Covid-19: Homeschooling has become a popular option
Genevieve said they follow a schedule but every day is different – some days are easy and some days are tough.
‘Never in a million years did I think I would homeschool my children’
Genevieve Jones of Marina Beach has been homeschooling her children – nine-year-old Casey in grade 4 and six-year-old Rachel in grade 1 – since June 2020.
“It all started when the schools couldn’t open due to the Covid-19 pandemic and we were sent work via Google classroom. Although it was a little bit of a mess, they started homeschooling half-way through the year, and Casey and Rachel finished strong with great results.”
Genevieve admitted it was quite an adjustment but they got used to it and stuck with it for the whole term.
“When schools announced that they could re-open, we had a long chat with our children and told them how things will be at school and that it won’t be like it used to be – no sport, you can’t come into contact with your friends, and you have to wear a mask all day, and so on. They said they definitely wanted to continue with homeschooling. And so, our homeschool journey started.”
She pointed out that the beauty of home-schooling is having flexibility and freedom but admitted that never in a million years did she think she would homeschool her children.
“We went away on holiday to Umngazana and we just took our learning material with us. What’s so fantastic about home-schooling is that you can do it anywhere in the world.”
Another great benefit, Genevieve added, is that there is no more rushing in the morning.
“There’s no more driving up and down, waiting in traffic to find parking. We don’t have to wear masks all day and no more homework. Plus, no more sitting around the dining table at 6pm with overworked, frustrated and tired children as we are done by 2pm. But, having said all that, we do miss our school and hope to return one day when this is all hopefully over.”
Genevieve said they follow a schedule but every day is different – some days are easy and some days are tough.
She admits that she loves teaching her children as she is learning with them.
It’s exciting and they are making incredible memories together.
“I have a lot less time to do things as my number one priority is to give my children the best education I can possibly give them. I’m confident they will not get left behind as can happen to some children in big classrooms. We have also bonded a lot more as we spend so much time together.”
She says her children enjoy hands-on projects and that they learn a lot better this way.
“We have our own rules and way of doing things at home with school. We don’t ‘copy’ traditional class room styles.”
For example, her son enjoys reading while lying on the couch. He does his time-tables jumping on the trampoline.
Sometimes they sit on the floor while writing.
Or, if they feel like it, they take their books and sit outside under a tree.
“We don’t just do boring worksheets all day. We make it as fun as possible so that that they understand and retain what they have learnt.”
They are blessed to be living on a farm with loads of space and things to do.
“My children are always outside, riding bikes or fishing at the dam. They also attend extra murals like tennis, swimming and horse-riding.”
She agreed that the a downside to home-schooling is that it can be lonely and suggested that home-schooled children get involved at a sports club.
More personalised attention but it could also more expensive
Homeschool numbers have increased significantly since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
That’s according to Jenine Allnutt, who has taught home-school pupils from 2010.
She has run a homeschool centre in Umtentweni since 2012 and tutors all subjects from grade R to Grade 12.
“If you choose the option of home-schooling your child, you choose the option of more attention. My centre’s goal is the ‘more attention in a classroom type environment’ with less students. I work on a ratio of one tutor to 10 pupils.”
She felt it was best suited to a child that may have a learning disability, or simply need a little more attention to achieve the best possible marks.
The downside to home-schooling, she said, is that it’s expensive and extra-mural activities need to be paid for, whereas in school sport is part of the curriculum.
Pros and cons of homeschooling
Paul and Paula Bezuidenhout of Ifafa decided to home-school their 17-year-old daughter Hope for three reasons.
They had relocated to the South Coast from Durban, the school year was very disruptive, and Hope wasn’t happy at school in general.
The grade 11 pupil says she loves home-schooling.
“I’m less stressed, I enjoy working at my own pace and I have more time to summarise my work.”
She spends half a day once a week with a teacher, who checks and marks her work, sets her weekly tasks and is available if she has any problems or questions.
Paul also said home-schooling can work out to be rather expensive, as you have to register, buy the books, pay for a tutor and for extra mural activities. He added that it can also get lonely at times.
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