Insights: Help your child succeed in online classes

Kids around the country have attended, or will attend, school remotely because of pandemic health and safety requirements. This instructional system will work great for some students, especially older ones. But it is difficult for others, and even unworkable for the youngest students or those with special education needs.

One mother in Georgia shared a heartbreaking image of her kindergarten son crying at his desk while trying to learn via computer. See the photo on cnn.com: https://cnn.it/2Z7xNge.

This is sad, but it is our current situation. Parents are struggling to help their children manage emotional and educational challenges. Since it is what school looks like now, the only option is to follow expert guidance and do our best to have a good school year in this new format.

Tips to make online school better for your child

Parents can help their kids adjust and get the most out of their classes with a few tips from homeschooling experts. Read the whole list, published by USA Today at https://bit.ly/3lL9M8d.

These tips can help parents transform their home into a more ideal classroom environment. Think about what you can buy to optimize your kid’s academic performance and how you can help them through this experience. Read through to see what tips and tricks can help you get your remote learning act together for kids of all ages: 

Set up your “classroom”

Invest in a new desk
Sitting at a desk can help students feel like they are in school. Be sure they have comfortable learning space to study. It should be big enough for a computer and writing space, have a comfortable chair and be welcoming. Let your students personalize it with photos and posters. 

Find the right place to study
Give some thoughtful consideration to where your child will study. Find a spot with a view if possible, such as next to a window or in a quiet corner if they prefer minimal distractions. Try to carve out a space near a source of natural light. Research shows that students learn better when they study in areas with daylight and fresh air. 

Purchase headphones
Headphones or earbuds can help block out noise and improve concentration. This is especially important when all members of the household are working from home.

Minimize distractions with a screen divider
A physical divider or screen can reduce distractions in a busy household. A work station screen can help create a separate classroom space for your child. 

Accommodate high-focus instructional activities
Give your child space by taking a walk around the block when they need to focus on a task. Bring the dog if you have one. A quiet house will help your child focus during online exams and intense instructional activities. 

Get mentally prepared

Dress for success
Buy new school clothes to kick off the school year. Or, buy new pajamas if that helps your child get a smoother start to the day.  

Keep a checklist
At home, there is no school bell between classes. Help your child visualize class time transitions with a checklist on a whiteboard. Let your child check off the completed activities and view the day’s schedule from their workspace. 

Keep track of your students’ online schedule
Keep school schedules accessible in the household. Awareness of school activities will help prevent disruptive interruptions during classroom Zoom sessions. 

Set phone boundaries
Designated school time should mean limited phone time. Students can focus better without the distraction of social media notifications and activity. Consider allowing a phone check-in during breaks and lunch time. 

Model a positive attitude
Start your day with a positive attitude. Your children will follow your lead. Be careful not to share your personal frustrations about online learning. If you don’t like it, your child will almost certainly dislike it, too. And be prepared to be a “classroom assistant” to your child. A new online system and a new instructional model for your student will require extra assistance with the systems and the school work. 

Build in screen breaks
Students benefit from taking a break from computer-based learning. Help your child engage their brains differently by limiting non-school screen time. Read books, do art projects and practice academic skills on paper worksheets with a pencil. 

Have fun outside
Don’t forget recess. Exercise is important for learning and fun physical activities can recharge students between classes. Plan for organized activities — perhaps a family bike ride — and time for free play. 

Try to relax
Even with careful planning, this new school model may seem overwhelming and stressful to students and parents alike. Mistakes happen. Try to do better next time and be patient with each other.