NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — Keeping COVID-19 out of their homes is the reason why two best friends decided they would homeschool their kids.
But Shannon Krupp and Laura Hamonic didn't expect they'd enjoy it so much or see such fast growth in their children's learning.
Homeschooling was the only option for the two married mothers, who decided on this educational route last spring after the Nova Scotia government announced schools were closed due to the pandemic.
Both women have family members at high risk of serious complications if they contract COVID-19. Krupp's husband has a heart problem and was born with childhood rheumatoid. Hamonic's husband and youngest child, Leilah, are both high risk.
"It was a no-brainer for me," said Hamonic. "Leilah had HSP (Henoch-Schönlein purpura) at the end of her Grade Primary year. Through that, she developed stage three kidney disease. So I was afraid to send her back to school."
"We can't take the chance our kids will bring (the virus) into our homes (if there's cases at their schools)," said Krupp. "Plus, it gave us a chance to really gauge what level our kids were at."
Using the Canadian Curriculum books, online resources like Elephant Learning and Adventure Academy, Krupp and Hamonic started teaching their children who are in grades two to eight. However, quickly after starting, the women realized the areas their children were behind. And they saw just textbook learning wasn't engaging them.
"When we got to the Canadian government section, I mean, they're kids, they glaze over," Krupp said.
"So we got them involved (with Earlene MacMullin's municipal re-election campaign) flyering and speaking to people who had questions. We made sure they read all of her literature so if someone asked them to tell her about them, they were well informed."
Hamonic's son Landon Clarke, who is in Grade 8, said he prefers homeschooling to in-class learning.
"It's a lot less stressful," he said. "There's no bullies in the area. Plus you don't have the stress of having teachers in your face all the time."
Krupp's sons Xander and Michael agree with their friend.
"It's an upgrade," said Xander who is in Grade 3. "No one bothers me."
"Plus we're not bombarded with people in the hallways," said Michael who is in Grade 6.
Along with learning about politics by volunteering, the students have created two small businesses to work on money and time management skills, as well as social media marketing, writing and math.
Landon and Michael have started a snow clearing business called The Northside Snow Boys. Landon's twin sister, Emily, and Michael's sister, Rhiannon, Grade 5, started Northside Dog Walkers.
The students also have music class taught by Krupp who is a rapper/songwriter who performs as X-Plycit.
During their textbook studies, the older students help the younger ones with their work which is done over an hour a half instead of the usual six hour school day.
"They are more apt to do their work without us asking them than they were before," said Krupp. "I'm finding they're learning a lot more and are maturing a lot more with homeschooling. That hour and a half doesn't wear them out like six hours at school does."
Hamonic said she's also seeing improvements in the way her children are learning and behaving at home.
"Before, my daughter Emily, we had some behavioural issues with her but now we don't, well, not more than would be normal," Hamonic said.
Krupp added, "Normal for a 13-year-old girl," and the friends laughed.
When they started homeschooling their children, Krupp and Hamonic said they realized through skill testing their older children were behind in certain subjects. But now, they are catching up with homeschooling and the friends encourage others to try it.
"You shouldn't be afraid to try some out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to lessons like we did. It makes it so much more fun for the kids," said Krupp.
And the mothers are finding by bubbling together they help each other as teachers and the children still get to socialize.
"We're kind of each other's support system. It's nice to have someone you can lean on all the time and that's kind of what we do," said Krupp.
Nicole Sullivan is an education, enterprise and diversity reporter for the Cape Breton Post.
