Tips for
Parents: Remote Learning Even though
school may be in the form of a remote learning format, treat school days just
like you would if your child was attending school as usual. This includes having
them get up at the same time every day, get properly dressed, and eat a healthy
breakfast. Students who are not appropriately dressed and who do not
participate in class sessions on time, will not receive credit for that class. Provide an environment
conducive to learning. This isn’t always
easy. If they’re too isolated, it’s difficult to check in with them. If they’re
at the kitchen table, depending on the child or their environment, they may be
too distracted. This is even more challenging when everyone is home and the
house is full. § Select a space dedicated to learning,
creating, and reading. Make sure it is quiet, free from distractions and has
good internet connection. Please remember that younger siblings, pets, video
games can distract from learning. Keep the learning area, a space for learning. § Make sure an adult monitors online learning. Keep doors open, and practice good digital safety. Our teachers will do the same. § Overuse of screen time can have
adverse impacts on young brains, so it’s important to limit the amount of
screen time for young learners. As much as possible, you should encourage print
and book reading. Set a routine. It
is important that your child is ready to learn every day, whether learning in a
remote setting or in a classroom face-to-face setting. Therefore, you must make
sure your child is prepared to learn, starting with following a daily routine
as if they're going to school (getting dressed, brushing teeth, having breakfast,
and having supplies and materials needed for learning). Set a schedule -Establish a schedule that closely
mirrors the regular school day schedule and stick to it! This will make it
easier for both you and your child. You may want to use some type of a timer to
help your child stay on track with the amount of time devoted to each subject/
content.
Make sure your child has all of
the materials necessary to complete all assignments. §
pencil and paper,
a pencil sharpener, crayons, glue, scissors §
internet
connection §
log-in
information for all accounts, §
Headphones
especially for those children who have a difficult time focusing, and anything
else that they may need to get their work done. Review
expectations.
Encourage
self-regulation.
Resist the urge
to sit in on classes with your child. While it may
certainly be tempting to “pop in” on your child’s classes, please respect their
privacy and that of other students. Connect with faculty and staff through
email or other communication channels before or after school hours. Don’t teach–help them
understand. During remote
learning, parents are required to become more of a partner in their child’s
learning. You may be assisting more with making sure a concept is understood
and making sure that assignments are completed timely. Remember, you are
assisting and not expected to do the work for your child. The bottom line is
that helping your child understand the content is definitely part of the ‘bare
minimum’ expectation and responsibility of a parent. Check
in with your child’s teachers. Teachers and
advisors are usually more than willing to connect with parents via email or phone.
Check in if your child is having difficulty managing the online learning
platform or staying on task. Be on the lookout for any communications from
teachers indicating that they are having trouble connecting with your child
during this time. Get help when you
need it.
Encourage
physical activity and exercise. Physical activity
is needed and you should require your child to be engaged in some form of
physical activity daily. Encourage them to use the breaks in the day to
stretch, walk the dog, or do jumping jacks — any movement helps! Even
though staying home from school might feel like a holiday, remind your kids
that they’re not on vacation. Assignments, grades, requirements, and tests like
state exams, SATs, and ACTs aren’t going away just because classes have moved
online. Interactive
Websites: Younger Children* §
Starfall §
PBS Kids and PBS LearningMedia § Raz-Kids Interactive
Websites: Older Children* §
BrainPOP §
GoNoodle |