Tiana's Homeschool Hint of the Week

Free online resources are amazing, but just the beginning. All those great websites can eat up your time and not actually take you anywhere if you are not careful - trust me, I know!

So, don't get bogged down by the flood of downloadable PDFs and lesson plans available online. And all those "educational" games should be saved for those bad days that are bound to happen.

Instead, find a couple of resources that work for your child and build from there. Prioritize your kid's greatest need and then their biggest interest or passion. So, if they are struggling with math, for example, go to Khan Academy for great tutorials to boost their learning. If they love space, go to NASA and check out their amazing educational tools. Be picky. Less is more!

Then look for resources that will keep them connected to their real-life community - piano lessons, Sunday school and dance classes are all going online. Also, see if you can pull in the people they are missing in their daily lives. Grandparents, family and friends might like to lead activities like storytime, history lessons, or craft sessions.

Breathe. You are doing great under these extraordinary circumstances. And, remember, relationships first!