Thread by @Chas10Buttigieg

👨‍🏫 If you’re a parent struggling to homeschool teenagers, here are some classroom tips and ideas.

Disclaimer: I taught middle school, so some of these ideas may need modifications.

🧠 Remember: you just need to get your kids thinking and then *engage* with them in that thinking. Discussion goes a long way. But this isn’t a time to give up.

👩‍🏫 If you’re a teacher, don’t be shy and feel free to offer your modifications or suggestions in a comment below!

📖 First up, plan for structured reading and discussion time.

📚 Have your student research their next book to read. Then, have them write you a request for purchase or rental detailing why they’re interested in the book, a summary of the information they’ve discovered about it, and what they hope to learn and enjoy from it.

🗓 Plan a reading schedule together.

⏰ How often will you check in on progress and discuss the book. You must commit to sticking to the plan! You give in, so will they.

📓 Have your student keep a journal detailing character developments, plot summaries, and dates w/pg read.

👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 Reading the same book together can facilitate tremendous discussion and allow you to work with your student on vocabulary and comprehension. Have them flag unknown words and add to their list on vocabulary.com! Review together.

👨‍💻Request a detailed reflection after the middle of the book. What’s surprised them the most? What do they hope happens in the end? Which character do they identify with? Is this how they thought the book would go?

🗣At the end of the book, request a detailed summary including a written“review” for the local bookstore. Would they suggest it for other kids? The work should inspire dialogue and thinking, not just busy work!

🖼 “Book reports” can be essay format but they can also be digital or even oral/ dramatic presentations! I’ve had students present learning through a series of art or music pieces - but make it a “formal” finished product for presentation. Not just “tell me about your book.”

Make the report specific though- the more you genuinely ask to see, the more they’ll have to work on sharing. Your inquiries should be genuine. Go beyond beginning, middle and end. What do you want to know? Invest time in asking and learning from them.

✅ Remember, you want your student to present their thinking and show you they’ve learned something. This doesn’t mean the project has to be in the form of an essay. Oral presentations could include Legos or paintings or music! Are they engaged? Good.

❓Who were the main characters? What did they learn? What was the main problem? How did they solve it? What do you wish you saw more of in the book ? What would you have changed? If you could ask a character five questions, what would they be? Did the book teach you anything?

What didn’t you like? Did the author make choices you disagree with? Make a list of questions for the author - you could even mail them.

👍 Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions. I’ll be sharing some classroom tips and taking questions tomorrow on Instagram at 3ET.

You’re not alone in this!

I’ll also try to post some daily/weekly tips and plans here for you. Let me know what you need!

Limit all day Q’s by conducting a quick, formal morning meeting to review:

✅ daily goals, agenda
✍️ work progress
🥗 lunch and snack plan
👍 acknowledge hard work
🧦 chores
💃 stretch or dance

Do this apart from the breakfast table when it’s time for work, not waking up!

Make sure these are written down and visible. A great use for a white board! Write down goals, work expectations, break and snack allowances or guidelines, chore expectations, and a daily agenda. Anticipate their questions and establish ground rules at the beginning of the day.

💆‍♀️Anticipate questions like:

What am I supposed to do again?
How far am I supposed to read?
What was I supposed to write?
What’s due?
When’s lunch?
When will you be done?
When will you take a break with me?
What can I do on my break?
When’s dinner?
Can I have a snack?