As an outcome of the forced closure of schools in many parts of the world due to Covid-19 global pandemic, many parents have found themselves in the position of accidental homeschoolers with different levels of ability and resources to deliver quality education to their children. While there has been a deluge of free online resources that families can use for homeschooling, there is a danger of many families doing too much for too little without much guidance and structure. As such, when I was asked about how parents should homeschool their children during the period of forced closure of schools due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, I made the suggestion below in my twitter response to the question. My response in the twitter comment is informed by my experience of the formal schooling system and the need to replicate the structure, symmetry and simplicity of the average classroom experience that most children experience in formal classroom settings.
Stay safe, then:
1. Start at 8/9am
2. Have set timetable
3. Use textbooks and workbooks
4. Finish structured learning by 1pm (if you can)
5. Let them read a book for at least 30 mins, if possible
6. Allow them to play in the compound/garden
7. Let them enjoy TV/video games etc. https://t.co/dRoLM8kiUo— Abdulghaniy Otukogbe (@otukogbe) March 24, 2020
While it is possible to provide different structure to that of most formal classroom settings at home, I am of the opinion that trying to replicate the classroom experience would help a busy parent to provide quality education at home with not much expertise and experience needed. Hence, my emphasis on the use of high quality textbooks that are aligned to children’s school curricula. This is so because it’s easier to make use of textbooks, revision guides and workbooks because of their structured nature and link to the curriculum and exams that the children will eventually do when they return back to school. Also, it is important – if you have not already taken the step – to get in touch with your children’s schools requesting for list of recommended textbooks, revision guides and workbooks that you can use to support your children’s education at home. Having access to extra learning resources at home to work with during and after the Covid-19 lockdown period will be very useful and handful for children and families. Such resources will only augment the rich learning resources and tasks that schools have been sharing with their students via posts, social media platforms or remote learning platforms.
A simple structure I would suggest for homeschooling is:
- The children wake up in the morning as if they are going to school
- prepare for the day by having their bath and breakfast
- start lesson by 9am (individual tasks using textbook/revision guide with workbook)
- do the tasks on subject basis
- focus on main subjects like Science, Technology, Religious Studies, English Language, Arts and Maths (STREAM).
- Allow breaks in between learning
- The whole school day should be between 9am and 3pm at most
- Allow the children to play outdoor, watch TV and play video games
- Allow them their own me time to decide and design what they want to do
This structure, hopefully, will give the children consistency and keep them focused and motivated but make your approach flexible, so that you can adapt it to the peculiarity of your homeschooling situation.
I want to say that these are suggestions and they are not set in stone. I wish you best of luck with whatever decision you make with regards to your students’ or children’s education in this very trying period in the history of humanity. At Edusounds, we hope you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy, and please adhere to the advice given by the medical experts and institutions in your place of abode. We pray for Allah’s mercies and forgiveness in this very trying time.
