Homeschooling Under Lockdown: Kellie Lynch Style!
Working or studying from home for many of our learners and staff has presented them with a variety of challenges. Add to those the task of home schooling and those challenges get even more interesting!
We sat down (virtually!) with Kellie Lynch, Sales and Relationship Coordinator at the Learning Foundry, to find out how she’s finding the balance between work and teaching, and what tips she has for anyone in the same position!
What is your role at The Learning Foundry?
I work in the Workforce Development Team in TLF. My team helps businesses to make the most of their training and development resources so that that they can ensure their staff have the right qualifications to deliver what the business aspires to do.
Tell us how you came to work from home...
My last day in the office was March 18th, it was so strange leaving the Watson Building, our campus on Renshaw Street. I love coming to work, the building is full of history and our office is really modern in design, it’s such an open and sociable place. When the call came to say we had to leave and start working from home, I had no idea how long it would be for, but I knew that with all the technology we had and the brilliant relationships we share with learners and colleagues we wouldn’t be apart for long, even if that meant our catch ups in the kitchen would now all be online!
Tell us about your approach to home schooling...
I have 2 children and I started to really focus on their schoolwork just before the Easter holidays.
The first couple of weeks were hit and miss but with support from the school, sending me lesson plans and ideas, we eventually got into some sort of routine.
What are some of the things that you have been teaching your kids?
We’ve done a bit of Geography, and we’ve tried to do English and Maths where we can. PE has been the most popular subject for my boys, and we’ve teetered on the brink of History, but as it’s not my strong point so this part of the lesson plan has literally become history!
Have your kids surprised you in any way since you have started teaching them?
I feel like the youngest one’s negotiation skills have been amazing because he’s always trying to negotiate how much time he has to spend on a certain task before he can have his dinner or before he can play in the garden, I think he’s going to be a chief negotiator! He has even negotiated his own timetable to say he will do one day on and one day off, he has got the gift of the gab! (Don’t know where he gets that from!)
What do you think is the most challenging thing about homeschooling your kids?
I think it’s managing your time, because workload for me personally has not changed, it has even been busier at times because it’s important for me to communicate with the businesses we work with and to ensure they know that TLF are still here for them and their staff. My husband is a key worker, he works shifts so sometimes I am on my own, so it is just a bit hard juggling your time between work and giving the kids a bit of attention. I have had instances where the kids are walking around in their PJ’s in the middle of the day, while I’m a video call! But everyone is in the same boat, whether you are studying, working or looking after the kids, I think that there is a greater understanding of each other’s personal circumstances and we are all being a little kinder and more considerate to each other.
Any tips for learners and staff balancing work or study with homeschooling and looking after kids?
For me, it is about reminding myself not to feel guilty. Schools are suggesting lesson planners; they understand that you won’t be able to follow this to the letter every day.
Also, homes weren’t built to be schools. You haven’t got the actual true environment to home-school your kids in the perfect way, nor the tools and expertise so don’t feel guilty and do what you can when you can. As long as your children are happy at this time, that’s the most important thing!
I did worry about the impact it would have on them educationally, but then I saw a blog from a teacher on homeschooling! This assured me that teachers would use their ‘magical teaching skills’ to get the kids back on track once they return to their school environment, and encouraged me to just try and enjoy the time that I’ve got with them at the moment!