More than a year into the pandemic, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has completely transformed family life. From physical distancing, working at home, and school closures, there are a lot of things to navigate both for parents and children. Among these new routines, children are the most affected since most of them are not used to attending classes while at home.
Whether your child is taking in-person classes, virtual schooling, or a combination of both, learning to adjust to the new learning routine is stressful and challenging for children and parents. Homeschooling is a big change for families whose children are used to a traditional learning setup.
This encouraged parents to use online tools to help their children become engaged in their study routines. One example is the reading enrichment program that offers online English classes to help elementary and middle school students enhance their grammar, vocabulary, and reading and writing skills.
The changes in study routine can be scary and uncomfortable for most students. But being at home with the family offers a safe space for the student to navigate the new fears, challenges, and fears in these uncertain times. In this article, we’ll discuss the ways to support children for their online homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Create a sound learning environment
Many students are struggling to learn and accomplish schoolwork at home because there are plenty of distractions, and they’re not used to learning outside traditional school settings. Obviously, our homes typically have a different environment than school settings. They tend to be less structured, so children find it difficult to transition their life between home and online schooling.
Before a child begins their semester, start planning in managing the household spaces for routines, learning, and technology resources. This can be very helpful in supporting students’ homeschooling and minimizing household stress.
As you create a dedicated space for remote learning, you need to establish new household routines. Both parents and children should reflect on their previous experiences in online learning so that they can adapt their routines and create a better environment that encourages productivity.
The goal is to promote a supportive learning environment that caters to the online learner’s emerging needs. The entire family should work together to organize family routines that complement the students’ learning preferences, responsibilities, physical activities, recreational needs, and non-screen time. All these measures can go a long way in promoting student success.
Be a source of motivation
There are plenty of ways parents can be a source of motivation for their children aside from rewards and reprimands. Parent involvement is a combination of active participation and commitment to a student’s development. By gently motivating children through support and encouragement, parents can be active promoters of a student’s academic success.
Whether in-person or online learning, motivation is a very important tool for learners. The type of motivation depends on the learning style of a student. Some prefer their parents to be physically present during online classes, while others are contented with periodic check-ins.
Another tip is to allow the student to talk about their activities and learning experiences with the family members. In turn, parents can show their support by expressing their care, encouragement, and interest to the students. Students who have a continuous line of support from family members are likely to overcome different life challenges.
Stay updated with school happenings
As information about school policies and operations is changing rapidly, communication between the parent and teachers is critical. Aside from parental involvement in schoolwork, parents can support their children by maintaining two-way communication with the school.
Staying updated about school happenings offers additional information for parents and online learners to adjust, prepare, and understand the changing expectations of the new learning setup. To know more information about the school community, parents should take time reading school emails or newsletters, reviewing school news, and checking social media platforms. Parents can also find valuable information in these online platforms to aid their child’s learning.
Whether your child is taking hybrid learning, online education, or in-person classes, two-way communication is essential to a student’s success. There will be times when the parent needs the teacher’s help in understanding their child’s performance and learning. This offers an opportunity to ask for recommendations about learning resources, techniques, and areas that need improvement. Together, the teacher and parent can build a relationship that centers on learning.
Aside from the suggestions above, there are plenty of teaching techniques you can experiment on to help your child adjust to the new learning situation. What’s important is to allow your child and yourself some extra flexibility to navigate the “new normal” way of schooling. You can also take advantage of this opportunity to involve yourself in influencing your child’s learning outcomes and academic success.