How’s school going? 

That’s a fraught question even when there’s NOT a pandemic going on. Now, it seems almost crazy to ask, given that most of us are dealing w less-than-ideal educational situations. 

But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for miserable. If virtual school or online learning isn't working for you, homeschool may be a good option. (And it doesn't have to be as overwhelming or time-consuming as you may think!). If in-person instruction has been canceled and your son simply doesn't learn well via online instruction, you can find fun, easy ways to build natural learning into your days. (Yes, really.) And when the situation changes -- when your school district changes its education plan due to COVID-19 or your job responsibilities and personal tolerance change -- you can switch to a new form of learning. 

It's not easy, though. "What's really hard is when you try to gear yourself up for one option and then you have to switch to another," says Sarah Mendonca, founder of Learning Together Coaching & Consulting and a homeschool mom of three. "Every time, it requires so much emotional and mental energy." 

You -- and your boys -- might be best served, in fact, by turning your focus away from academics. Learning, after all, "really boils down to relationships and conversations," Mendonca says.

It's scary to consider other educational options. But as Sarah says, "none of us are getting out of 2020 without coping with change." So, take a deep breath and ask yourself (and your son) this question: How can we relieve stress and tension right now, and do things that will be good for our family? 

In this episode, Jen, Janet & Sarah discuss:

Finding the educational options that work best for your family

Dealing with disruptions to education

The emotional toll of educational uncertainty

Letting go of academic expectations

Stealth homeschooling

How COVID-19 may exacerbate the learning gap

Kids' emotional response to the pandemic

School refusal

Helping boys envision career options in the COVID-19 era

Synchronous vs asynchronous learning

Coping with online learning

Natural learning

Finding educational options for your son

Real-world volunteer and learning options

Building on boys' interests

Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:

Learning Together Coaching & Consulting -- Sarah's FB page

Back to School 2020 -- ON BOYS episode

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