A PARENT’S GUIDE TO DISTANCE LEARNING

We are nearly one month into the school year, and students and parents alike are finding the transition from summer more difficult than usual – and for good reason! Tensions are high due to the uncertainty in what lies ahead, as well as the long periods spent cooped up indoors with limited social interaction.

While virtual learning certainly brings on a unique set of challenges for families, there are steps that parents can take to keep your students engaged and in high spirits.

Set the space.

Those of you who have been working from home will understand intimately how easy it can be for the lines between work and home life to become blurred. You’ll also know, then, how detrimental allowing this to happen can be for your emotional well being.

This same logic can be applied to at-home learning! Providing your student with a quiet, dedicated space to work is essential for their academic success during this unusual time. Ideally, you’ll want this space to be separate from their “chill space” and not in the center of the household, where they might become easily distracted.

Give them the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, this means a reliable computer and a strong wifi connection. Outdated technology will slow down your student’s progress and can be a real source of frustration, ultimately causing a lack of motivation.

Look into investing in a desk that can be set up just for your student to use to attend virtual classes, complete homework assignments, and study. Stock their workspace with tools related to their grade level. For example, a weekly planner, protractor, calculator, notebooks, and highlighters for middle and high schoolers or crayons, colored pencils, and scissors for elementary students.

Stick to a schedule.

Consistency and structure are key elements of effective education. It will, of course, be tempting for students to roll out of bed at 8:50 AM and head to their desks in their pajamas. Help them to side-step this temptation by offering a set schedule for them to follow, working in snack and meal times, as well as breaks for them to relax their minds and stretch their legs.

Younger kiddos may adopt your schedule more readily but, whether they like it or not, even older students crave this type of structure and are likely to eventually fall in line (especially if sticking to a routine is modeled by their parents).

Set boundaries with them in terms of playtime and technology use. Let them know when they are and are not allowed to be playing with toys, playing video games, or chatting with friends on social media. If necessary, there are apps that can be used to block certain websites or platforms.

Get them moving!

One major aspect of school missing from online learning is the amount of movement that students experience throughout the day. They are no longer getting up and walking between classes, walking to the cafeteria for lunch, getting outside for recess, or even, in most cases, getting up to sharpen their pencil. While these examples may seem insignificant, the FitBit addicts among us can attest that these small amounts of movement add up!

It is vital to recognize the strong connection between physical activity and brain function and encourage your student to get up and move throughout the day. For littles, we love GoNoodle videos. For older students, simply going for a walk or kicking around a soccer ball a couple of times a day will suffice.

Give your kids, and yourself, a break.

At the end of the day, this is unchartered territory for you and your student. Your primary goal should always be to encourage and support your student, which rings especially true during these difficult times.

On a recent webinar hosted by Tutoring Club of McLean, Resident in Counseling at The Wise Family, Whitney Taylor, put this into simple terms: “It’s hard for kids to learn–at home, at school, anywhere. It’s just hard. So, I love using the language, “Hey, I know this is hard for you, and I’m proud of you.” And that itself can earn a reward because we deserve rewards when we do something hard.”

Remember to cut yourself some slack as well! For the first time in your life, you are tasked with playing the dual role of parent and educator, and you can’t be expected to have it all figured out. Recognize that this is a challenging time for you, too; congratulate yourself on the small victories and don’t put too much weight on slight missteps.

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Are you and your family in need of additional support in managing distance learning? Tutoring Club of McLean has you covered! In addition to our traditional tutoring options, we are offering a range of services dedicated to helping students navigate the intricate world of online learning. No matter what your student’s needs are, we will develop an individualized plan to get them on track to meet their goals. Give us a call today and allow us to take some of the weight off of your shoulders!

Michelle Scott

Owner/Director

Tutoring Club of McLean

703.237.TUTOR (8886)

Email:[email protected]