Virtual and home-schooling have become an integral part of us. Since the breakout of Covid-19, parents and teachers have scrambled to figure out virtual learning. For most people, this was something that we never anticipated at all.
Wake up early enough to prepare breakfast for your family. Wake the children and get them ready for school as you get ready for work. All of you would leave home together, drop the kids at school and pick them up later in the day. Once you get home, children would freshen up, have a snack, complete assignments, have dinner and go to sleep.
This was the routine for most families. Covid-19 has altered all that. Schooling from home has become the new norm. This system is completely new for most parents and teachers and easily frustrating while we smooth all the edges of the distance learning method. However, a few of these tips will make virtual schooling easier for you and the kids;
Be calm and kind to yourself
Virtual schooling is not business as usual but young children look up to their parents and need much stability, especially during this time. Children mirror their parents’ reactions to certain situations. Often children will model how they will respond to personal issues from their parents attitudes.
In order to remain calm, parents must be aware of your own insecurities, anxieties and habitual behaviours that act as barriers to achieving that sense of inner peace. Self-inquiry will help you establish and interact with these ideas and actions. Lessen your idea that everything must be perfect and appreciate the new changes that are taking place. As we continue to utilize this new method of teaching remember everything will eventually become easier and the new norm.
Provide suitable equipment for the children
First things first, you will need a good tablet, laptop or computer with great battery life with an impressive performance to enable them to browse the internet, participate in video meetings and submit assignments. Consider investing in a comfortable desk and chair as they will be sitting for extended periods of time when they attend school virtually. Make sure they are equipped with all the normal school supplies their teacher requires so they are prepared when asked by the teacher to complete tasks.
Children easily get distracted by noise, a younger sibling throwing a tantrum or a neighbour mowing their lawn. Try to create a personal space where they can avoid any interruption and stay focused on the schoolwork. With this equipment, your children will have a seamless virtual learning experience. This will also give you time for you to work without interruptions from your children.
Have an erasable calendar to stay organized
When working or studying from home 24/7, keeping track of all your assignments and classes can be hard. There is no one constantly checking to make sure that you show up and deliver on time. Having a dry erase calendar can help you manage your schedule and that of your children. A calendar that comes in monthly and weekly formats is a good one. You can utilize a dry erase calendar so you can easily wipe off previous notes and has plenty of space for rewriting daily tasks. Clearly write out daily tasks for your child and indicate the time they should be completed as well. Replicate something similar to a school timetable, set a start and end time. Allocate breaks time in between the lessons too.
Encourage Literacy
Have a collection of books for your children to access and read when they are not having classes. Preferably, set aside some time daily for reading a story book or novel and ask them to write a short summary of what they read. Later, discuss what has been read and if they have picked any lessons. Encourage the children to take notes and use the key vocabulary they pick up as they read.
Create Bonding Exercises
Just as the saying goes, “All work but no play makes Jack a dull boy”, it is important to create time to engage in bonding activities. Activities that will also allow you to take a break from work, from classes etc.
Create a list of bonding activities that your children can engage in. Make this time fun and educational. Show her how to make hair products using products available at home or choose any DIY project you can think of. You can also ride your bike around the neighbor for a few minutes. They will exercise and release of some of the extra energy.
Ensure the environment is conducive for learning
It is difficult to strike a balance while providing a conducive environment. If the children are too isolated, it may be difficult to check in on them without distracting them. If they are in an open area, they may be distracted often. The children will not agree to concentrate on their studies. Have a separate room for the kids to study. Leave the door partially closed so it will be easy for you to step in ad check on them occasionally.
Make sure all schoolwork is complete
Any work that remains incomplete should be backed up by a good reason and should be followed by the next actionable step. This step can be sending an email to the teacher asking for clarification on the next step of the activity as well as communicating the time the assignment will be handed over. At the end of the day, check for any messages from other students and teachers and respond to them together.
Set Expectations
Stick to a routine that the children must follow every day. This means setting a bedtime that ensures they don’t sleep in and are not too tired to concentrate in school. Set the ground rules early when it comes to expectations around school work and play time.
Children will slowly learn to keep the rules and once they are used to them, it will be a smooth sail.
Personalize Learning
Every parent knows their child in terms of likes and dislikes. It is then possible to personalize your child’s learning space e.g. light, equipment, sound as well as set their schedule to the times when they are most productive. Use your child’s strengths and abilities to build a home school environment which will encourage your child to excel.
Don’t teach your child, help them understand
One of the most obvious learning tip for virtual schooling is helping your child understand context and content. This can be a specific topic or the entire book. This also varies greatly from student to student. You can sit with your child and guide them through the course work or learn alongside your child. As your child is studying, you study and discuss the same topic together. Alternatively, you can learn it first and later review the topics with them.
Lastly, learn to listen to your children. They may have endless questions and sometimes you feel too tired to keep up with their questions but try to pay attention to them. It can be nagging but is important that children feel heard and appreciated so practice those listening skills with your children.
By: Teresa Nderi
Reviewed By: Tiffany