Get Ready for Grade 9

Are you worried about the transition from grade 8 to grade 9? Do you want to spend the summer helping your teen get ready for grade 9 but still want them to have fun? There’s a lot of stress facing parents when it comes to their teen entering high school and even more so with the pandemic learning loss that they’ve likely experienced. So how can you help your teen get ready for grade 9 while avoiding summer learning loss and trying to catch up on pandemic learning loss?

Help your teen get ready for grade 9.

The unfortunate truth is that many children and teens struggle to catch up after enduring two years of pandemic learning. Researchers and educators share their concerns for kids who have slipped through the crack due to pandemic learning. A more significant problem is the added impact of summer learning loss. Knowing that over the summer, many teens will lose 2.6 months of math skills, two months of reading skills and one month of overall learning.

Click here to learn more about Summer Learning Loss.

Knowing these statistics, it can be hard not to stress your teen’s education. Regardless, you must avoid worrying about your teens learning during the summer months. Of course, you want your teen to learn, stay on track and have all the opportunities in life that they deserve. But constantly worrying about that won’t help you or your teen.

So what can you do to help your teen catch up on all the learning they have likely lost? While also aiming to stay on track and not lose even more learning skills during the summer?

Get ready for grade 9 by simplifying the process.

Try to avoid overthinking your teen’s summer learning because we all know that overthinking adds more stress than necessary. You don’t need elaborate plans to prepare your teen for grade nine. This will only lead to you and your teen feeling stressed and exhausted while dealing with that dreaded feeling of not getting enough done.

When preparing your teen for grade nine, what is the best and easiest way to simplify summer learning? Use the Summer Schoolio: Get Ready for Grade 9 book! Summer Schoolio: Get Ready for Grade 9 was created to help your teen stay on track with their essential learning. What’s better is that this program will save you time and money as you won’t be searching and spending money on a homeschooling curriculum to try to fit your summer learning needs.

What’s inside the Summer Schooling: Ready for Grade 9 workbook?

We want you and your teen to have an enjoyable summer without the stress of trying to complete extra tasks. The Summer Schoolio books have been designed in a simple format, without the mountain of overwhelming tasks. This helps your teen stay on track with their learning.

The Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 9 book combines the best homeschooling curriculum concepts to give you and your teen a unique solution to help your teen get ready for grade 9. We’ve combined the homeschooling writing curriculum, homeschooling language arts curriculum and homeschooling math curriculum to bring you and your teen a workbook to help practice essential skills to stay on track.

Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 9 overview:

The Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 9 workbook is filled with learning materials that aren’t just educational; they’re fun too! This combination is an excellent resource to help your teen get ready for grade 9. Created for six weeks of learning, your teen will have the opportunity to learn and refresh different learning concepts each week.

Week one includes:

The Summer Schoolio week includes three days of simple learning that won’t be overwhelming or take too long to complete.

Day one, Weekly Writing – Paraphrase/Summarize – and Math – Number Sense.
Then day two has Weekly Writing and Math – Number Sense.
On day three, your teen will work on Weekly Writing – Scrapbooking – and Math – Number Sense.

Week two includes:

The second week of Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 9 is similar to week one, just switching up learning concepts.

During week two, your teen will have Weekly Writing – Persuasive Writing – and Math – Number Sense on day one.
On Day Two, they will have Weekly Writing and Number Sense.
Then on day three, they will have Weekly Writing – Scrapbook and Math – Number Sense.

Week three includes:

During the third week of the Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 9 book, your teen will be working on:

Weekly Writing-Expository/Argumentative – and Math – Algebra on day one.
Then on day two, your child will work on Weekly Writing and Math – Algebra.
Followed by day three, which is Weekly Writing – Scrapbook and Math – Algebra

Week four includes:

When your teen is working on week four, day one, they will do Weekly Writing – Literary Devices/Poetry – and Math – Geometry/Spatial Sense.
Then on day two, they will be working on Weekly Writing and Math – Geometry/Spatial Sense.
Finally, on day three, they will get to work on their scrapbook for Weekly Writing and the final day of Math – Geometry/Spatial Sense.

Week five includes:

Day one of week five is Weekly Writing – Formal Letter/Speech – and Math – Data Management.
Then on day two, they will work on Weekly Writing and Math – Data Management.
Followed by day three, which is Scrapbooking for Weekly Writing and Data Management for Math

Week six includes:

The first day of week six focuses on Weekly Writing – Essay Development/Descriptive – and Math – Financial Literacy.
The second day is all about Weekly Writing and Financial Literacy for Math.
Then on the third day, your teen can work on their scrapbook again for Weekly Writing and enjoy their final Financial Literacy assignment.

A daily repetitive learning cycle with refreshing concepts helps your teen stay interested with a structured plan for summer learning. This technique will help your teen master essential math, writing and reading concepts for grade nine.

Get ready for grade 9 The Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 9 workbook includes a sample schedule/calendar that looks like this

Monday: Read a Book or Chapter.

Tuesday: Weekly Writing Day 1, Math Day 1, Read a Book or Chapter.

Wednesday: Weekly Writing Day 2, Math Day 2, Read a Book or Chapter.

Thursday: Weekly Writing Day 3, Math Day 3, Read a Book or Chapter.

Friday: Read a Book or Chapter.

Helping your teen stay on track and up-to-date with their learning while avoiding summer learning loss and preparing for the next grade doesn’t need to be an overwhelming and stressful task. It also doesn’t need to take much daily time to succeed. The Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 9 book helps your child keep up with their learning needs, refresh, and not become overwhelmed by too much information crammed into one day.

Get ready for grade 9!

Click for Summer Schoolio

Prepare Your Child for Grade Five

Have you been trying to figure out the best way to prepare your child for grade five without overwhelming them? And still, allowing them to have fun all summer long? Cramming curriculum into each day during the summer might prevent summer learning loss, but it also might overwhelm your child. So, what’s the solution? Should you fill up their days with learning and homeschool curriculum, or should you let them have fun all summer and ignore books and learning?

Prepare your child for grade five while avoiding summer learning loss.

The first step is to let go of all that stress and worry. As parents, we can get distracted by all these worries about trying to ensure our children are doing their best and getting all the opportunities in life that they deserve. There’s this constant worry that we aren’t doing enough, causing our children to struggle. This is especially true when we think of the impacts of pandemic learning on our children’s education.

Which makes our goal to avoid summer learning loss so much more important. Bouncing between our attempts at fixing pandemic learning loss and trying to prevent summer learning loss can be an exhausting endeavour. Especially when we see statistics about summer learning loss, like that 2.6 months of math skills, two months of reading skills and one month of overall learning are lost for most children each summer.

Click here to learn more about Summer Learning Loss.

So what can you do to help your child catch up on all the learning they have lost? While also aiming to stay on track and not lose even more learning skills during the summer?

General learning skills like math, reading and writing are essential for your child to practice to develop correctly continually; this is especially true during the summer.

Simplify learning; that’s the best way to prepare your child for grade five.

You must avoid overthinking your child’s summer learning, as we know that overthinking adds more stress than good. The assumption that you must have some elaborate plan to be able to prepare your child for grade five is false. It will only lead to you and your child feeling exhausted and never feeling like you’ve done enough.

The easiest way to simplify summer learning when preparing your child for grade five is to use the Summer Schoolio: Get Ready for Grade 5 book! Summer Schoolio: Get Ready for Grade 5 book was created to help your child stay on track with essential learning. Which will also save you time and money searching for a homeschooling curriculum that fits your summer learning needs.

Take a look inside the Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 5 workbook!

We want you to have an enjoyable summer without the stress of trying to complete extra tasks. The Summer Schoolio books have been designed in a simple format, without the mountain of overwhelming tasks. This helps your child stay on track with their learning.

The Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 5 book combines the best homeschooling curriculum concepts to bring you and your child a unique solution to help you prepare your child for grade five. We’ve combined the homeschooling writing curriculum, homeschooling language arts curriculum and homeschooling math curriculum to bring you and your child a workbook to help practice essential skills to stay on track.

Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 5 overview:

The Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 5 workbook is filled with learning materials that aren’t just educational; they’re fun too! This combination is an excellent resource to help prepare your child for grade five. Created for six weeks of learning, your child will have the opportunity to learn and refresh different learning concepts each week.

Week one includes:

The Summer Schoolio week includes three days of simple learning that won’t be overwhelming or take too long to complete.

Day one, Weekly Writing – Friendly Letters – and Math – Number Sense.
Then day two has Weekly Writing and Math – Number Sense.
On day three, your child will work on Weekly Writing – Scrapbooking – and Math – Number Sense.

Week two includes:

The second week of Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 5 is similar to week one, just switching up learning concepts.

On day one of week two, your child will have Weekly Writing – Writing Fiction – and Math – Number Sense.
On Day Two, they will have Weekly Writing and Number Sense.
Then on day three, they will have Weekly Writing – Scrapbook and Math – Number Sense.

Week three includes:

During the third week of the Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 5 book, your child will be working on:

Weekly Writing – Reviewing a Book – and Math – Algebra on day one.
Then on day two, your child will work on Weekly Writing and Math – Algebra.
Followed by day three, which is Weekly Writing – Scrapbook and Math – Algebra.

Week four includes:

When your child is working on week four, day one, they will do Weekly Writing – Writing Non-Fiction – and Math – Geometry/Spatial Sense.
Then on day two, they will be working on Weekly Writing and Math – Geometry/Spatial Sense.
Finally, on day three, they will get to work on their scrapbook for Weekly Writing and the final day of Math – Geometry/Spatial Sense.

Week five includes:

Day one of week five is Weekly Writing – Poetry – and Math – Data Management.
Then on day two, they will work on Weekly Writing and Math – Data Management.
Followed by day three, which is Scrapbooking for Weekly Writing and Data Management for Math.

Week six includes:

The first day of week six focuses on Weekly Writing – Summarizing – and Math – Financial Literacy.
The second day is all about Weekly Writing and Financial Literacy for Math.
Then, your child can work on their scrapbook again for Weekly Writing day three, and enjoy their final Financial Literacy assignment.

A daily repetitive learning cycle with refreshing learning concepts helps your child stay interested with a structured plan for summer learning. This technique will help your child master essential math, writing and reading concepts for grade five.

The Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 5 workbook includes a sample schedule/calendar that looks like this:

Monday: Read a Book or Chapter.

Tuesday: Weekly Writing Day 1, Math Day 1, Read a Book or Chapter.

Wednesday: Weekly Writing Day 2, Math Day 2, Read a Book or Chapter.

Thursday: Weekly Writing Day 3, Math Day 3, Read a Book or Chapter.

Friday: Read a Book or Chapter.

Trying to help your child stay on track and up-to-date with their learning while avoiding summer learning loss and preparing for the next grade doesn’t need to be an overwhelming and stressful task. It also doesn’t need to take a massive chunk of time every day to succeed. The Summer Schoolio: Ready for Grade 5 book helps your child keep up with their learning needs, refresh, and not become overwhelmed by too much information crammed into one day.

Prepare your child for grade five.

Get your copy of Summer schoolio

Avoid Summer Learning Loss

Summer break is easily one of the highlights for children everywhere! The excitement of making fun a priority for a couple of months is such an intriguing thought. How can we help our children embrace all the fun they can get this summer while also aiming to avoid summer learning loss?

Summer Learning Loss is a significant issue.

What is summer learning loss? Summer learning loss is the loss of knowledge and academic skills throughout summer vacation. This issue causes a significant problem for children, especially in the younger grades when reading and math practice are essential for maintaining skills.

The reality is that when the school year ends, many children will have very few opportunities to engage in reading and mathematical ways of thinking. This is why it’s so important to look at learning methods to avoid summer learning loss.

Children have already lost so much essential learning time from pandemic learning loss.

Harvard Professor Tom Kane says, “There’s no time to waste.” His latest research has demonstrated that many, if not most, school districts are seeing pandemic learning losses much more severe than they initially imagined.

Even when education experiences were average, and the pandemic hadn’t turned life and learning completely upside-down, children still faced significant learning losses during the summer.

Every summer, children lose 2.6 months of math skills, two months of reading skills, and the equivalent of one month of overall learning. When they get back to learning in the fall, it is estimated that they will spend up to six weeks trying to re-learn old material to make up for these losses.

Those statistics are pretty severe and, unfortunately, don’t even consider that children are already struggling and way behind where they should be due to pandemic learning.

How can you help your child avoid summer learning loss and perhaps even begin to catch up from pandemic learning loss?

1. Make learning time a priority.

Setting a learning time doesn’t mean your child needs to be doing school every day! Alternatively, you can make a schedule each day to include 30 minutes per day of ‘learning time.’ During that 30 minutes, they can work on their summer learning materials like the Summer Schoolio books. Dedicating just 30 minutes daily to focus on completing the daily activities can help boost your child’s learning while significantly helping your child avoid summer learning loss.

2. Schedule Outdoor Learning Experiences.

Your child likely loves to explore the outdoors during the summer months, especially after months of winter weather and being stuck inside. And conveniently, plenty of outdoor experiences are waiting to help your child learn while having fun. Outdoor adventures help your child apply what they’ve learned in the classroom while improving cognitive functioning and physical health.

Some fun outdoor activities include:

Visit a Honeybee Farm (bonus points if you do this after studying the All About Honeybees Special interest Unit)
Add local cultural festivals and fairs to your calendar!
Get in the garden as gardening is connected with many developmental, physical and psychological benefits for children of all ages.
Schedule a ‘once-a-week outdoor clean-up’ to help the environment while helping your child learn the importance of caring for our amazing planet.

3. Focus on Specific Areas of Learning.

You’re likely able to pinpoint the subject(s) your child is experiencing the most difficulty with. Prioritize learning around this subject throughout the summer.

4. Encourage Your Child to Read Anywhere.

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, it can be tough to stay inside when the weather is fantastic. Instead of telling your child that they can’t go outside until they’ve finished reading – encourage them to take the book out and read on the porch or in the backyard.

When you take story time to the outdoors, you are providing their young minds with the opportunity to indulge in the sights and sounds of the outdoors. The outdoors provides an excellent multi-sensory experience that can help your child better connect to their surroundings while developing phonemic awareness.

5. Include Reading Materials About Outdoor Activities.

Is your child interested in gardening? Swimming? Birds? Then head to the library and pick up some fun books about those subjects, allowing them to read and learn about something that greatly interests them while helping them develop their reading skills.

6. Utilize a Local Community Garden.

Community gardens offer many learning opportunities for children (and adults) of all ages. When you and your child become involved with a local community garden, they will have the chance to learn about important things like cultivation, seed preservation, essential bugs, landscaping and horticulture. All of which are so important for our children to learn!

7. Limit Screen Time and Encourage Imaginative Play.

It can be tempting to allow your child to stay on their device for hours as you can get a much-needed break. But we all know this can be very bad for their mental health and detrimental to their developing brains. Encourage them to use their imaginations to play and create. If your child is used to always being on a screen, this will likely be a bumpy start. Stay strong and be consistent.

8. Pick up a Summer Schoolio Book.

Help your child avoid summer learning loss and prepare for the coming school year using this unique Schoolio program. Summer Schoolio Books are specifically designed to be suitable for any student learner that has completed their grade level.

The Summer Schoolio Program focuses on reviewing and solidifying important mathematical and language concepts studied in the previous year of learning. Throughout the program, your child will review materials in Number Sense and Numeration, Algebra and Patterning, Data Management and probability, Geometry and Spatial Reasoning, and Financial Literacy while also engaging in weekly writing activities.

Check Out the Summer Schoolio Program

Never overstress your child.

We understand the desire to help your child completely catch up on everything while also aiming to avoid summer learning loss. But remember, there’s a fine line that you need to walk. Keep an eye on your child, especially during reading/learning times, if they’re getting agitated and want to be done for the day. Then let them be. Learning is even more challenging to accomplish when the brain is under stress. As parents, we often feel we must constantly work to help our children succeed. But remember, sometimes downtime is just as crucial as learning time.

A Digital Learning Platform that will change the world.

We all want to give our children the best opportunities to excel in life. And a good education seems like one of the most significant ways to ensure they get those opportunities. Some parents choose traditional education, some opt for private learning methods, while others prefer to homeschool. Those who choose the latter can sometimes find themselves exhausted from trying to provide the ultimate learning experience for their children. That’s where a digital learning platform might be the game-changer they’ve been longing for.

A Digital Learning Platform, unique innovation by Schoolio.

If you’ve never heard of Schoolio, we are a curriculum company based in Canada. But that’s not all; we are working on some fantastic educational innovations to support parents, teachers and most importantly, students. Our team has been working around the clock on a digital learning platform that will change the world of education as we know it.

We do so by converting all digital pdf lessons into audio and visual lessons for students. There are around 4,000 pieces of content from Kindergarten to Grade 8 across all core subjects, Math, Science, Language Arts and Social Studies. The videos are created for children to have fun while also absorbing the essential learning materials.

Creating a Unique Learning Experience For Each Child.

How are we doing that? By creating content geared toward your child’s age group to avoid learning fatigue. Our mission is always to help children everywhere have access to the education they deserve. We are proud to offer this learning option to everyone soon!

Watch this video from the Schoolio Live Q & A, Episode 3 with Nirmala and Sathish to see a preview of this fantastic new program!

Click here to watch Episode 3!

Learn even more about our Digital platform by visiting our website!

Check it out!

Benefits of Tutoring

Many parents understand the frustrations of watching their child struggle in school. You are just unsure how to help them, so you take a closer look at tutoring. Only then you’re faced with questions like, “How do I choose a wholesome tutoring program that will work well for my child?” “How will tutoring help?” “And what are the benefits of tutoring?”

How does tutoring help a student?

Parents choose to get tutoring for their children for a variety of reasons. Some of them are that their child is struggling in school, they aren’t challenged enough, or they need a little extra help to master a particular concept. A personalized learning experience with the gift of one-on-one attention can give your child the support they need. This help translates into better study skills, a massive increase in their knowledge and a love for core subjects. While also igniting a passion for learning.

When deciding which tutor your child needs, it’s important to consider critical factors about your child, like their age, grade, and any diagnosed or undiagnosed learning disabilities. These all can impact what type of tutor your child needs. This is why it’s essential to get familiar with the tutoring company you are looking to use and meet with the tutor beforehand to discuss.

Which children need tutoring? And what kind of program should you use?

Tutoring isn’t just for children that are struggling in school. Most children can benefit from one-on-one tutoring. While it’s true that children struggling with a learning disability or struggling with a particular subject will benefit the most from tutoring, children who are doing well in school can also greatly benefit from the fantastic boost that tutoring will provide them with.

When looking for a suitable tutoring program for your child, you should look for one that focuses on your student’s needs. A program with customizable learning solutions and one-on-one sessions is essential. If your child is struggling in school, then it’s necessary to find a program that has a supportive environment. This way, they can have the freedom and flexibility to work through those complicated concepts in a specialized course that works for them. Avoid large classes with little to no one-on-one help because a program like that will only cause your child to struggle more and feel behind.

Programs like Schoolio After-School check all the right boxes (more information below).

Benefits of tutoring:

First, one-on-one attention.

A good tutor will get to know your child while learning about their learning style and needs. The tutor will then adapt their teaching strategy to match the child’s learning style. They are acting as your child’s private teacher.

Second, improved academic performance.

Your tutor has the skills to prepare your child for necessary tests and exams. While also working with your child’s problem areas. You will see an improvement in your child’s grades and understanding of the program subjects when working with their tutor.

Third, unique and individualized learning.

Through tutoring, your child will have the opportunity to receive an individualized learning experience. This unique experience isn’t always offered in a traditional classroom. Your child’s tutor will work to customize lessons and activities to meet your child’s needs.

Fourth, it significantly improves your child’s attitude toward learning and school.

Learning will become fun for your child when your child has access to one-on-one tutoring through a unique tutoring program like Schoolio After-School. The tutor will encourage and praise your child, which will help your child not feel frustrated and overwhelmed by school.

Fifth, it can encourage self-directed learning.

Your child will benefit from learning at their own pace. When working with a tutor, your child will learn how to take the initiative with their school. While also learning how to control their own learning pace.

Sixth, improved study and work habits.

Your child will learn critical study and work habits. These crucial habits will prove to be useful throughout their life. These skills will help prepare them to succeed when working to achieve their goals. These results will be seen both inside and outside of school.

Seventh, a positive impact on self-esteem and confidence.

When a tutor provides your child with the resources and skills they need to excel in school, you will boost your child’s self-esteem and confidence.

Eighth, responsibility and independence are encouraged.

One benefit of tutoring is the ability to do schoolwork independently. With a tutor’s help, your child will soon do school work independently while noticing their personal growth.

Ninth, creating a positive workspace for ideal learning.

An environment free of distractions, with fewer or no other students, will help create that positive workspace that your child needs. One without the disruptions the classrooms are usually full of. This will help your child to focus better on their learning.

Tenth gives your child the encouragement they need while helping them feel confident enough to ask questions.

Sometimes children may feel uncomfortable when asking questions in front of their peers. A tutor will work on helping your child feel comfortable about asking questions and doing so without feeling self-conscious.

Eleventh, it teaches them how to overcome learning obstacles.

Your child’s tutor will take note of the areas your child is struggling with the most, whether math, writing, or reading. Then your child’s tutor will target the learning area they are having the most trouble with.

Twelfth, it helps them improve their behavioural and social skills.

A good tutoring program will help your child develop better communication skills. While also allowing them to form better relationships with their peers. And help them to make more behavioural and social adjustments.

Thirteenth, it helps your child manage their learning.

Tutoring helps your child become more capable in their learning. While also allowing them to be more successful when managing their schoolwork.

Fourteenth, it helps children who are bored in school.

Some children may appear to struggle in school when they are bored and under-stimulated. One of the benefits of tutoring is that it will help your child reach their full potential.

Fifteenth, it can better prepare your child for what’s ahead.

One of the other benefits of tutoring is that it will help them prepare for what’s ahead by creating crucial study skills and learning superior time management skills for more advanced grade-level plans.

Try the Schoolio Digital Platform for free!

The Schoolio Digital Platform has 4000+ videos and interactive lessons to help your child excel in their learning. Whether you are a parent, teacher or tutor, this program is the perfect fit.

Lessons We Can Learn From Past Learning Interruptions.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw education systems worldwide close, and billions of children go without consistent learning for months. Society wished the pandemic would only last a few weeks and things would return to normal. During those first few weeks of the pandemic, no one realized how long it would last and how deep the learning loss would run as billions of children were displaced from their education. Now we are asking ourselves how to help our children catch up. Are there lessons we can learn from past learning interruptions?

This generation of students is at risk.

According to a report published by the World Bank, UNESCO, and UNICEF: “This generation of students now risks losing $17 trillion in lifetime earnings in present value. Or about 14 percent of today’s global GDP (Gross Domestic Product), due to COVID-19 pandemic-related school closures.” More information is here.

“The loss of learning that many children are experiencing is morally unacceptable.” Said Jaime Saavedra, World Bank Global Director for Education. Parents across the world echo his sediment. Parents are concerned for their children’s educational well-being and their futures. Jamie Saavedra continued by saying: “… the potential increase of Learning Poverty might have a devastating impact on future productivity, earnings, and well-being for this generation of children and youth, their families, and the world’s economies.”

“The loss of learning that many children are experiencing is morally unacceptable.”

Jaime Saavvedra – World Bank Global Director for Education

Education disruptions aren’t unique to this generation. Are there lessons we can learn from past learning interruptions?

You don’t have to look too far back to find pinnacle moments in our history where learning was interrupted. World Wars and pandemics are just some causes of historical learning interruptions. So, what did parents, students and educators do during these educational interruptions? And are there lessons we can learn from these past learning interruptions to help our children in the future?

Education and the First World War, 1914 – 1918

The history of schools during the First World War has been heavily neglected. Until recently, several detailed written studies (monographs) were published during the last decade. These monographs have started to fill the knowledge gap about education during the First World War.

The studies focused on how schools functioned during the war. Especially in the major countries that were affected by the war. Education was disrupted during the First World War. But just how much? Schools were disrupted in many ways in the combatant nations (in Europe). The armies often reassigned the schools as hospitals, barracks, or military offices.
Additionally, many young teachers were entering the military, which caused a significant teacher shortage in countries with prominently male teachers. For countries in Central Europe, there were significant shortages of food and coal. Which then played an essential role in school closures.

Some European schools attempted to stay open, despite all the setbacks. However, the lack of teachers proved to be a significant issue. School administrators were desperate to find replacements for these teachers. So, they turned to retired teachers or teachers still in training. Schools tried to mix classes, but the crowded rooms caused disease and other issues with the children. Many schools tried half and sometimes even one-third-day sessions with little success.

In Canada and the United States:

Italy, France, Great Britain, Australia, Canada and the United States faired much better than countries in Central Europe during the First World War. One reason was 60-80 percent of teachers were female. The children and teachers in these states also didn’t suffer from severe malnutrition like those of Central Europe. However, many children could not attend school because they had to start working from a young age to support their families as their fathers were away. Comparatively, some children had to watch their younger siblings while their mothers went to find work, so the children would inevitably miss school.

The First World War played a significant role in interrupting the lives of children worldwide. These children faced school closures, educational uncertainties, absent parents, deaths of loved ones, poverty, and malnutrition. Children at this time struggled to understand why? So, the emotional strain also contributed to the loss of learning during The First World War.

The Spanish Flu Pandemic 1918 – 1920

As if children didn’t struggle enough from the terror of The First World War. They now faced a global pandemic. Following the end of The First World War in 1918, countries worldwide were thrown into a worldwide pandemic by soldiers returning from Europe with the virus. The Spanish flu resulted in school and business closures across the globe. In Ontario, Canada, the pandemic primarily affected students from prior years to university. In the fall of 1918, the Ontario School Board forced school closures across Ontario. These closures lasted from one week to over three months.

The prolonged school closures caused significant educational delays for students. In New York, schools claimed that “the school work of half the year will amount to little or nothing.”

The Great Depression

During the 1900’s many generations struggled with proper education. In 1932 The Great Depression played a significant role in halting education for many children. Budget cutbacks, fewer school hours, increased class sizes, teachers being paid less, and school closures all adversely affected children’s education. Teachers struggled to teach the children that would come to school because they were undernourished as their families were unemployed and unable to provide food.

Education during the 1930s became a luxury, one that many children were not able to obtain.

The Second World War 1939 – 1945

Children’s education suffered intensely again during the Second World War. In Britain, bombing and military requisitions caused 1 and 5 schools to close. Families were separated, homes were destroyed, parents passed away, and emotional trauma was high. Many children were evacuated, leaving their homes, families, and schools.

Elementary schools, high schools, and universities were affected in Canada and the United States. There wasn’t enough manpower to keep the economy running. Due to this, teachers and professors had to work or enlist. Causing there to be a mass shortage in teachers, professors, lessons and curriculum. The war wasn’t just academically disruptive; it was also socially disruptive. This is similar to the disruption in education and children’s social lives today.

Looking back…

The 1900s were riddled with traumatic events that halted education many times. Despite the educational ups and downs and significant uncertainties, we can now look back and see that many of those generations’ children laid the groundwork for our lives today.

While there were many negative impacts on education and children’s lives during these trying times in history, it’s important to note that many positive opportunities also arose from these intense times.

Some positive results in education:

Women were offered many more opportunities in education and the workforce.
Traditional teaching methods were rapidly changed.
Physical education and health became a priority in education.
Education became much more accessible, regardless of what class you might come from.
History and Social Studies were revamped entirely.
Systems were set up to help to return soldiers catch up on their education.

Looking forward to the lessons we’ve learned.

Education isn’t something that can only be obtained in a classroom. And that is one of the best lessons we can learn from history. Many of the children from these generations still excelled, despite the closures and chaos. How? Because education is all around us, it’s everywhere. And the sooner that we see that, the better.

Children still managed to learn during those times, just like they continue to learn during these times. Yes, children will have a much more difficult time catching up without proper intervention and recovery. So, we must remind ourselves that we have the tools readily available to help our children now.

And while it’s nice to think, ‘my child will be fine, many kids back then were!‘ it’s essential to remember that not all lessons from the past are positive ones. Looking back at the 1918 pandemic, history tells us that many children from that time lived a much more difficult life. Because, following that pandemic, there was no solid plan to help children recover from the learning losses they had experienced.

Taking action.

You must be your child’s advocate because no one else will be. You know your child, and you are aware of the areas in which they struggle. At the same time, we can’t talk to the successful people of the past generations and find out how they overcame these learning losses. We can assume that someone created an action plan for those children to help them get back on track.

Don’t feel intimated; you have been creating action plans for your child since they were born, whether you realize it or not. As your child’s parent, you have been there to help them learn and grow. This is no different. Even if your child appears to be doing just fine, they have likely missed areas of their education. This is why you must take action to help them catch up.

While we would love for the education system to develop some action plan to help students, we know the sad reality is that many schools are simply pushing students onto the next grade even though these children need help.

You must take action, be your child’s advocate and help them.

Student Action Plan:

1. Defining areas of struggle.

First, you need to identify the areas of your child’s education they are struggling with. These are the areas that you need to help them with immediately. Make a list of the academic sites they need the most help with, bearing in mind that it might not be ‘all of the math’; it could be a concept from math that they need help with.

2. Brush up on all areas of learning.

Even if you’ve noted that the problem area is reading and writing, they seem to be doing well with math. You should still be helping them with their math skills. Because even if they appear to be doing well with one subject area, there might be (and likely are) key concepts they have missed. This will then appear as a problem later on down the road.

3. Keep frustrations low.

If you are addressing an area of struggle, please remember to be patient. Your child may become frustrated with themselves and overwhelmed. You must keep the child calm during these learning times, so they can better process what they need to learn.

4. Communicate with their teacher/school.

Talk to their teacher! Voice your concerns, and ask for directions on how to catch them up. If the teacher cannot help, go to the principal for help. This is your child and their future. It’s okay to ‘be annoying’ when advocating for them.

5. Be consistent.

It’s so easy to hand your child the iPad and hope they can figure it out. Or somehow miraculously catch up on their own. But the reality is, they likely won’t. You, as the parent, must be consistent. Read with your child, and go over different concepts with them. If you cannot do this, outsource to a tutoring program. That can help your child catch up and excel.

Parent Action Plan:

1. Be their advocate.

You are your child’s advocate, so be that for them. I know how intimidating it can be to stand up and voice your concerns. But if you don’t do it for them, who will?

2. Talk to your child about their concerns.

Your child needs someone to listen to them, to hear their concerns and frustrations. Be sure to communicate with them openly. Let them talk! Don’t judge.

3. Address your issues.

Yes, you read that right. If you feel like this is “all your fault.” That’s a problem, and you have to address it. The pandemic was not, and is not, your fault. Your child’s learning loss is not your fault. We can’t control most circumstances like we can’t fix the past. But we can put in the work to make the future bright. You have that ability, so don’t stop working on yourself.

4. Ask for help!

If trying to tutor your child is just not working, or you don’t know how to help them. Ask for help! Reach out! Do some research, and talk to experts. You aren’t alone! While it’s essential to be your child’s advocate, it’s also important to realize that so many people care about this generation’s future. Find people with the same mindset and who can help where needed.

5. Take care of yourself.

You’ll notice that above I wrote that it’s easier to hand your child an iPad. Because, as parents, we are tired and burnt out. Taking care of everything all the time is exhausting and overwhelming. So, you must take time to work on and help yourself. Programs like The Burnout Blueprint by Daddy’s Digest can be beneficial. Take time to work on yourself and do things that you love.

We must move forward.

It can be easy to slip into a place of negativity and feelings of ‘they’ll never catch up.’ Don’t do that. You must remain optimistic as you look to the future. I’m sure that if you could go back and pick key successful people from each of the generations that faced intense trauma and learning losses. You would find that successful people chose to look forward, not back. They decided to learn the lessons that they could when they could. And didn’t worry so much about the things they had missed.

Pairing a positive mindset with a carefully cultivated action plan will impact your child’s future best. So, let’s move forward together!

Check out the Schoolio Digital Platform.

We hope you and your student will enjoy The Schoolio Digital Platform with over 4,000+ videos, interactives, and pre-made or custom lessons to suit your student’s learning style. If you are confused about how to get started, we are happy to help.

Resources:

Unicef – Learning losses from COVID-19 could cost this generation.

National Student Clearinghouse – 10 Lessons from Past Educational Disruptions

International Encyclopedia of The First World War – Schools and Universities

British Library World War One – Children’s experiences of World War One

Wartime Canada – Education during The First World War

Cairn Info – Brussels Schoolchildren during The First World War

The Conversation – 3 lessons from how schools responded to the 1918 pandemic

University of Toronto – Looking back: The 1918 flu pandemic and its impact on education in Ontario

Lydia Koning – Education in the 1930s

Wartime Canada – Education during the Second World War

IWM – How Children’s Live Changed During the Second World War

Schoolio Now Offers After School Tutoring.

We remain committed to bringing the best education resources to all families. While our main focus has been on homeschooling curriculum. It has become evidently clear that families involved in all sectors of education need help right now! Schoolio now offers after school tutoring, as a response to the many cries for help from families across Canada. Our tutoring program can help get your child’s education back on track.

Benefits of Schoolio After-School include:

Tutors who follow Canadian Curriculum Standards.
A Schoolio Subject Bundle of your choice included.
Qualified teacher, as your tutor.
Tutoring lessons that mirror what your child is learning in class.
Our tutors are trained to catch your child up on previously lessons that they may have missed.
We work to help your child understand concepts that they may be struggling with.
Our digital platform gives your child access to quizzes, certificates, and special points for engaging. These points can then be used on The Schoolio Marketplace.
Access to your child’s progress through the Parent Portal.
Students can reference Schoolio Subject Book every day. Even when their tutoring has been completed, as the book is theirs to keep.

Schoolio After-School tutors are:

OCT certified.
Experienced teachers.
Have a clean CPIC and Vulnerable Sector Check.
Are accountable.

Schoolio After-School Pricing:

$49/hour with a minimum of three hours per week for four weeks.
Includes Schoolio Curriculum Subject Bundle of your choice.
Additional curriculum bundles available for a discounted price.
Custom pricing available for multiple months.

Register for Schoolio After-School Below

Schoolio After-School is more than just tutoring:

One hour, three times a week, for four weeks. During that time we can cover anything being taught in school. All Schoolio After-School tutoring packages include a free printed and shipped subject bundle, for your child to use. The subject bundle will be printed and shipped right to your door. You as the parent, can select what subject your child needs help with. Along with what times work best for your student to learn with the tutor.

Tutors will be available Monday-Friday from 4:00pm – 8:00pm EST. As well as on Saturday afternoons. Classes are interactive, on Zoom. Tutors can walk the child through the curriculum or help them with homework. While also helping your child catch up, using The Schoolio Subject Bundle. Sessions can be recorded, if requested by the parent. This way parents have the opportunity to view how their child is doing. Along with how they are interacting with their tutor.

One-on-one tutoring can help!

Large class sizes, educational uncertainties, and school closures. These three aspects all play a part in your child’s learning experience. We know that one-on-one tutoring can help kids flourish on their learning journey. Which is why Schoolio now offers after school tutoring as an option to help your child get back on track.

15 Budget-Friendly Snow Day Activities

Most kids don’t get overly excited about remote learning, or school closures due to the pandemic. But there’s something about a snow day that brings a healthy dose of joy! Whenschoolss are officially closed for the day, teachers aren’t necessarily taking attendance for online classes. Kids have the opportunity to be kid, on a good, old fashion snow day! Let’s talk 15 budget-friendly snow day activities you should try!

The snow, wind and cold may not be joy-inducing for you as an adult. But as a child, there’s something so exciting about jumping into a fresh pile of snow. The creativity options are endless when there’s fresh snow involved. So, what 15 budget-friendly snow day activities should you try this winter?

#1 Make a snow fort!

A snow fort can be built using minimal supplies. It doesn’t need to be extravagant. You can pick some snow brick/block maker molds from your local store. Then it’s as simple as filling the block maker with snow and simply stacking the blocks of snow on top of each otheruntill you’ve built a neat wall.Supposef you don’t have a brick/block maker mold handy or can’t head to the store. Use Tupperware containers or small storage containers. They will have essentially the same result.

#2 Go sledding!

It’s a classic, so obviousl,y I couldn’t leave it out. Sledding is such a fun experience for both children and parents alike. It’s not just about the fu,n though, sledding providesa fantasticg amount of exercise for your child and yourself. Don’t be afraid to join in the fun! Because sledding can provide you with incredible,wholel bod,workoutt!Three3 health benefits of sledding:

Aerobic exercise – Walking up the hill to sled down again, or pulling the sled up for your child, will provide you withan excellente aerobic exercise. It’s recommended that adults get 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (according to the American Heart Association). It’s good for you and your kids, so don’t be afraid to join in the fun!
Good for your mental health – Some studies have shown that exposing yourself to nature can benefit your mental health by alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression! That’s a great reason to head to the sledding hill.
Strengthens your lower body – Forget leg day at the gym! Walking up the sledding hill strengthens your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves.

#3 Have a winter scavenger hunt!

If you got lots of snow, then take some simple, waterproof toys outside for a scavenger hunt. Toys like plastic animals and rubber ducks work perfectly. Write down each item that you are hiding outside. If you are burying the items in the snow, then mark them on top of the snow with a little bit of food dye so you don’t lose the items till spring. Give your kids a printout of what items are hidden outside, so they know exactly what they’re looking for.

#4 Paint snow!

Mix water with food dye, and place different colours in a few squeeze bottles or spray bottles. Let your kids go outside and paint the beautiful snow colours! Maybe they’ll even paint a beach for you to enjoy.

#5 Make a snow kitchen!

Let your kids use mixing bowls, spoons, and baking sheets to create amazing delicacies in their snow kitchen! They can decorate their creations with outdoor finds, like twigs, leaves, and rocks!

#6 Get baking in the actual kitchen!

If your kids are a little too cold to keep playing outside, consider trying out #6 of the 15 budget-friendly snow day activities: baking! Locate some straightforward, kid-friendly baking recipes! Help your kids bake some warm cookies, muffins, or banana bread! Make sure they join in on the clean-up while their treats are baking.

#7 Indoor fort building!

If the outside is just too cold, or you have a snow day that is freezing rain instead of snow. Then you could build some fun indoor forts! Using pillows, blankets, chairs and flashlights, your kids can make a super cozy fort. Utilize their fun new forts for quiet/reading time.

#8 Have an epic dance party!

Crank up the tunes, and put on your dance shoes! It’s time for an indoor snow-day, dance party! My guess is that Encanto might be a part of the soundtrack for your dance party. If you’re getting tired of the Disney soundtracks for your dance party then be sure to add in some of your favourite (kid-appropriate) songs. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to dance, just move your body and have fun!

Health benefits of dancing:

Excellent source of aerobic exercise
Increased muscular strength and endurance
Better coordination and flexibility
Good for your heart and lungs

Just remember, there’s no ‘right way’ to dance. There are thousands of different dance styles, if you can’t find one that works for you, then make up your own!

#9 Snuggle storytime.

Snuggle up with your favourite cozy blanket, maybe even inside the neat fort that you built. Add in some hot chocolate and enjoy a story together. You could even jump into a Schoolio Novel Study to add more structure and adventure to your storytime.

Benefits of reading together:

Reading exercises the brain – If you have more than one child, then have them take turns reading different sections of the story/novel. Alternatively, if it’s just you and your child, then you and your child can take turns reading.
Reading is a great source of entertainment – If your child is bored, encourage them to read!
Improves literacy – Reading new words, and practicing the words they already know is an excellent way to improve your child’s literacy.
Reading is stress-reducing – Believe it or not, reading has the ability to reduce stress. Some benefits can include: Lower heart rate reduced blood pressure, and lower stress levels.

#10 Create crystal ice balls!

This one is super fun, and a fan favourite with my kids. They take a balloon and fill it with water and a couple of drops of food dye. Then tie it up and place it outside! Before you know it, you will have a super cool crystal ball. Another neat thing you could try: Blowing bubbles outside! See if they freeze!

#11 Make snow treats!

If you have access to clean snow or are able to put a bowl outside to catch snow right from the sky. You could always make some good ol’ Canadian syrup treats! Heat up some maple syrup in a pot. Then pour the maple syrup over the safe, clean snow, that you have set aside with a popsicle stick!

#12 Have an indoor picnic!

Put down a nice-sized blanket, and make some sandwiches! It’s time to have an indoor picnic! This will make mealtime a little more fun on a snowy day. Play some tropical music and pretend you’re somewhere warm!

#13 Have an indoor fashion show!

Lay out blankets or towels like a runway, and tell your kids that they have to choose the outfits for their fashion show. Play some upbeat music and let them show off their cool, outfit creations! This is an excellent time consumer and gives your child a chance to use their creativity muscles.

#14 Make some crafts!

This one is pretty cliche, but I figured I’d mention it anyway. Crafting is always fun! Sure it can be messy, but creativity usually is. Let your child make some fun art, like using modelling clay to create a snowman!

#15 Acts of Kindness!

The last of our 15 budget-friendly snow day activities is Acts of Kindness! Help your child learn the joy of doing an act of kindness for others. Maybe you have an elderly neighbour who can’t get out to shovel the snow? You and your child can head to their driveway with your shovels and get to work. Clearing walkways and shovelling driveways is an excellent energy burner, time consumer and joy giver.

Whatever activities you choose to do on your snow day, I’m certain they’ll be fun. So, get out there! Make some memories and utilize the snow day!

Did you enjoy 15 Budget-Friendly Snow Day Activities? Let us know in the comments.

Staying in the Moment as a Homeschool Mom

Staying in the Moment as a Homeschool Mom – Guest blog by Tawny Stowe

The idea of being in the moment has been on my mind a lot lately as I contemplate and experience the concepts of time. As a young adult I thought I had all the time in the world. I was certain I could reinvent myself a million times and I never felt committed to one aspect of who I was becoming because I viewed that there would always be more time. Now I find myself seeking out ways for staying in the moment as a homeschool mom.

My younger days.

I travelled the world as a backpacker carrying only what I could on my back. I lived in each moment knowing almost always it was my very first and last in any given spot. Sometimes the thoughts of what tomorrow would bring and where I would be next would creep into my mind. Especially in the beginning of my travelling adventures, the beautiful gift of being somewhere new often found me thinking about where I would be tomorrow. Then what was coming next, This then led me to missing the gift of being present in the moment and appreciating that part of the journey.

And then something happened.

I stopped travelling and I grew up. Soon I became serious and I started to fear never having enough time to become myself. Here I find myself still figuring out what I have become and what I am becoming. However there was a definite sense of urgency at that time in my life. As I hit 30 years old, I started to panic. Thoughts about getting married, owning things like a house or a car, and raising a family became my priority. I found myself panicking about my education, my career and becoming of value in our society. Soon these thoughts took me over. Suddenly each day was only about getting further ahead in the future, not about being in the moment.

I didn’t realize how much this affected me.

Truly I hadn’t thought much about how this was affecting me. That is not until I became a parent and switched to homeschooling. First, I was so consumed by what I was preparing my child for in the future. Second, I was obsessed with Making sure I understood the expectations of a child’s growth and learning development. Third, I was in a state of worrying. Additionally, making my child the most prepared for each new developmental stage took centre stage. I wanted him to be the best he could be for tomorrow.

Through all of this, I noticed something; he was starting to play less in each moment and rather ask about what was coming next.

He was hiking the trail asking what we were doing after and the reality check of what I was projecting on him suddenly hit me. Was I teaching my child to focus ahead instead of just being ok right where we are? Being highly empathic his words got my attention. However it was what I could feel that really hit me. In my son I could feel emotional anxiousness about the day, the objectives, the expectations. This truth hurt my heart. See, as a parent of a child with diagnosed separation anxiety, I chose to homeschool to help him build confidence not to take it away. This is when the deep reflection began within in.

If when I traveled I became free by living in the moment what was it that enabled me to do so? It was owning less, needing less, and trusting that where I was was exactly where I was meant to be.

I felt free, calm, alive, and in flow.

I really want those things for my son too. So, how can I help him discover these things that brought me so much joy? The answer is: I need to return myself to joy, and then I need to model it!

As the world seems to have gained speed and appear to be moving faster than I can keep up. Now more than ever I am coming back to the acceptance that nothing in life is permanent. Each day as I work towards healing my Metis roots I strive to connect deeper to the seasons. While walking gently upon the Earth as one of Her kin. If I am willing to accept impermanence in society and I surrender to the constant that is change in nature. Then surely I can open my heart to model being present in both of these aspects for my son.

This is my work.

As a parent I am always growing, as you are too. My son reflects back to me where I am out of alignment and where I can grow. He gifts me the constant opportunity to be better and rise to be the best version of myself possible. As the fall leaves come crashing down around me, I too have much to shed and I will. I will shed the illusion of becoming. Then I will work at simply being right here, right now. For my son I will let go of who he must become and be with him as he is right now. Together, we will live this season and grow as beings walking hand in hand on a journey designed for us.

Schoolio Guest Blog

Have you read ‘Stay Curious With Your Homeschool’? Another guest blog by Tawny Stowe.

“Every child is different! Isn’t this exactly why I wanted to homeschool? To give time and space to my child so he can learn in his own way? Well, intellectually yes. But then I found myself setting up my home exactly like a school. Trying to do all the ‘school like’ things. My heart was hearing Rudolph Steiner loud and clear. Saying “Why did you bother to read my philosophies if you are going to be so mechanical?” Even so, I just couldn’t let go of this idea of how I thought education should be. Because that is all I have ever known. I wasn’t sure how to stay curious with our homeschool.

What changed…

Luckily for my son and I, I am a Saggitarius who gets bored with routine with ease. So, we were released from the ‘educational’ prison I had created. Just as soon as the weather turned nice enough to spend the majority of our time outside.

Over the spring and summer months I turned my trust to homestead moms. I leaned into Wildschooling ideas, placing a great importance on learning in our natural environment. At first it was sheer necessity, as a single mom I couldn’t manage our spring gardens with a full day of sit down learning. Very quickly this way of learning opened my eyes to a beautiful truth for my son and I.

Learning about Charlotte Mason and Rudolph Steiner spoke to my soul.

Truly the ideologies of Charlotte Mason and Rudolph Steiner speak to my soul. I find that the more I learn about them the better able I am to embody them and to model them. This has resulted in an epic growth for me and a much deeper connection to my environment. A true healing of my Metis roots, and a stronger richer bond with my son.

When exploring homeschooling for the first time, or really at any time. It can be so overwhelming to know what to study, and how to study. To be honest, some days it can be overwhelming to know where to even start. Some people have a natural teacher flow to their life and it comes like second nature. While others, like me, have to nurture their teacher flow a bit more until we can really find it. The true key to success in homeschool, is to stay curious and stay in alignment with your values.

What are the best questions to ask yourself to stay curious?

Some of the best questions to ask yourself usually start with why you want to homeschool? The answers to these questions will guide you towards what philosophies or even curriculums support your desired outcomes. As I deepen my relationship with my son, I find I have to evaluate my reasons constantly against his growth. Constantly checking in with whether I am doing things for him, or for me. Because the answer to that can drastically shift our educational direction. I am continually learning that I must stay as curious as him. Curious about what excites him, what lights him up, what fuels him, what challenges him, what improves his confidence, nourishes his mind, his body and his soul. I use the seasons to prompt my reflection time. This way I can check in where we are both at, four times a year.

Continue Reading…

Schoolio Guest Blog

Read: “Everything has a Season — Even Education” Guest Blog by Tawny Stowe

“Everything has a season” … It’s a cliche, but for me it’s also a permission slip! As a homestead mom and an entrepreneur, certain seasons find me a little over my head! This was my first-year homeschooling. And when I began, I had these grand ideals of how to make school happen in my home the way it does in a classroom.

I failed. Miserably.

First I started off with alarms set, I had specific curriculum planned out every day and books set up on the table. I even had specific days for different topics. At first, my four-year-old was excited and just as quickly he wasn’t. As soon as it turned into a power struggle for our family, I knew something had to change. But being so new to the homeschooling way of life, I didn’t know what!

And then… It happened.

As they say when the student is ready the teacher appears. So as I sat in on a webinar for my business that happened to be led by a homeschooling and homestead mamma of three. In her teaching she fully admitted that as gardening season approaches, her and the kids are done with formal learning for the remainder of the school year. When the demands of the garden increased, all learning revolved around growing food!

This was inspiring!

Suddenly, I felt as if the Spring Season was an open permission slip to let the rigidity and routine of learning go. We could slide into a more “unschooled approach” to education.

Then what took place blew my mind!

The power struggles that my family was facing, vanished. It seems getting a five-year-old to put on rain boots and splash in puddles requires zero effort! We went hunting for bugs, exploring wetlands for migrating birds, and spent time talking about the fertility of the Earth as it unravelled before our very eyes. Then we talked about seeds, and land stewardship (okay he’s five we called it tending to our food and forests). We collected garbage, we kayaked and we explored medicines and wild foods as they presented themselves. As I was walking around from morning to night working in the gardens, wheelbarrowing dirt, starting seeds and transplanting seedlings, and raising baby chicks, my son was with me every step of the way

Another change in our Homeschooling Journey.

So here we are, now watching this season that started as Spring. Moved into summer and is quickly bringing us to fall. I am pausing to reflect on what I am harvesting from the seeds I planted and tended all summer. Both in my garden and in my son’s learning environment.

My son has outgrown his shyness. He thrived in the natural world talking to plants, trees, rocks, and animals. We spent a summer taking our winter learning of Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe Language) and applying it to our outdoor classroom. We read books, we studied field guides. We had countless campfires helping us heal our Metis roots. Doing so by keeping us feeling connected to the Natural Landscape and all of her beings.

A new cycle is here.

Continue reading this guest blog by Tawny Stowe.

Click here

Important Lessons Learned From Helping Around the House

Guest Blog: Important Lessons Learned From Helping Around the House by Rebecca Miller

Learning is happening all around us, all the time. Even when we are not following a curriculum, or sitting at a desk with a workbook, educational opportunities arise every day. One of the most common areas that children learn through experience is in the area of housework. There are many important lessons learned from helping around the house. When children are allowed and encouraged to help out around the house (ie. Cooking, laundry, sweeping floors) they learn many skills that they will take into adulthood.

Life Skills

The most obvious thing children learn from helping keep a home tidy and clean is “life skills.” Life Skills are those skills that they will use to be successful adults. Learning to wash dishes, mop floors and make meals earlier in life is vitally important. Young adults who are not required to participate in household chores as children, often find it difficult to transition into adulthood. They are not equipped to take on the responsibility of their own household, because it was something they were just never taught. In order to give our kids an advantage when going out into the world, we need to allow them to build those essential skills as they grow up.

Responsibility and Accountability

Children who regularly do chores or housework, learn early on what it means to be responsible. They learn that it is their responsibility to pick up after themselves. They also learn that being part of a family means you each have a role to play and support each other to have a comfortable living space. If your children complain about having to wash dishes, consider having a discussion with them about how being a family unit means everyone is responsible for pitching in.

Teamwork

There will be many times in our children’s lives when they will find themselves having to work in a team. Whether they join a sports team or get a job where they have co-workers. Teamwork is a skill they will need in the future. Sharing in the responsibility of housework as they grow up, helps kids learn to work as a team.

Fine and Gross Motor Skills

There are several tasks around the house that can help children build and strengthen both fine and gross motor skills. We do these actions so regularly that we often don’t stop to think of them as motor skill activities. Hanging laundry on a clothesline with clothespins is a great fine motor activity. Sweeping the floor promotes bilateral (using both sides of the body) co-ordination. Setting the table and matching socks are both activities that can improve sequencing, memory and problem solving skills.

Organization

Following a recipe, sorting recycling, and putting away groceries are just a few of the household tasks that can help teach our kids organizational skills. As adults, we use our ability to organize every day: at work, at home and out in the world. Many parents don’t realize that encouraging our children to take part in the upkeep of the family home can help them become more organized adults.

Sometimes we can tend to overlook learning opportunities that don’t look like “school.” But, everyday tasks such as sorting recycling and taking out the trash have so many skills hidden within them that it’s important not to overlook them. Even when it feels like it would be easier and faster to just do the housework ourselves. It can be extremely beneficial for our kids to encourage them to take responsibility for our household as well. And the bonus is, it can lighten the load for parents as well.

Schoolio Guest Blog

Read another guest blog by Rebecca Miller – Click Here –

How Do I Start Homeschooling In Canada?

Homeschooling has become an extremely popular alternative to traditional education in the last 10 years. There’s no doubt that when homeschooling is done correctly, it can be an incredible experience for homeschoolers. So, how can you start homeschooling? What legal aspects do you need to be aware of? Is there some way to ensure that you will be successful at homeschooling your kids? We have the answer to your ‘How do I homeschool?’ question!

Wanting to homeschool, but feeling overwhelmed is totally normal. Unfortunately, it’s human nature to second guess our decisions. Especially when it comes to our kids, their futures and well-being. Let me assure you, if you want to homeschool, you have excellent resources, and have the ability to make it a successful experience for your family. Then, there’s no reason to worry.

We’ve heard your questions of ‘How do I homeschool?’ and broken it down into 10 simple steps to get you started.

Step 1: Shift your mindset about learning schedules.

Homeschooling doesn’t look like traditional education, because it isn’t traditional education. So often new homeschoolers think that they need to make their homeschool day look exactly like a traditional school day. Thinking that your child needs to be working on school work all day, is false. We forget that in traditional school, kids have recess, lunch, activity time, and spend so much time waiting for the class to settle so the teaching can begin. Your homeschool day doesn’t have to look like that. Most homeschoolers only spend 2-3 hours on workbooks a day. The rest of their education is hands on, life learning. That doesn’t mean that they are missing out. Because, they aren’t! They are getting the same amount of educational learning as children in traditional school. It’s truly mind blowing how one-on-one teaching can take the hours upon hours out of learning.

Also, it should be noted that homeschooling doesn’t have to happen at the same time as traditional school. Some homeschool families find that their learning vibe is better in the evening, on weekends, or even in the summer. Your schedule, is yours. You and only you know how your children learn, and when the best time of the day is for them and you to reach maximum potential for learning. Don’t be bogged down by this idea that your child must start workbooks at 9am and finish by 3:30pm.

Step 2: Find out the legal aspects of homeschooling in your province/state.

Every province and state have different expectations for homeschooling standards. It’s best to check and make sure you following local guidelines. Don’t let that stress you out though, even following legal standards, you will still have so much flexibility for your child’s curriculum, and learning schedule. We have a few blogs on some different province guidelines.

Click here for Saskatchewan

Click here for Alberta

Click here for British Columbia

Click here for Manitoba

Click here for Ontario

Step 3: Chat with experienced homeschoolers.

Chances are you already know a homeschool mom. And, you must know that most homeschool moms are eager to share how to be successful with homeschooling. Why? Because it’s working so well for their family, they want everyone to experience the freedom and peace that comes with home-learning. Find a local homeschool group in your area, or search out some awesome homeschool groups online. There are so many incredible sources.

Step 4: Choose your homeschooling style

When it comes to home education, there are so many different styles. The Classical Method, The Charlotte Mason Method, Montessori Method, Unschooling, School-at-home, Unit Studies, Eclectic Education, and more. What style suits your family best? Do some research and find out. Here’s a list of all the different methods of homeschooling, their benefits and drawbacks. So you can make an educated decision.

Click here to learn about different homeschool styles.

Step 5: Choose your curriculum

There are so many different styles of homeschooling. First, figure out which works best for you and your family. Once you’ve determined your style. Select a curriculum that goes along with your style and also the standards that you want for your children’s education. There are so many options out there, so be sure to do your research and find what is very best for your family.

Click here to learn about how to choose the best curriculum.

Step 6: Get familiar with excellent homeschool teaching strategies.

There are so many books out there, ask around and find out what some of your homeschool friends are into. Search out homeschooling podcasts for tips, and tricks, to make your homeschool teaching career successful.

Step 7: Set up social opportunities for your children.

The last thing we want is for you to feel overwhelmed or alone. That’s why Step 3 is so important. When you chat with other homeschool parents, you will have the opportunity to set up homeschool playdates, co-ops, sports, arts, and more. These activities will give your child and you a chance to chat with other like-minded people and help your children make lifelong friendships.

Step 8: Set learning goals with your kids.

It’s important for you to know what you want from the homeschool year. But what do your kids want? What do they want to learn? How do they want to learn? Ask them! Let them get involved in homeschool planning for the year. When you get your kids involved in these decisions it will help them gain interest.

Step 9: Get Familiar with your curriculum.

Once your curriculum arrives, unbox it. Check it out. Let your kids see the new books, and make a plan for what you will need for the first few units of their workbooks. (If that’s the style you choose). Do you need a ruler? Pencils? Paper? Make sure to have it all on hand for each lesson.

Step 10: Begin homeschooling, and have fun!

Please don’t stress yourself out with this idea that you need to be perfect in order for your children to learn. You are doing an amazing job. So, dive into it! And enjoy it! Don’t worry about what your neighbours think or say, or how your parents think it’s crazy that you are keeping them home to learn. Keep your mind on the truth. You are doing an awesome job! And your children are going to be just fine!

How Do I Start Homeschooling In Canada?

How Do I Start Homeschooling in Canada?

How Do I Start Homeschooling in Canada and be Successful?

We’ve heard your questions of ‘How do I start homeschooling in Canada?’ and broken it down into 10 simple steps to get you started.

Step 1: Shift your mindset about learning schedules.

Find out how to schedule your homeschool by clicking here

Step 2: Find out the legal aspects of homeschooling in your province/state.

Click here for Saskatchewan

Click here for Alberta

Click here for British Columbia

Click here for Manitoba

Click here for Ontario

Step 3: Chat with experienced homeschoolers.

Step 4: Choose your homeschooling style

Click here to learn about different homeschool styles.

Step 5: Choose your curriculum

Click here to learn about how to choose the best curriculum.

Step 6: Get familiar with excellent homeschool teaching strategies.

Step 7: Set up social opportunities for your children.

The last thing we want is for you to feel overwhelmed or alone. That’s why Step 3 is so important. When you chat with other homeschool parents, you will have the opportunity to set up homeschool playdates, homeschool co-ops, sports, arts, and more. These activities will give your child and you a chance to chat with other like-minded people and help your children make lifelong friendships.