At the beginning of 2020, no human being imagined what would unfold. The ripple effects of COVID-19 transformed into a tsunami crashing on the everyday lives of Americans and people worldwide -including in the area of their educational choices. For example, in March, the COVID-19 pandemic response closed brick and mortar schools. Many working parents suddenly started teaching their kids from home with the new yet limited virtual learning switchover.
Parents, teachers, educational leaders, and school team members across the country began to navigate the yet-uncharted waters of a whole new world of education. And many people missed the normalcy of daily interactions with their groups of friends. In short, emergency homeschooling was born en masse. For some, it was a scary time of new challenges (especially for working parents). For others, the experience was more positive than they had imagined and they continue their homeschooling journey.
Hope for Home Educating
While it has been a very challenging time for children to experience a normal school year, it has not been a time without hope! While many people experience the changes, many are also experiencing deeper or new relationships with God and with their neighbors, friends, and family members. Priorities became realigned. Further, people have started to embrace the educational challenges as new opportunities:
Today, many families have continued to homeschool due to COVID-19 related school closures or schedule changes. Some families have enjoyed homeschooling more than anticipated and now homeschool out of preference. And many families have deliberately decided to educate their children out of concern for their family's health amid the pandemic.
Encouragement for "Emergency" Home Educators
Emergency home educators now comprise a sizeable group. A national poll conducted by RealClear Opinion Research found 40 percent of families were more likely to homeschool because of their experiences during the pandemic. Mindy Kroesche is one of them. And we believe her story might encourage you:
Mindy Kroesche is a freelance writer and editor from Lincoln, Nebraska. Mindy is now a new homeschooling mom. She explained about choosing to homeschool her daughter, "We just saw that with her wearing a mask for the entire day, that would make learning more difficult for her," she said. "It was going to be such a different environment. We didn't think it would be as beneficial for her." Now, Mindy has discovered a wealth of resources to help her make the best of her situation as an emergency home educator.
Free Resources for "Emergency" Home Educators
While we are living through challenging times there is hope and guidance available to you. In this edition, we specifically want to encourage parents and kids who are new to learning at home. We have provided free resources to help encourage you along the way during this unprecedented time. Like many others, you may find that you like this educational option more than you expected.
But let us speak some encouragement to those home educating for the first time: We were educated through a classical private school distance education program where our faith was welcomed. In other words, we were home educated. If you are new to home education, be encouraged: With wonderful support and resources, you CAN do it! (Home education helped us reach our goals: Carrie is now Dr. Carrie Stoelting and Stacie is in the final phase of her doctoral program.) With God's help, you can do this and do it well.
God bless you always,
Carrie Stoelting and Stacie Stoelting
Sisters and founders of Unite the USA