Learning at Home Versus School: Finding What Works

Many schools will likely remain closed through the end of the current school year, meaning students will be finishing up the fourth quarter at home. Parents are feeling the stress of trying to complete their own work while keeping their kids on task and making sure they are completing assignments and activities on time.

Learning at home can be a big adjustment for everyone. It’s not just your schedule that has changed — your child’s routine has been disrupted as well. Plus, while many students use technology at school, they may not know how to send emails, use a mouse (if they are used to touchscreen or touchpad devices), or navigate some of the resources they are now being asked to use. It is a learning process for the whole family.

Here are a few points to keep in mind as you transition to remote learning:

· You do not have to cram in six or eight hours of school work.

Remember that a lot of your child’s day at school is broken up by transitioning between classes and activities, listening to directions, waiting in line, eating lunch, playing at recess, etc. They may be at school for eight hours, but they are not doing eight hours of work, so don’t expect this at home. Many schools are shifting toward two or three hours of school work each day — and you can do this at your own pace.

It’s okay to take breaks, especially if your child is becoming frustrated. Create a schedule that works for you. For instance, if your child likes to sleep in, let them start their work later in the morning and you can use the earlier morning hours to get some of your own work done. Don’t stress about starting at exactly 8 a.m. — unless of course they’re expected to be in a Zoom meeting with their class or teacher.

· Do more intense work first.

Try to get harder activities that require more guidance or input from you done first. You may want to start your morning with math or reading, then in the afternoon your child can work on more self-directed activities they can do on their own. This also gives you some free time to work because you’re not as involved with what they are doing.

· Use a variety of resources

You have access to a lot more resources than your child may have at school, so take advantage of them! There are tons of organizations offering free lessons and activities, virtual tours, online presentations, videos, and more. Look at what your child is learning about, then let them use resources that are informational but keep their attention. Their teacher is likely providing links and tools to use as well while learning at home.

· Be lenient about screen time.

With remote learning, your child is probably spending a lot more time on the computer or iPad than they normally would. Try not to stress. Letting them video chat with their friends or spend a little extra time playing a video game can be a good source of stress relief. This is a challenging time for them as well.

Plus, a lot of learning can take place online. For instance, Crafting Scholars offers online classes in math, English, science, and history that are designed to help your child keep up with current curriculum and stay on track with their learning while engaging in one-on-one or small group instruction. Our learning specialists understand how to present information in a way that is age-appropriate, makes sense, and aligns with their unique needs. Take some of the stress off of yourself by letting us take the lead. Contact us today to sign up!