((PKG)) SHIFTING TO HOMESCHOOLING
((TRT: 8:57))
((Banner: Always Learning))
((Reporter/Camera: Lisa Vohra))
((Map: Mclean, Virginia))
((Main Characters: 1 female, 1 male))
((NATS))
Nevra: So, what religion did most of the Japanese people belong
to?
Hendrix: Buddhism.
Nevra: Buddhism, very good.
Nevra: And do you remember what a missionary is? I know that’s
a new concept.
Hendrix: No.
Nevra: These are people who travel.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
Hendrix was attending the regular public school and it was going
fine last year. And then the lockdowns happened and school
closed.
((NATS))
Nevra: …spread the teachings of Jesus.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
And then they announced the plan for fall, which was, at first it
was, you know, “Do you want to sign up for in-person?” which we
wanted to. We did. And then it turned into, “Well, it’s only two
days a week.” And then it turned into fully virtual. And then I
thought, “Okay, well, I guess it will be just like spring, and as long
as we get it done, we’re good.” But then they announced that it’s
going to be all synchronous and they’re going to follow a bell
schedule. And that’s when I had these visions of, you know, six
hours a day in front of, you know, a camera and his computer,
and I just, he’s an eight-year-old boy.
((NATS))
Nevra: Last question. Where did Zen Buddhist look for truth? Did
they have a priest or a pope?
Hendrix: From what their hearts said.
Nevra: From their hearts, exactly.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
So, I researched online. I found Facebook communities. I met
other moms like myself that are new to homeschooling. I learned
about the curriculum that’s available. I found all these podcasts
about different homeschooling methodologies. And in the end, I
just found some materials online and I bought them. I got a
whiteboard and we just started.
((NATS))
Nevra: Five times 30 minus five times five, because 25 here, is
30 minus five. Are you looking?
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
So, for us, you know, it’s not like there’s an official start to the
homeschooling day. Sorry. Because, to me, homeschooling and
schooling, education is something that should just be a part of life.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
There are methods of homeschooling that are very aligned with
the public school curriculum with tests along the way. And then
there are at the other extreme, which I would say I’m sort of
tending toward now as I’m getting into it, which is, some people
call it unschooling, which is really about teaching schooling and
education as a way of life. Not something that just happens in a
classroom, but happens every day, at any hour of the day.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
I mean, we’re doing the homeschooling together. We’re having
breakfast at the same time in parallel. We are doing dinner prep.
We’re doing a few chores. And we’re kind of getting everything
done together. And you say, well that’s a lot. But you know what?
When Hendrix is sweeping the floor while we are doing, let’s say,
spelling exercises or multiplication quizzing, actually the brain
works better. ((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
((Hendrix Ledwon, Third Grader))
Nevra: Are there any friends that are doing homeschooling with
us?
Hendrix: Oh, this is Poopy Bear. This is Moo-Moo. This is
Snakey. I didn’t name these two.
Nevra: Hendrix, please sit down because I need to get to work
soon. Okay, thank you. Okay. You ready? This chapter is called,
The Foreign Conquest of China. The Rise of the Manchu.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
Sometimes I would get these notes from the teacher about, you
know, something that wasn’t perfect, that’s usually when you hear
from the teacher, right? Why aren’t you paying attention? Why are
you going off with your friends? Why are you, you know,
disrupting class? But now as I get to know him better, I
understand where that’s coming from. I understand his
personality. So somehow, even though we’re spending more time
together, I would say that we have less conflict.
((NATS))
Nevra: China was growing. Down in the South of China…
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
I feel a lot closer to him. I feel better attuned to where he’s at
academically.
((NATS))
Nevra: We just are going to add what we learned to our book of
centuries, which helps understand what we’re learning in history
and the context of what’s happening in other parts of the world.
So, what we’re learning about, I think is in the 1600’s. Come
Hendrix, bring your pencil. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director,
Third Grade Parent))
There are times when, you know what, the brain just isn’t on. He
just doesn’t feel like it. So, we take a break.
((NATS))
Nevra: Okay, first give me some jump rope real quick, to get the
blood flowing. Because I find his brain works better when his body
is engaged. In fact, some of the reading and writing stuff he does
standing and spinning like this, because his brain works best
when he’s doing that. So, we just go with it. ((NATS))
Nevra: A hundred. Wow. Okay, quick handstand. Three tries.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
You know, it’s interesting, because, I think, when I was a child, I
don’t think I would have liked the idea of homeschooling. I really
wanted to get out of the house, but for Hendrix, he really likes it.
And when I ask him why, what do you like about it? He said,
“Well, it’s at my level.” And I think what he means is he likes how
tailored it is to his interests and his moods.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
It doesn’t mean that we don’t sometimes do things he’s not in the
mood for, I mean, like math, right. You have to learn some of the
foundational math concepts in order to do the fun, interesting
math later.
((NATS))
Nevra: Go up to the board and show me how you would figure
out seven times thirteen. And remember the most important thing
is to show your work, not just getting the right answer, but
showing your work.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
Also, because I work, I get a little bit of help. So, his former
nanny, who is also a former teacher in our county, is now a
learning coach for him. So, she does a 90-minute online session
with him every weekday.
((Hendrix Ledwon, Third Grader and Heather, Teacher))
Hendrix: I did some IXL [on line learning classes]
Heather (teacher’s voice): Uh huh.
Hendrix: which was easy.
Heather (teacher’s voice): Which IXL did you do?
Hendrix: Oh yeah, my mom wanted us to do an IXL about
Buddhism...
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
We’re working on some website enhancements. So, I’m getting
ready for a presentation this afternoon on some ideas of how to
enhance the website.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
And then usually when she’s done around noon, my husband
takes over and takes care of lunch, so I can continue working.
And because I’ve done most of the dinner prep in the morning, I
can work until six. And, you know, that works well since the
company I work for is in Mountain Time. So, ten o'clock for me is
eight o'clock for them when they’re just coming in. So, it works.
And also, some of the homeschooling is on weekends or on
evenings.
((NATS))
Nevra: Okay, what’s he going to write about this week?
Heather (teacher’s voice): So, he’s, he wanted to write a story
similar to like The Wind in the Willows.
Nevra: Oh, similar to The Wind in the Willows.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
At the beginning of the lockdown, we were scared, I think, like
everyone, and we were very isolated. And then, over time, I
started to see the impact on him. And, you know, he’s an only
child and I just, I made a point of arranging playdates every single
day.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
Nicky is the daughter of a long-time farm customer, and it took all
these years that we didn’t realize that we both were parents of an
only child about the same age. And it wasn’t until this, you know,
pandemic, and we both pull our kids out of school, and we just
happened to be talking one day. And we realized, yeah, let’s get
the kids together, and they became great friends like instantly. So
now, they hang out every week.
((NATS))
Hendrix: A deer, a deer. See if I can pet it. Probably not. ((Nevra
Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) When I first
started with this, I thought, you know what, it’s just going to be
temporary. But now, as I’m doing it, I’ve fallen in love with it. It’s
an amazing approach.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
I can’t see sending him back this year, and I’m already thinking
ahead to the future. I really don’t know. I mean, I think my biggest
worry is the social connection, right? When you’re homeschooling
and everyone else is in school, the social connection, social skills,
they kind of come automatically.
((NATS))
Nevra: And his army.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
I do worry that he’s missing out on some of the group school
connection, and I think we just have to take it day by day and see.
((NATS))
Nevra: What does scarce mean?
Hendrix: There’s not a lot.
Nevra: There’s not a lot, exactly. And expensive. Soon, the army
ran out of money to pay...
((NATS))
((TRT: 8:57))
((Banner: Always Learning))
((Reporter/Camera: Lisa Vohra))
((Map: Mclean, Virginia))
((Main Characters: 1 female, 1 male))
((NATS))
Nevra: So, what religion did most of the Japanese people belong
to?
Hendrix: Buddhism.
Nevra: Buddhism, very good.
Nevra: And do you remember what a missionary is? I know that’s
a new concept.
Hendrix: No.
Nevra: These are people who travel.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
Hendrix was attending the regular public school and it was going
fine last year. And then the lockdowns happened and school
closed.
((NATS))
Nevra: …spread the teachings of Jesus.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
And then they announced the plan for fall, which was, at first it
was, you know, “Do you want to sign up for in-person?” which we
wanted to. We did. And then it turned into, “Well, it’s only two
days a week.” And then it turned into fully virtual. And then I
thought, “Okay, well, I guess it will be just like spring, and as long
as we get it done, we’re good.” But then they announced that it’s
going to be all synchronous and they’re going to follow a bell
schedule. And that’s when I had these visions of, you know, six
hours a day in front of, you know, a camera and his computer,
and I just, he’s an eight-year-old boy.
((NATS))
Nevra: Last question. Where did Zen Buddhist look for truth? Did
they have a priest or a pope?
Hendrix: From what their hearts said.
Nevra: From their hearts, exactly.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
So, I researched online. I found Facebook communities. I met
other moms like myself that are new to homeschooling. I learned
about the curriculum that’s available. I found all these podcasts
about different homeschooling methodologies. And in the end, I
just found some materials online and I bought them. I got a
whiteboard and we just started.
((NATS))
Nevra: Five times 30 minus five times five, because 25 here, is
30 minus five. Are you looking?
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
So, for us, you know, it’s not like there’s an official start to the
homeschooling day. Sorry. Because, to me, homeschooling and
schooling, education is something that should just be a part of life.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
There are methods of homeschooling that are very aligned with
the public school curriculum with tests along the way. And then
there are at the other extreme, which I would say I’m sort of
tending toward now as I’m getting into it, which is, some people
call it unschooling, which is really about teaching schooling and
education as a way of life. Not something that just happens in a
classroom, but happens every day, at any hour of the day.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
I mean, we’re doing the homeschooling together. We’re having
breakfast at the same time in parallel. We are doing dinner prep.
We’re doing a few chores. And we’re kind of getting everything
done together. And you say, well that’s a lot. But you know what?
When Hendrix is sweeping the floor while we are doing, let’s say,
spelling exercises or multiplication quizzing, actually the brain
works better. ((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
((Hendrix Ledwon, Third Grader))
Nevra: Are there any friends that are doing homeschooling with
us?
Hendrix: Oh, this is Poopy Bear. This is Moo-Moo. This is
Snakey. I didn’t name these two.
Nevra: Hendrix, please sit down because I need to get to work
soon. Okay, thank you. Okay. You ready? This chapter is called,
The Foreign Conquest of China. The Rise of the Manchu.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
Sometimes I would get these notes from the teacher about, you
know, something that wasn’t perfect, that’s usually when you hear
from the teacher, right? Why aren’t you paying attention? Why are
you going off with your friends? Why are you, you know,
disrupting class? But now as I get to know him better, I
understand where that’s coming from. I understand his
personality. So somehow, even though we’re spending more time
together, I would say that we have less conflict.
((NATS))
Nevra: China was growing. Down in the South of China…
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
I feel a lot closer to him. I feel better attuned to where he’s at
academically.
((NATS))
Nevra: We just are going to add what we learned to our book of
centuries, which helps understand what we’re learning in history
and the context of what’s happening in other parts of the world.
So, what we’re learning about, I think is in the 1600’s. Come
Hendrix, bring your pencil. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director,
Third Grade Parent))
There are times when, you know what, the brain just isn’t on. He
just doesn’t feel like it. So, we take a break.
((NATS))
Nevra: Okay, first give me some jump rope real quick, to get the
blood flowing. Because I find his brain works better when his body
is engaged. In fact, some of the reading and writing stuff he does
standing and spinning like this, because his brain works best
when he’s doing that. So, we just go with it. ((NATS))
Nevra: A hundred. Wow. Okay, quick handstand. Three tries.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
You know, it’s interesting, because, I think, when I was a child, I
don’t think I would have liked the idea of homeschooling. I really
wanted to get out of the house, but for Hendrix, he really likes it.
And when I ask him why, what do you like about it? He said,
“Well, it’s at my level.” And I think what he means is he likes how
tailored it is to his interests and his moods.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
It doesn’t mean that we don’t sometimes do things he’s not in the
mood for, I mean, like math, right. You have to learn some of the
foundational math concepts in order to do the fun, interesting
math later.
((NATS))
Nevra: Go up to the board and show me how you would figure
out seven times thirteen. And remember the most important thing
is to show your work, not just getting the right answer, but
showing your work.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
Also, because I work, I get a little bit of help. So, his former
nanny, who is also a former teacher in our county, is now a
learning coach for him. So, she does a 90-minute online session
with him every weekday.
((Hendrix Ledwon, Third Grader and Heather, Teacher))
Hendrix: I did some IXL [on line learning classes]
Heather (teacher’s voice): Uh huh.
Hendrix: which was easy.
Heather (teacher’s voice): Which IXL did you do?
Hendrix: Oh yeah, my mom wanted us to do an IXL about
Buddhism...
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
We’re working on some website enhancements. So, I’m getting
ready for a presentation this afternoon on some ideas of how to
enhance the website.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
And then usually when she’s done around noon, my husband
takes over and takes care of lunch, so I can continue working.
And because I’ve done most of the dinner prep in the morning, I
can work until six. And, you know, that works well since the
company I work for is in Mountain Time. So, ten o'clock for me is
eight o'clock for them when they’re just coming in. So, it works.
And also, some of the homeschooling is on weekends or on
evenings.
((NATS))
Nevra: Okay, what’s he going to write about this week?
Heather (teacher’s voice): So, he’s, he wanted to write a story
similar to like The Wind in the Willows.
Nevra: Oh, similar to The Wind in the Willows.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
At the beginning of the lockdown, we were scared, I think, like
everyone, and we were very isolated. And then, over time, I
started to see the impact on him. And, you know, he’s an only
child and I just, I made a point of arranging playdates every single
day.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
Nicky is the daughter of a long-time farm customer, and it took all
these years that we didn’t realize that we both were parents of an
only child about the same age. And it wasn’t until this, you know,
pandemic, and we both pull our kids out of school, and we just
happened to be talking one day. And we realized, yeah, let’s get
the kids together, and they became great friends like instantly. So
now, they hang out every week.
((NATS))
Hendrix: A deer, a deer. See if I can pet it. Probably not. ((Nevra
Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) When I first
started with this, I thought, you know what, it’s just going to be
temporary. But now, as I’m doing it, I’ve fallen in love with it. It’s
an amazing approach.
((NATS))
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
I can’t see sending him back this year, and I’m already thinking
ahead to the future. I really don’t know. I mean, I think my biggest
worry is the social connection, right? When you’re homeschooling
and everyone else is in school, the social connection, social skills,
they kind of come automatically.
((NATS))
Nevra: And his army.
((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent))
I do worry that he’s missing out on some of the group school
connection, and I think we just have to take it day by day and see.
((NATS))
Nevra: What does scarce mean?
Hendrix: There’s not a lot.
Nevra: There’s not a lot, exactly. And expensive. Soon, the army
ran out of money to pay...
((NATS))
