We all know that the past year has been a hard one, adjusting our lifestyles and changing daily routines to accommodate to covid-19 safety precautions. Out of all the changes families have had to endure over the past year, one of the hardest alterations for parents is adjusting to online schooling. If you have been struggling with online school and need ideas to make e-learning work for you and your children, here are some tips to help you finish out the school year strong.
Still Struggling with Online School?
Since COVID-19 forced learning to be completed virtually, I have had the opportunity to help a variety of different families with online learning. Between last school year, the current one, and helping children of all grade levels, I have learned some helpful tips to make online learning successful.
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Try These Tips for Online Learning!
Create a Routine
One of the most important things to help you through this tough time is finding a routine. Not only is this a huge adjustment for parents, it’s just as big of a change for the children. The change from seeing your teacher, friends, attending extra-curricular activities, eating and playing with others during lunch and recess to sitting inside, at your computer all day can be difficult for children.
While attending school, you have a set schedule that is the same every single day. Creating a routine even though you are learning from home can support the children maintain that sense of still being at school. Everyone’s families routine will be different based upon the students schedule with virtual learning but waking up every morning, getting your children ready for the day, eating breakfast and logging into their computer, having a set time for lunch, are all simple steps to help them get focused. Writing your schedule down and having a visual in a place where the child can see it will help them know what to expect out of their day.
Eliminate Distractions
Another way to improve online learning is eliminating distractions and creating an appropriate learning environment. For children that are younger in age, it might be hard for them to understand the change we are facing. They are now attending school from home rather than playing with their toys, getting on their devices, running around in the backyard or turning the tv on while being at home. If you were able to provide a desk, ensure that it is pushed up facing the wall. In my experience, I have learned that this has helped prevent the children from those easy distractions. Some families might not have the funds or space for a separate learning area or a desk and that is perfectly okay! If your child is learning from the kitchen table or another table throughout the house, it may be useful to put up a trifold board or folders. Doing so, will eliminate all other things in sight that the child may rather be doing.
Keep Organized
Even though the students are attending school primarily through the computer, does not mean they do not need school supplies. It is essential to have all the necessity supplies for the children at home in order to properly complete their work. With these supplies, keeping them organized and in a space that is easily attainable for the children will ensure they are always prepared and not taking time away from their lesson trying to find what they may need. Staying organized is great way to stay successful with online schooling.
With my experience, the girls notebooks would be under her bed, downstairs in the kitchen, in her playroom, maybe even in the backyard and when she needed it for the following day, we would spend time away from her learning looking for it. What I have done with the children I have been working with is ensuring their learning environment has everything they might need for the day in a nice and organized way. This does not involve having to spend money and get a bunch of different things. I have used plastic cups and filled them with their pencils, colored pencils, crayons, glue, or anything they might have. Along with this, I have gotten organizational items to place their notebooks, folders and books in to keep in one place. A simple and easy fix to keeping everything together. It is important to ensure the children are keeping all their materials in their learning area for easy and quick access.
Engage in Physical Exercise
As we all know, this time is hard for everyone. Staying inside and starring at a device majority of the day can be a hard challenge for energetic children to overcome. Aside from their school work and virtual learning, ensure that your children are staying active. Just like adults, the changes during this time can start to take a toll on you and the same can happen with children. Allowing your children to engage in safe physical activity at least once a day will help them when it comes to focusing in school. With covid-19, parents may think this is hard to do but a simple walk around the neighborhood, a bike ride, running around in the backyard or even a video that demonstrates exercise the children can follow along with are all great ways to get some daily exercise. Staying active and getting outside will give the child a sense of relief from being at home most of the day completing online learning.
So many families are still struggling with online school. You are not alone. This adjustment is harsh, but it important to find ways to push through it that work best for you. Making sure your children are still getting the proper education they deserve is essential. Online learning can be a successful and positive thing with the proper help and implementing some of these tips!
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