A Guide To Remote Learning

The outbreak of coronavirus in 2020 caused most of the countries to go into full lockdown with parents being forced to work from home while the kids scrambled to grasp the gist of remote learning. Lockdowns were largely considered as the best way to reduce the spread of the virus, but it did required parents to step in a homeschooling role.

A year later, some schools have tentatively resumed in-person classes, knowing that COVID-19 still remains a threat. Others chose either virtual learning or “hybrid learning” – a mix of remote education and traditional classroom experiences catered to individual students. As parents balance working from home themselves, they are also challenged with ensuring their children receive the proper education while school doors are closed.

On top of dealing with the economic stress and emotional anxiety of the ongoing pandemic, parents or guardians of children who are still doing part or all of their school days remotely are trying to find ways to support their kids’ education.

This can be intimidating for any parent. However, this time of change can also create new opportunities. As teachers shift away from some of the constraints of a traditional classroom, many are enriching the existing curriculum with opportunities for children to focus on their natural interests. As parents, you can help your children to foster their passions, and learn and grow alongside them.

During this time of uncertainty, your outlook towards online learning is the most important thing. Keep an open mind and positive attitude and your child will do the same. Here are seven tips to help you and your kids to prepare for the school year – especially since remote and hybrid learning are facts of life now.

1.     Establish Home-Learning Balance

A home-learning balance is simply drawing the line between what is learning time and home time. Without after school activities, playdates, and daycare, children will be looking for other ways to entertain themselves. You have made it your life goal to ensure your children are happy and busy! Without their normal activities, it is important they find other ways to stay happy, healthy, and engaged while at home.

By creating a home-learning environment with the right tools and resources, you’ll see your child will thrive at home! The best part is that you get to watch it happen.

2.     Set a Schedule

Teachers advise that a student’s day at home should mirror their in-school schedule and routine. Parents should encourage their children to adhere to the same schedule in remote mode as if they were to school in-person. There are pillars in the school day that you can mimic at home. Things like start-time, lunch break, and end time are good starting points for setting a schedule. Having consistency in the schedule will instill your student with a sense of comfort.

You may need to make adjustments in your day to compliment your kids at home schedule. You obviously can (and probably should) revise whatever you come up with at first to fit your circumstance at home. But once you’ve got something that works, stick to it.

3.     Set a Positive Tone

You and your child might not be thrilled at having to do remote learning or agree with the decision your school or local authorities are making right now, but parents can help their students have a more positive mindset by setting the tone when it comes to their attitude. Your children are watching you, listening to you, and learning from you.

Be excited for them to ‘sign on’ or head into school if they’re doing a hybrid approach. This time is crucial as we have a chance to show children the importance of working together, being respectful, building connections and putting an emphasis on learning.

4.     Don’t Teach – Help Them Understand

Helping students understand is one of the more obvious remote learning tips for parents. This could be the topic for an entire book because how this happens is complicated and varies greatly from student to student and grade level to grade level and content area to content area.

Imagine the parent of a second-grade student helping them complete an essay on their favorite cookie versus the parent of a high school senior helping them a Calculus problem or an analysis of Shakespearean versus Petrarchan meter. The former is a matter of sitting with your child, while the latter is going to likely require that you learn alongside your child – or even learn it first yourself and then review it with them after.

5.     Keep the Lines of Communication Open

Communication is key when it comes to remote learning. Make sure to keep open lines of communication with both your child and their teacher. Holding space for kids to talk about their emotions – the positive and the negative – can help them head into another year feeling more calm and confident. Ask open-ended questions about how they are feeling. What are they excited about? What are they concerned about? Engage them in conversations about how school might look different in the future, so children have time to prepare emotionally and socially for the changes they might expect.

Let them express their fears and concerns openly. We assume children know we as adults are there for them, but open conversations are simple and natural reminders of the security we as adults can offer in difficult times.

6.     Learn to Identify the Barriers

This is something teachers have to learn early on in their careers – how to pinpoint exactly what’s happening or going wrong. Diagnostic teaching is one approach that can help here but the big idea is to identify precisely why your child might be struggling: Is it focus? Motivation? Too much or too little structure? Do they need a hug or finger-wrapping or for you to sit with them?

And if it’s a knowledge deficit, exactly what do they not understand? When students say, ‘I don’t get it,’ the first step is to identify exactly what ‘it’ is – and this isn’t always easy. Most students don’t know what they don’t know. That’s why you (and an internet full of resources) are there to help them making this an especially powerful remote learning tip for parents.

7.     Be Patient

While parents have more ways than ever to communicate with school staff, it’s important to be patient when working with teachers as well as your child. Remember that a lot of the teachers are also parents. Teachers love being with their students and miss them terribly. They have had to completely redesign the way they teach in such a short time with very limited support.

Your children won’t fall behind, everyone will catch up eventually, but the important thing is to show them that that you are an active partner in their education.

CONCLUSION

Remember to be patient: designing and implementing new home routines takes time. Schedules are useful, but don't forget to plan for days when everyone is going to need a break. Your family’s emotional wellness is a top priority – sometimes, they will just need the freedom to break the rules and choose an activity that makes them happy in the moment.

As your family develops a remote learning routine, be sure to balance online learning with other activities such as reading, free-time play, board games and puzzles, physical activities, and family socializing. Every child has unique needs. As a parent, you are likely grappling with the specific needs of remote learning for your child. Have a positive attitude towards online learning and your child will have the same.