The Reluctant Home Schooler's Guide To Remote Work

Back in 2017, this was quite the laugh as we watched Professor Robert Kelly attempt to give a BBC interview with his precocious children intent on getting in the action. Today, we are all looking at our own versions of this as a possibility.

As schools across the country close on-campus classes and we all figure out how to educate our kids, put in a full 9-5 and not go mad looking at our own four walls, I thought I'd write a little advice I learned as a remote worker for 8 years (2 of which were around my pre-school aged daughter). This goes beyond the typical get up and get dressed advice to some strategies you can employ when you're all stuck at home but work must be done.

Schedule

Do your best to establish and keep to a schedule. This is all a little nuts. We grownups are having a difficult time with it. Kids are looking to us to keep it together and also create some normalcy. So whether your school sends home specific assignments, create a schedule that you can stick to and that will allow the kids (and you) some focused work time. Make sure the schedule includes some time to get outside or be active. It's likely we are all going to be far more sedentary during restricted movement than we are when we have access to gyms, classes, etc.

Technology

If you have access to internet and computers or iPads there are a plethora of learning apps that are being offered right now for free. Our district is a 1:1 iPad district meaning each child in the district has an individual iPad assigned to them. They brought these home on Friday when the were released for Spring break. We will be making ample use of the learning apps they use at school as well as some others that the kids enjoy. Public libraries have a number of audiobooks that you can borrow and download for free. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ all have educational content (think documentaries as well as any content that is made with kids in mind) as well as entertaining content.

Non-technology time

I will start this section by saying that I will not judge an iota what working parents do to keep things sane during this totally insane time. If possible, some quiet, non-tech time is good for the kids to read, write, draw, explore, but do what you gotta do. We're going to get to the other side of this so if that means more tech time than you'd normally allow, I get it.

Designated work space

If possible, assign a designated work space or office for each individual working or learning from home. Having your own space and respecting others boundaries can help in creating some much needed distance when there's a lot of togetherness.

Meetings

If you can avoid a lot of back to back meetings, do. The kids are going to need things. Like snacks and drinks and hugs and just to tell you stuff because their world is being turned upside down and they don't get it. A little attention goes a long way. If multiple adults are working from home and they can stagger their meetings so that an adult is available when needed even better.

Be understanding

Whether it's a dog barking or someone's four year old interrupting a video call, we're all going to have some strange disruptions to deal with. Be understanding and know that we're all doing our best to keep things moving during this truly extraordinary time.

Do you have a practical tip that I missed?