YOU GOT THIS!!
Ok, here we are….hunkered down at home with our kids….stressed…..worried….and a bit overwhelmed. Schools are closed nationwide with a huge question-mark about re-opening. Besides wanting to keep our kids safe, we’re also worried about what they may miss in their education. Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and try to relax….you got this.
Although it’s obvious that you, at the drop of a hat, can’t replicate what occurs in your child’s classroom overnight, there are many things that you can – that aren’t that difficult – to fill the gap.
1. Of course, I don’t have to tell you to use your home computer. You’ve already thought of that. The internet is full of every imaginable type of lesson. In fact, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the amount of options available to you. Simply search for what you want your child to work on and go from there. Also, some service providers have started offering free internet and some schools are providing connection services from their parking lot. Check that out.
2. For those who do not have internet accessibility, for younger children, look at your child’s folder and make additional worksheets with similar focus. They don’t need to be clever, just straight-forward. For middle school and high school students, I realize that they may be studying things you know little about. This gives you a wonderful opportunity to engage them in conversation. Ask them to think of something that they are studying and tell you about it.
3. Keep in mind, also, that you don’t necessarily have to cover what your child is currently studying in school. Any teacher will tell you that the goal of education is learning HOW to think. So, engaging your student in any type of thinking activity is worth doing and your home is loaded with learning opportunities! Home schooling parents know this well.
Examples include: observing the differences between the plants in your yard, making precise measurements with a recipe, building something such as a wooden box or birdhouse, categorizing things in your house – fabric, metal, plastic, etc., observing stars and constellations, how your house works – plumbing, electricity, water, etc.
4. Really, the most important thing is that you connect with your child in showing them that their learning is important to you. Your lessons don’t have to be any longer than a few hours – their school day is filled with down-time. In the long run, this crazy episode will really not effect your child’s knowledge base much.
5. The more stressed you are, the more stressed your child will be. What you do is not as important as how you do it. If what you’re doing isn’t working well, stop, and try something else. It’s OK to ask your child what they would like to study/learn/work on and go with that!
6. You got this!
Ok, here we are….hunkered down at home with our kids….stressed…..worried….and a bit overwhelmed. Schools are closed nationwide with a huge question-mark about re-opening. Besides wanting to keep our kids safe, we’re also worried about what they may miss in their education. Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and try to relax….you got this.
Although it’s obvious that you, at the drop of a hat, can’t replicate what occurs in your child’s classroom overnight, there are many things that you can – that aren’t that difficult – to fill the gap.
1. Of course, I don’t have to tell you to use your home computer. You’ve already thought of that. The internet is full of every imaginable type of lesson. In fact, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the amount of options available to you. Simply search for what you want your child to work on and go from there. Also, some service providers have started offering free internet and some schools are providing connection services from their parking lot. Check that out.
2. For those who do not have internet accessibility, for younger children, look at your child’s folder and make additional worksheets with similar focus. They don’t need to be clever, just straight-forward. For middle school and high school students, I realize that they may be studying things you know little about. This gives you a wonderful opportunity to engage them in conversation. Ask them to think of something that they are studying and tell you about it.
3. Keep in mind, also, that you don’t necessarily have to cover what your child is currently studying in school. Any teacher will tell you that the goal of education is learning HOW to think. So, engaging your student in any type of thinking activity is worth doing and your home is loaded with learning opportunities! Home schooling parents know this well.
Examples include: observing the differences between the plants in your yard, making precise measurements with a recipe, building something such as a wooden box or birdhouse, categorizing things in your house – fabric, metal, plastic, etc., observing stars and constellations, how your house works – plumbing, electricity, water, etc.
4. Really, the most important thing is that you connect with your child in showing them that their learning is important to you. Your lessons don’t have to be any longer than a few hours – their school day is filled with down-time. In the long run, this crazy episode will really not effect your child’s knowledge base much.
5. The more stressed you are, the more stressed your child will be. What you do is not as important as how you do it. If what you’re doing isn’t working well, stop, and try something else. It’s OK to ask your child what they would like to study/learn/work on and go with that!
6. You got this!
