Tips for Homeschooling Middle Schoolers

Can middle schoolers be homeschooled peacefully during a pandemic? Absolutely! Veteran middle school teacher Sharena Downey of The Humble Bird Teacher shares her top tips for homeschooling middle schoolers that parents and teachers can use. There’s also a fun freebie you can grab below!

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Do’s and Don’ts for Homeschooling Middle Schoolers

During this pandemic, many teachers and students are still trying to adjust. It is important for the students to continue learning; however, I don’t think they should be overwhelmed with difficult tasks at this time.

Teachers and parents can focus on simple remote learning tasks that middle schoolers can do to keep the learning going at home.

Many students are also really enjoying story time with their teachers through virtual means such as Google Meet and Zoom, and they are enjoying doing karate, dance, and drawing, which are the types of things I think most students need at this time.

These are just a few do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when homeschooling middle schoolers.

Setting Up a Middle School Homeschooling Schedule

Another thing I recommend is having a schedule.

My advice for setting up a homeschooling schedule for middle school students would be to follow a similar schedule like school with some breaks between each subject.

Here’s an example of a learning schedule you can use to homeschool with a child in middle school:

·  8:30 a.m.- Eat breakfast

·  9:00 a.m.- 9:30 a.m.-English

·  Try a 10-minute break

·  9:40a.m.-10:10 a.m.-Math

·  Have another quick 10-minute break

·  10:20a.m.-10:50a.m.- Science

·  Yes, another 10-minute break

·  11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.-Civics/History

 After the last class, they can go outside for a walk, play or work on a hobby that they enjoy.

This is just an example of a middle school schedule that would help parents keep students on track while learning from home.

Digital Learning Resources for Middle Schoolers

Another tip I have for homeschooling middle schoolers is to use digital learning resources to help them stay on track with their learning.

Some of my favorite online learning tools :

·  Storybird is an excellent website for middle school students. It allows them to create poems and stories based on images. I actually have a blog post about it that you can read HERE.

·  I also recommend CommonLit and ReadWorks.org for teachers to use with their students.

Read Works offers special remote learning resources for families and teachers during school closure, but the online platform is always free.

These are just two of the easy to use remote learning resources you can use for digital learning at home with your middle schooler.

Enrichment Ideas That Don’t Involve Technology

For any parent or teacher concerned that their middle schooler may be getting too much screen time, I recommend the following learning activities that don’t require technology:

• Keep a diary of the current events happening now

• Make a collage of showing how you feel

• Read a book to escape from all that is happening in the world right now

These ideas keep the learning going without being glued to a screen!

Chapter Books to Read During a School Closure

In addition to the enrichment ideas for homeschooling middle schoolers above, I also recommend the following chapter books to read at home:

·  The Giver by Lois Lowry

·  Because of Winn-Dixie by Katie DiCamillo

·  Refugee by Alan Gratz

·  The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn

I have this free fiction reading passage with text-aligned questions that’s great to use at home with students who need practice reading.

How to Help Students Who Struggle with Anxiety

Sadly, there is constant negativity surrounding this pandemic and more schools declaring longer closures.

This leads to some middle school students becoming anxious or depressed by the social distancing.

The best way to help middle school students who struggle with anxiety or depression is to listen to their concerns, support them, and comfort them.

Also, many schools and teachers are checking in on students more often.

Even if that means offering them a chance to speak with their guidance counselors virtually.

Reach out to your school’s administrator or teacher to ask about this service for your child / student.

Finding and focusing on the positive will help your middle schooler effectively deal with their anxiety about this pandemic.

More Tips for Homeschooling Middle Schoolers

As you implement some of Sharena’s tips above, you can also add ideas from these blog posts:

• Easy to Use Remote Learning Resources for Teachers

• Resources to Help Teachers & Parents with a School Closure
  
  

In addition to the practical tips above, these middle school literacy activities keep 6th graders engaged with ELA:

Happy Homeschooling!

I am a middle school teacher that enjoys creating fun games, lessons, and activities for students to learn and grow in a rigorous yet engaging environment. I believe that if students have fun learning, they will always remember what they were taught.

My classroom is student-centered, and I incorporate technology into my lessons on a weekly basis to keep up with the new wave of learning like in a flipped classroom.

The name of my shop is The Humble Bird Teacher because it reminds me to stay humble and always remember not to worry because if God takes care of the birds; He will surely take care of our needs.

Matthew 6:26-27: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”