How can the subject areas and tasks required during home schooling be simplified and integrated?

How can the subject areas and tasks required during home schooling be simplified and integrated?

Work all the activities under one theme. It’s best if you are learning about a topic your child is interested in. Remember the brainstorming and writing down of topics by your child was suggested in the blog of May 18? Pull from one of these topics and integrate and required reading, writing and math calculating under this theme. For example if your child loves robots and wants to learn more about robots, then choose picture books that you have on hand or use the library https://openlibrary.org/. If the teacher has assigned a sheet of computation then these calculations as an assignment included in the tasks assigned in the morning mission letter left by the character.

You ask how do I present this theme as a mission letter? Compare it to the notes that you write to your child nightly. Add your own graphics, borders and or change the font. Put the mission letter in a special envelope. It will be like receiving mail. Add other fun reflections, riddles or jokes. I’ve only given you a very simple example from which you can add all your creativity. Every day et the character up in a new fun location with the note (remember think of all the fun you have with Elf on the Shelf). The kids will be excited to find your character and the mystery and magic surrounding its existence. Your character could be the Elf on the Shelf to the rescue as the Elf has been watching mom and dad and think they need help with the home-schooling… rather fun for the kids to think mom and dad aren’t perfect and need help.

Use the Q-chart throughout the day to help you guide your questions. Reserve the need to tell your child what the answers are lead them in a process of inquiry to discover the answers.

Chunk your learning sessions. Be flexible. If you have the time and your child is receptive then stretch the research, discussions and activity longer. If it isn’t working, shut it down. Remember your child is guiding the learning. If you tumble into another area of discovery, go with it. Remember above all the learning is to be pleasant and not a route march. I’ve attached portions of the Ontario governments document on inquiry learning. HAVE FUN AND DON’T STRESS. It’s about the journey NOT the ends of accomplishing and ticking the boxes.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/cbs_inquirybased.pdf