As the days grow shorter, students prepare to return to classrooms and many of them will have to remain remote, at least for a time.
This remote or virtual learning can be a challenge for students and teachers alike, but at least the spring experience has allowed some techniques and tricks to be developed that may come in handy this fall.
“Remote learning is not the best solution, but we cannot rule it out. I'm already planning things to do better, ”says Caitlin Palumbo, a fourth grade teacher in Brooklyn, New York. I'll improve it to make it more substantial and meaningful. I don't want people to consider it a waste of time.
Although teachers are working hard to start the school year, the new normal requires some extra effort on the part of parents. Many believe that they should assume the role of teacher entirely, but that is not necessary. What they must do, according to these teachers, is work as a team to meet the shared goal of educating the next generation in the midst of a global pandemic.
"It's an association, and when I talk to parents, I always want them to know that I don't expect them to do my job," says Palumbo. “Anything parents do at home is already amazing. This has brought a lot of stress for the parents. I want them to know that I will do everything I can to help.
While much of remote learning revolves around screens and technology, we spoke with teachers to get their input on strategies and tools parents can implement to prepare their students for a successful semester.
How to set up a virtual classroom
When the boundaries between home, work and school have deteriorated, routine is paramount. "Consistency is key," says Adriane Musacchio, a tenth grade global history teacher from Brooklyn, New York. "If possible, try to make a schedule and have the children stick to it."
While scheduling work time is important, scheduling rest times, which are actually helpful in preventing burnout, are equally important. Allow breaks. Lots of breaks, ”says Musacchio. “Adults can't even sit for two or three hours straight without a break. The breaks are healthy and will allow for deeper and more meaningful learning. Plan breaks for snacks, some exercise and some meditation.
Here are our product picks to help you set a schedule and stick to it.
Klutz Best Year Ever! Planner & Gratitude Journal for Kids ($ 16.99; amazon.com)
This fun planner will teach little ones to better manage their time.
Global Datebooks Dated Middle School or High School Student Planner (starting at $ 12.95; amazon.com)
Don't skimp on stickers and plan every day.
Sweetzer & Orange To-Do Notepad ($ 6.99; amazon.com)
This to-do list pad also has a magnet to attach to the fridge.
Atonki Kitchen Timer, 2-Pack ($ 9.97, originally $ 12.99, amazon.com)
Space out your breaks and make sure you work in short, productive periods rather than sitting in front of a screen for hours on end.
Elehot Projection Clock Radio ($ 24.99, originally $ 30.99; amazon.com)
Wake up at the same time each morning instead of getting out of bed to the computer. It is useful to start the day on the right foot.
Jall Wake-Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock for Kids ($ 37.99; amazon.com)
This alarm clock mimics the sunrise to help with a more natural awakening.
Beats Solo Pro Wireless Noise-Canceling On-Ear Headphones ($ 229.95; amazon.com)
Noise-canceling headphones can help with concentration and block out noise, even if you're not playing music.
Teachers are also doing their best to make virtual learning as fun and interactive as possible, but physical space counts too. While you don't need to have a full office space, here are our top picks for transforming your space of any size into a productive environment.
Lockways Magnetic Dry Erase Board (starting at $ 29.89; amazon.com)
Useful for solving math and science problems, or brainstorming ideas, this dry erase board is available in multiple sizes. If you want to make one yourself, a teacher gave us a tip: you can put a piece of white paper inside a giant Ziploc bag and write.
U Brands Double Ended Magnetic Dry Erase Markers with Erasers ($ 4.83, originally $ 7.99; amazon.com)
A wide variety of colors to help students code their subjects and workflows.
Quartet Cork Board Notice Board (starting at $ 26.86; amazon.com)
For important announcements and to-do lists
AmazonBasics Push Pins Tacks, 100-Pack ($ 3.02; amazon.com)
One hundred tacks to attach material to planks.
How to set up a bitmoji classroom
Many teachers give their classrooms a touch of creativity with the Bitmoji app and by creating virtual replicas of their classrooms in person via Google Classroom. Each student would be represented by a Bitmoji of their choice, which would resemble them.
This is a pretty cute way to help visualize students in a classroom, which may end up helping them focus. You can see a tutorial on how to make one here.
Engaging students in real world learning opportunities
Just because students are not in classrooms does not mean that homes are not full of learning opportunities. You don't need a teaching license to interact with your children on academic subjects.
Palumbo advises parents, for example, to ask their children about their reading.
"A lot of kids can read but they don't stop to process it," says Palumbo. “Parents who ask their children are the ones who keep their children excited about the story. Children who have just read it in their heads come up a bit confused. You don't even have to read the book yourself to do it. You can ask the teacher what to ask or ask about the character's traits. Is he a brave character? What do you like best about him or her? »
While parents may not be able to teach their child everything they would learn in school, they have many skills that translate into educational experiences. Identifying these opportunities will not only strengthen your bond with your child, it will also teach him a new real-world skill.
You can teach them to measure and mix while you cook. When talking about half a cup of rice and half a cup of water, you can use that as an opportunity to talk about proportions. If you hear a song on the radio, talk about what it is about, ”says Palumbo. «Do you have a plant in your house? In fourth grade, you learn about the stages of a plant. Talk about it when you are gardening and teach them what you know. It may not be a perfect curriculum, but it is also a life skill that they will use forever.
Monitor their mental health
Covid-19 is relatively new in our society, it is impossible to know the long-term effect of the pandemic on the mental health of children. We know that the population in the United States is more prone to mental health problems, and children are no exception.
"I can't tell you how many students suffer from really bad depression and anxiety and couldn't complete any of the work they were given because their anxiety was so paralyzing," says Alex Hajjar, a high school English teacher in Brooklyn, New York. "I had students send me messages telling me that they couldn't wake up in the morning, that they couldn't bear being caged in their rooms and that they didn't know what was going to happen to the virus."
While the popularization of telemedicine has made therapy more accessible, there are also apps like Talkspace that offer therapy through a mobile app. Meditation apps like Headspace and Calm can also be found in app stores and can be effective.
"Teenagers can be really reserved and private about their lives," says Hajjar. They don't go directly to their parents. The best advice I can give parents is to take their child's emotional pulse, see if they are doing it and, when necessary, or even when their child is doing well, invest in therapy.
If therapy is not accessible to your family, we also recommend keeping a journal, exercising, and setting aside relaxation time to alleviate accumulated anxiety.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.