Heading back to class is different for these families — and they wouldn't change a thing

With backpacks in tow and new shoes on their feet, more than 60,000 children in Newfoundland and Labrador went back to school last week.

But for some families, the back-to-school season looks different from the traditional first day of school photos lining social media — and they wouldn't have it any other way.

During the 2023-24 school year, 274 families opted to homeschool their children — a decision that surged in popularity during the lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020-21, 545 families homeschooled in the province. 

Amanda Mckelvie was one of those parents who made the leap, but when lockdowns lifted, she decided to continue educating her three boys at home.

"We liked it and we just kept going," Mckelvie told CBC News. 

In comparison with the traditional K-12 system, Mckelvie likes the flexibility homeschooling offers her family. She said it's made her family closer.

"My kids are close, they're friends with each other because they spend so much time together," she said.

Their school day starts with reading aloud. Then they will learn about history or social studies with varying levels of workload per grade.

After a short break, the boys work through their individual core subjects like math and science.

At lunch time, Mckelvie said the academic portion of their school day might be finished but homeschooling involves teaching beyond the books. 

"One of the lovely things about homeschooling is that it's not like you go over here to do school and then you have the rest of your life. Education is not just the book work, it's your whole life," she said. 

For example, if Mckelvie is teaching fractions, she might bake with her kids to show the measuring of ingredients. If they're learning about ecosystems, she might take them on a nature walk.

"I find homeschooling allows that kind of holistic learning to happen a little bit more naturally and organically," she said. "It's very easy to incorporate everyday life into your education when you homeschool."

In St. John's, there is a community of families who homeschool that meet regularly for field trips and activities.