Well, we are about two weeks in to this whole home schooling thing and I have to admit: I cannot believe that my family has made it this far! Home school is rough. On both the parents and the kids. We have all had to grow accustomed to the new “norm” around here and the last two weeks have definitely not been easy. But it’s only the beginning. We have a few more months of coronavirus quarantine to go! Here are a few home school and online school tips that will help you save your sanity as the coronavirus quarantine continues.
Home School And Online School Tips For Mom
Stay Organized
Now that you have all of your kids at home with you (aren’t you lucky?) one of the most important things you can do is get all of your school supplies organized. Make sure that each kid has a spot to do their schoolwork and a little organization bin to keep all of their stuff in. When everyone knows where their stuff is, there is no arguing!
Set A Routine
As with anything, a routine is crucial. Do your best to follow the normal school day routine. Get up at the same time, eat breakfast, and get dressed. Do subjects in the same order as their teacher would and take recess breaks when they usually are as well. Everyone does better when adhering to a schedule that they recognize.
Home School And Online School Tips : Time Management
Get Rid Of Distractions
Just because you can have the television on in the background now doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. Even though you are at home, it’s time for school. Remove any (and all) distractions from your workspace. This could include photographs, stereo systems, or whatever. Remove anything that hinders the focus, and that includes covering the blinds if you have kids who stare outside. (Keep in mind, this covering the blinds trick only works for short periods. The goal is to focus, not to become depressed.)
Use A Planner
If your kids don’t already have one, make your own or order one ASAP. A planner will be INCREDIBLY helpful in keeping everyone timely and organized. Have your kids write out their agenda for the next day before signing off for the night. This will keep you both focused for the following day.
Home School And Online School Tips : Tools
Google Calendar
Keep your days totally organized by planning out your schedule via Google calendar. You can even set it up to give you reminders when to switch subjects after x amount of business. Even better, you can share your study calendars with your classmates so you know when everyone is available.
Zoom Meeting
My kids have really missed interacting with their friends at school, so many of their teachers have been using Zoom Meeting. Zoom Meeting is great because the students can gather for a lecture and then head off into their own groups where they can chat with their classmates. You can even mute people who are being especially loud!
Home School And Online School Tips : Learning
Online School Tips: Kids
If you are having trouble getting your kiddos to stay focused at home, try dedicating a room in your house to the school cause. Once you cross the threshold into the room, it’s time for school. Think of it as a home office, no work can be done outside of that room.
Online School Tips: Middle School
It’s important to ask for help when needed. If you or your child is having a hard time understanding something difficult, don’t be afraid to reach out to the teacher. Most teachers are offering one-on-one tutoring when needed via Zoom Meeting or over the phone.
Online School Tips: High School
Remember that socialization is the key to getting through tough times such as this. Make sure that you are utilizing any group projects as well as classwork through Zoom Meeting. It can be tempting to get off task (and never return to it) so do yourself a favor by setting small goals and rewarding yourself with breaks of internet time or something similar when you have completed a task.
Online School Tips: College
It can be tempting not to get overwhelmed when taking a college course online. Because the pacing is different and the teachers aren’t around to hold your hand, so to speak, it’s important to pace yourself. Use a calendar to schedule out your studying blocks and stick to them. And while it can be tempting to bust out an entire week’s worth of work in a 10-hour run, consider breaking up large tasks into smaller time frames for more effective work.
Home School And Online School Tips : For Teachers
My mom is a third-grade teacher who has to resort to teaching her class completely online. Here are a few of her tips for staying sane during the pandemic:
Plan Lesson Content Weeks Ahead
Every Monday, plan ahead your lessons for the coming weeks. That way, when the day comes, you can be focused on helping your students should they need it.
Establish Clear Boundaries Between Parents
It can be difficult to establish boundaries with your school parents. Some will want answers to their questions at all hours of the day. You can help mitigate this by providing clear guidelines as to when, where, and how you can be reached.
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