have a couple of hundred fewer. Some have left the city. Some are going remote. Some are going to private school. Lots of people are running for the exits. So let's say instead of 30 kids per class, they actually have 20 - you'd think they could get those 20 into live classes 2-3 days a week, but nope. It's not going to be considered because them's the rules.</p> <p>Frankly, this situation began in March. It didn't start yesterday. They could have planned for something. Especially now that the virus seems to be nearly gone from NYC, and they're essentially not reopening because of nervousness, not because it's actually justified. They could have predicted in April or May that they'll be too scared to reopen no matter what the numbers say. </p> <p>In other words, I don't think I owe anything to the system. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918010 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 12:23:01 +0000 bhbee 2918010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: I’m totally ok with things like logging into zoom to be marked present but not worrying if he pays attention the whole time or not. That’s what would happen in person if it was not engaging! I mean this just isn’t going to work for so many younger kids unless it’s really different than it sounds. I am hoping they are going to be responsive to that. Here at least I think the problem is how the state has structured requirements for funding. It’s totally unclear to me how much the teachers will “enforce” that but I’m sure they need to say they will. </p> <p>I don’t even think you have to be combative upfront (it’s not my nature either) but just see what happens when you do what you can and decide if it’s workable. </p> <p>But I will have zero hesitation to pull out if it’s torture for the kids (or I might even leave my 3rd grader and just homeschool K ... who knows). If your gut tells you what is right for this year for your family, now or at any point, go with it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918008 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 12:12:32 +0000 caitcat 2918008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I withdrew my kindergartener and am homeschooling for this year. We decided pretty early on (June maybe?) that it was going to the right fit for her and for our family for a whole variety of reasons...so I've had some time to sit with the decision and we've gotten into a good routine with it. My daughter is thriving with what we've been doing for school and it's working (well enough) for me and my husband with our work schedules. </p> <p>When I told a few friends about our decision to homeschool this year, I've gotten a huge range of responses, from: "don't you care about funding public education?!"...to: "do you even know what you're doing?!"...to understanding that we're all trying to get through this year as best we can. No school choices for next year felt ideal, but this felt "most doable" for our family...so we're running with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918005 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 09:43:52 +0000 cat620 2918005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: That's a good question. I could ask the principal, but I'm somewhat conflict adverse and don't want to cause drama by saying we won't attend the live teaching. During the virtual townhall, she said multiple times that everything is required and they will be grading students and expecting them to complete all the work. I feel like it would be easier for me to withdraw him than to try to negotiate our way out of doing everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918004 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 09:06:59 +0000 DesertDreams88 2918004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and my best friend both quit their PTO officer jobs this summer. 🤷‍♀️ most PTO's won't be able to host events, which is their main function at this particular school, and this upcoming year will be particularly stressful so we had to pare down our commitments. We are all public school teachers or spouses od them or both. </p> <p>If you stay enrolled but don't attend all of the live sessions, what *really* would be the repercussions? Honest answer. Here we don't hold kids back academically or prosecute truancy in normal times, much less covid times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918001 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 07:31:24 +0000 wrkbrk 2918001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: I like this. I need it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2918000 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 07:31:13 +0000 wrkbrk 2918000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: Virtual learning in the spring for preschool and kindergarten was a shit show. We pulled my son out of his private school that is not handling this well (at all). We are lucky that it’s not really “homeschool” because he’s only 4.5 but yes it will he homeschool esque. You’re very responsible to care about the PTA but I can’t imagine anyone would blame you for doing what you feel is the right thing for your family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2917997 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 21:37:30 +0000 lady baltimore 2917997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: I teach upper elementary special ed, and we have been conferring about our schedule over the past few weeks. As it stands right now, we have a similarly rigorous schedule set for the start of the year, and I am seriously skeptical about whether my students can handle it (and whether that amount of screen time is in their best interests). </p> <p>That said, it is also worth bearing in mind that schools are feeling pressure to set and meet certain "targets" in order to maintain their funding as we transition to planned distance learning (versus crisis learning in the spring). I fully expect that there will be some adjustments and flexibility as the stated goals become reality.</p> <p>Personally, I would maintain enrollment for now and see how it goes. Even if you end up opting out of some or most of the live sessions, staying connected to the assignments will give you a good idea of what the grade-level expectations are so that you can gauge your LO's progress. I have a really hard time believing that anyone is going to be retained in elementary school this year for failure to participate in Zoom sessions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2917995 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 20:20:19 +0000 ElbieKay 2917995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Find out the deadline to stay enrolled and still allow the school to get state funding. If it's only a few weeks, then you can just wait to withdraw.</p> <p>But I would prioritize your family's needs at this point. I am personally burned out from COVID and need to be able to provide for my kids first and foremost. I'm tired of feeling responsible for everything, so I've decided to stop doing that. I cannot fix our broken public institutions or a global pandemic. I'm not going to try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2917994 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 19:09:23 +0000 pinkb 2917994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pulled mine from public school and we are doing homeschool with a bit of the state virtual that is offered. They (k and 2nd grade) will both do math and language arts online. I chose only 8 weeks to see how it will go and then add more if we like it. It’s “flex” virtual so it’s a work at your own pace type thing kind of. They are encouraged to be online for 2 lessons a week but it’s not very strict on that. I will supplement if needed for those classes and then we will do science, art, social studies and stuff on our own. We did not do well with the strict daily online classes in the spring. It was a fight everyday and with a toddler I can’t do it by myself for the 2 older kids. I think it will be ok as long as I stick to a schedule and have a lesson plan of sorts. Excited and nervous. I feel bad that they won’t have the social aspect for now but this isn’t forever. My oldest needs extra help at school ( she has an IEP) and really needs that to keep on track and on grade level. So that is an added stress and something we will have to keep an eye on.<br /> I made our choice on what is best for our family. I can’t control or worry about the school system and their funding and such right now. DH is high risk if he gets sick and so is another family member we currently live with. We have the opportunity to homeschool currently so I am very happy with this choice. I hope it will lighten the load ( just a teeny bit) in classrooms for families that don’t have the choice and have to send their kids to the school.<br /> ETA our district gave 3 options. Normal Brick and mortar school. Online all day in the classroom with your class. Or online work by yourself with some Scheduled zoom meeting And all work given by your teacher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2917993 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 19:06:02 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2917993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in the same situation. My options as I see them are to do the bare minimums and not stress about the rest, hoping it'll only be another semester and that fostering their interests and just focusing on core math/science/language will be enough or to give it up and homeschool. But if they do eventually do hybrid learning, we aren't guaranteed a spot if we weren't registered in the first place. I don't even worry about the school district. Our district has not handled this well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2917992 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:50:10 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2917992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After doing Canadian SK virtually in the spring, I really don’t think the youngest classes can do virtual learning. Like pretty much at all. However, I keep reminding myself that this could be our reality for the next 2 years and my kid is not going to be alone in having trouble with it. I like the idea of attending the proposed schedule and shouting from the rooftops what isn’t working since they respect your opinion on things. Sure it’s not ideal learning, but I truly think no one will have that regardless of the situation. So provide the feedback to work on it for the greater good of your school and ultimately your child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2917990 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:02:44 +0000 Corduroy 2917990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: Our school schedule sounds very similar except the kids will be on live with their teachers three hours 8-11 and then 12:30-3 they will have a window of live time with their specials teachers (science, PE, etc). I am dreading the live time but my community is demanding it. Our first two weeks will be 20 minutes of live time and then individual assessments the rest of the day. </p> <p>I don't blame anyone that switches to homeschool because this schedule sounds horrible. Parents are going to have to be wardens dragging their kids back to the screen. One thing that gives me some peace is that the School Board President forgot to censor herself on one call and when a parent asked how Kindergarten will work she just laughed and said "It's not going to work." I like the lady and she usually handles herself quite well so in that moment I appreciated the candid honesty. It's helped me reframe my expectations.</p> <p>I registered my two in the regular afterschool care turned full time care since DH and I WFT and I'm in the office about half the week. The students will be doing the school curriculum on their Chromebooks. When I registered the kids I was envisioning the kids would be in a group of their classmates and be more apt to sit and do their work when there's a group of them. Information has been slow but it seems like the pod of students will be made up of multiple classes from likely multiple schools so my Kindergartener will have to be very independent. Or it all blows up and we homeschool on the weekend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2917989 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:52:39 +0000 ilovepie 2917989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I may be in the minority here, but I think your priority should be to your kid first and the PTA second. If you have the incredible ability to chose and implement the best fit for your child, do so without guilt. What a gift for your kid! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-to-homeschool#post-2917988 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:36:26 +0000 catgirl 2917988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't know what we'll be doing yet for DD, who is starting kindergarten, but homeschooling is definitely one option we are considering. Our district hasn't released any plans yet. I think they will be starting with some sort of hybrid schedule, but I know we can choose 100% virtual. I am worried the virtual option will be like yours and we wouldn't be okay with that for kindergarten, so in that case we would likely homeschool. I have all of the paperwork/forms ready to go if we make that choice.</p> <p>I'm hoping we will be okay with the virtual option though. I am a big believer in public schools and I want to support our district/town/state. None of these choices are perfect but at the end of the day we'll choose the option we feel is best for our kid. </p>