Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means YBC® may earn a small commission should you choose to make a purchase through our links. Thanks for your support.
Hey everyone! In the past week, or maybe longer, depending on where in the world you live, we’ve all been asked to make some big changes to our daily routines. Working from home, school from home, all things to keep us at home for the safety of others. I know for many households, this has presented a number of obstacles to overcome. Dan is a public school teacher, and as his school is now navigating distance learning, we wanted to share a few tips for any parents trying to help their students stay on top of their schoolwork and in some sort of routine that works for everyone. If you have any questions or suggestions to share with us, please leave them in the comments section below. xo - Candace
These past few weeks have been full of new phrases. Social Distancing, New Normal, Flatten the Curve, and of course Distance Learning. The latter is what we are going to talk about today. Without much preparation, students were sent home packing and there does not seem to be any signs of schools re-opening in the near future. As a 5th grade teacher, my world was flipped upside down. We left on a Friday and were then told over the weekend that we were closed for two weeks, likely longer. As the kids left, I never once thought that we would be done for the year. Months ago, the coronavirus was something we heard about in the news happening elsewhere and now it is in our backyard. The initial ‘snow day’ reaction of no school lasted about 36 hours. It didn’t take long until we started scrambling to put together a Distance Learning plan for our students. With all the technology in place today you would think that it would be easy to do. However, sometimes more is not always better. The first few days were full of emails from parents and teachers recommending all kinds of learning websites. The enthusiasm was much appreciated, but it felt overwhelming. If I am overwhelmed as the teacher, then my students have no chance. My teacher friends with kids at home were quick to create schedules to keep a consistent routine.
I am here today to offer a few tips for parents who are now wearing many hats during the day. A lot of families are all under one roof for the workday, and the computer is a hot commodity. Our school was able to send kids home with their own Chromebook to help the children access their lessons. Most adults are now working from home, and with the kids needing access for school, it can create a stressful scenario. Not to mention a lot of families are struggling financially due to the economic fallout from COVID - 19.
Create an organized workspace.
Distance Learning Tip 1: Keep a regular schedule: Continue to wake your kids up as if it were a regular school day. Make sure they eat a breakfast and treat it as they would any other day of the week. They need a routine, and they thrive with consistency. Letting them sleep in will cause problems down the road. Who knows, schools could open sooner than you think. If multiple people need the computer during the day, plan a schedule ahead of time, so there is no conflict. Schedule in breaks as well. Plan for snack time and a regular lunch schedule.
Distance Learning Tip 2: Create an organized workspace: Create a workspace in the house. A desk with ample lighting, materials nearby, and a comfortable seat. Do not let them lay in bed or lounge around. Again, be consistent. Allow them to hang up some motivational pictures to keep them focused. They will love the idea of a little home office. Make sure they have pencils, paper, highlighter, and anything else they will need to do their work. An independent reading book is always good to have in a pinch. You do not need a lot of space, and it doesn’t have to be fancy. A little creativity goes a long way. I am sure Pinterest is full of ideas.
Distance Learning Tip 3: Do not overwhelm them: My plan for my students is for them to complete small chunks throughout the day. 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of math, 20 minutes of writing. That’s it. They should not be sitting and working for 8 hours a day. Allow them to take breaks, make sure they stay active, and let them work at a comfortable pace. It will likely take time for them to be comfortable with the technology. We are using google classroom and I know there will be struggles. Encourage them and make sure to be positive.
Distance Learning Tip 4: If you have time as a parent, assuming your work schedule is flexible, use the opportunity of time together to help your child explore an interest they’ve always had. Fun science experiments, lessons in cooking - these could be learning experiences for your child, and bonding experience for the family as well.
We should not forget why we are in this situation to begin with. The world is in crisis, and we need to take care of our basic needs first. Dividing decimals is not a top priority at this time, in my opinion. Make sure your child is not stressed; a lot of times they will react as the world does. They may be scared from what they hear on the news or see on TV. Talk to them and make it a learning experience. In the end, these 3 months or so are not going to have a drastic impact on your child’s education. In fact, it might be a nice break for some of them. They will learn a tremendous amount during this. All learning does not take place in the classroom. Remember, you are their first and favorite teacher. Enjoy the extra time you get to spend together.
If you have any questions - or helpful hints for others in this position - please leave them in the comments or reach out on Instagram.