Homeschooling Tips
Homeschooling Tips: We have all endured many changes in our lives over the past 4 months attempting to become familiar and comfortable with what comprises our “new normal” (I don’t think this term was in circulation 4 months ago), but what we have all really adjusted to is the amount of time we likely find ourselves spending together. Parents and kids working together under the same roof throughout the week instead of going their respective ways in the morning to rejoin again in the late afternoon or early evening.
March was quite a shock for us as we attempted to navigate online learning for our kids, fumbling through lessons and Google Hangout sessions with teachers and classmates. Trying to make sure our kids maintained some measure of consistency and familiarity while struggling to achieve the same for ourselves as many of us also began working from home. Those deemed “essential” continued working from offices, job sites, buildings or wherever the workplace may be, likely made it far more difficult to ensure your child maintained routine participation with school.
As we move closer to mid-August when school resumes many of the same concerns about in-person school participation remain. As a result some have elected to keep our kids home from school for the fall semester, and some are still considering our options. If you opted to have your child participate in school online this fall, if you later decide to have your child participate online or should schools have to close again I want to provide some helpful tools to help you and your kids find balance, consistency and success while participating in online learning.
If your kids are participating in online learning this fall here are some guidelines for productivity and engagement:
Start Strong
- Adhere to a morning routine: wake up, shower, dress, eat breakfast
- Devise a visual school schedule for the day/week – contact your child’s teacher(s) to discuss what plans they may have for a daily schedule to help with this
- Decide on a good work area, free of distractions
- Don’t work from your bed or the couch, relaxation zones are too tempting
- Make sure your child has reliable Internet service and a device – contact your school or teacher(s) for assistance with this, if necessary
- Structure and consistency are the key
- Schedule breaks and take them
- Be accountable for your day
Other Good Habits
- Schedule time to get out of your house
- Make time to engage with friends…safely
- Let parents and teachers know what you may be struggling with
- Ask questions/ask for help…ALWAYS!
- Show up and participate online with teachers and classmates
- Don’t be hard on yourself, this is new for all of us
- Make the most of it, things will return to normal at some point
Interestingly enough, these are tips and suggestions which also align with how parents can be successful conducting their work from home. Please share what you may have found to be successful or challenging about your child participating in online learning, we’re better working together.
