How to set your kids up for success in a time of social distancing
With a growing number of schools closing every day due to the coronavirus, students K-12 (and beyond) are transitioning to online and home schooling — thrusting parents into the new role of teacher/principal/administrator.To help students make the most of their new educational environment that’s more online than in the classroom, we’ve gathered a few best practices to help set them on the path to success.
- Have (some) structure. Just because there’s no tardy bell doesn’t mean home school is a free for all. Being flexible with time is one of the major benefits of home schooling, but students still benefit from having a daily routine; it helps them to know what is expected of them, what milestones they’re working toward, and what they should focus on day by day.
- Have goals. The importance of establishing goals can’t be overstated. Having a clear idea of what you want your child to accomplish will help you track progress and measure success. It’s good to establish both short-term (what should my child accomplish this day/week?) and long-term goals (what should my child accomplish this month/year?), and to track progress over time.
- Give them space. Having a dedicated space is important for home schooling and online learning. For starters, it helps establish the line between home life and school life, putting your student in the right frame of mind for learning. It also helps with organization by creating a dedicated space for learning materials, laptops, projects and other supplies.
- Take breaks. It’s not all about regimen and learning. Education experts agree that those periods of downtime during a typical school day — time between classes, lunch breaks, recesses — are critical to the learning process.
- Take advantage of online resources. Many school districts are providing online learning resources or suggested curriculums to help students continue their education during school closures. If your school district isn’t providing resources or curriculum, don’t despair — there are a wealth of online resources to help you continue your child’s education when they’re home. Two to start with include:
- NewAmerica.org has an exhaustive listing of openly licensed textbooks and online curriculums for students K-12 and beyond
- The U.S. Office of Educational Technology has also collected a number of openly licensed educational materials accessible online for students and parent/teachers to help with home schooling.