Helping Our Kids be Successful in Online Learning

I want to give a shout-out and special thanks to Shelley Heaphy, who writes a column entitled The Parents'Voice for The Equity, a weekly newspaper in Shawville, Quebec.  Shawville is the nearest town to our cottage on the banks of the Ottawa River.  Shelley's article mirrored an earlier one of mine, adding new suggestions you might find helpful in these last few weeks of online learning.

This is Shelley's column:

Switching from real world learning to online learning can definitely be challenging for our young learners for a variety of reasons.

We see challenges in this house such as, not being heard by the teacher, not feeling engaged, not having the attention span to sit and watch a screen for a long period of time (which is actually a good thing since we don't usually want out kids participating in prolonged screen time) and simply missing friends and teachers.

How can we help our children survive or even thrive in this online schooling world? I have come up with a few tips; maybe one of these will help you keep your sanity this week.

Make schedules - make it visual.  Colour code online times for each child, post them in their work area so that they know what time they're scheduled online.

Review with them key buttons, how to mute and unmute themselves.  We had a hard time with using two tabs at the same time, my daughter missed out on a part of the lesson because I was between rooms at the time.  We will revisit how to go back and forth between tabs this week.  Find out what is tricky for them and try to practice it with them.  

1. Prep snacks for them before classes so they can have them ready on their breaks.

2. Screen breaks. Schedule these in.  In between classes and on lunch breaks, make them get some fresh air.  It helps rejuvenate us so much.  Whether it be a game of hopscotch, go for a walk or bike around the block or a swing on the play structure.

3. Make sure they have a proper  workspace for independent work time.  They should have all the tools they may need, teachers are usually pretty great at warning students about what is needed for each lesson (crayons, rulers, pencils and erasers, scrap paper).

4. Even though we aren't leaving the house, they are still using a ton of brain power for online learning.  They're working hard figuring out new things in a new way.  They are tired.  Think about an earlier bedtime.....we have to stick to our normal school routine to help them get through the days.

5. If your child is having a hard time understanding concepts, doing work independently or struggling emotionally, communicate with their teachers.  They want to know how their students are doing and ways in which they can help.  Reach out.

6. If it works in your schedule at all, try and schedule some one on one time when learning is over so that they can feel a connection with you.  With online learning, our kids are missing social contacts as well as the connection they feel with their teacher and in their home away from home.  Talk to them. Check in regularly just so they can talk when they need to.

7. Try and help your kids keep in touch with their friends.  It can be so isolating to be away from friends and family (as we already know and are feeling).  It's important for them to keep up with their relationship for some normalcy.

8.  In our house, we deal with some meltdowns; each (and each personality) deals with these changes differently.  I try and help my child through her meltdowns, help her calm down and get back at it.  Each child may need something different...but what has been working for us is talking about why we're frustrated and trying fix that problem, taking long deep breaths, taking some time to relax and read a book or take an outdoor break and during no class time letting her choose what she wants to do. 

These changes are not easy for any of us.  Teachers want back in the classroom, parents need their kids to get back into a classroom so they can return to their job, and children need normalcy that comes with school, classrooms, teachers, and friends.  Until that happens again, I sincerely hope that some of these tips help you in the weeks ahead.

Hang in there, we've got this.

Again, thank you Shelley.  To all parents, teachers, and kids (and grandparents) stay well.

And finally, if you don't laugh, you cry.