As I mentioned earlier, we chose to pull and homeschool at the end of last school year. To be fair, this is a choice we’d been considering even before the virus, so it works with our family. We have been enrolled in a charter (which is available through our district but obviously homeschool options and structure vary greatly by state) and procured all of our supplies back in May/June, chose curriculum, and just kinda jumped in.
For everyone who is posting that you will want to wait and see what happens and that homeschooling is a possibility, please be aware that there are TONS of families who are finding out what their district plans, having a moment of panic, and pulling their kids! I’m not saying this because I think you should, too. But, homeschool supports are filling up and, more importantly, companies that provide homeschool materials are now back ordering and pushing out delivery dates.
I’ve had a few friends concerned that Homeschool is “starting” (in quotes cause homeschool starts when you want it to start) and they don’t have materials or can’t get what they want in time. People call me (and they should not cause I’m a total newbie) to ask questions and then the places I send them for more information are no longer available because they are full!
So, please, if you think this is something you may do, research what Is available in your state, what curriculums you think may work best, and what you would want it to look like now. I’m all about being prepared and home school (not some weird computer based zoom school provided by your regular school) takes some time and energy to get prepared for...even more than it normally would due to the overwhelming demand.
I just want to put that out there so no one puts their kids in school or virtual school, decides it’s not for the best, and wants to homeschool only to have difficulty finding materials or navigating the system!
Also, as an actual to goodness professional who has spent years studying and working and specializes in child development/dysfunction/trauma, there is *nothing* that regular school provides in terms of socialization that will cause most children who are not sent to regular school to fall behind developmentally. The exceptions being kids who have actual issues and are provided professional supports for social and emotional reasons by the school and kids who are pulled from school to be placed in isolated and neglectful circumstances. In fact, there is some evidence that kids who are homeschooled and/or placed in settings that are more varied (classes with varying ages) fare better, long term.