Supporting Your Child: During Virtual Learning

So your school is starting the year with virtual learning. Or maybe you were given a choice for your child and picked the online option. Either way here we are where we never dreamed we would be!

 

The truth is no matter how your child is starting the school year whether online, homeschooling, or in person there is no doubt that this school year is going to be different than what we have experienced in the past.

 

This will be a challenging year for all students and parents alike! In my state we started “locking down” and learning virtually in the spring. Although, it wasn’t pretty by any stretch I will say all the teachers I know gave it their ALL!

   

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Those same teachers are still giving it their all no matter what their circumstance is! It may be a different situation for many of us but I have some tips to help support your child no matter how they learn best.

 

Please comment down below and let me know what your situation is for learning this year.

 

Below are 5 Tips to Help Any Learner Succeed with Virtual Learning

 

Give Grace

 

I have to start here, with grace because we all need to remember it. We are ALL experiencing new things – new things among a global pandemic.

 

Your child’s teacher is teaching against obstacles that they haven’t encountered before. Keep an open mind that your child’s teacher is in the profession because they love children and want to see them succeed. If you are going virtual I can almost promise you that your child’s teacher is missing getting to see your child in person, missing building a connection with your child, and missing teaching your child like they have all the children before them.

 

So please as we all navigate this “new normal” and work together to find balance give yourself, your child, and all of the school staff some grace- We all Need It!

 

Consistency & Routine

 

This is HUGE! One of the first things that educators do during the day is tell the kids exactly their routine for the day using a *visual* schedule. This means they have a chart or a schedule written somewhere of the daily plan. I have done this in the past using a pocket chart with schedule cards, a white board, and even written it (or taped it) directly on a student’s desk before.

 

We all do better when we know what is expected of us before starting something.

 

I always tell my students if something is going to be different during the day like a field trip or if I know a teacher is absent. This will look different for virtual learning. It might mean you have a doctor’s appointment or a scheduled event during the day.

 

If you are working and the plan is to do school work in the evening make sure your child has an understanding that getting their school done will be a priority in the evenings.

 

I know everyone has different circumstances right now. The time that you have built into your child’s day for school might be different each day. However, the routine for the day should be the same (or close to it) each day.

 

An example of a schedule that might work for an elementary student is:

 

Create Open Communication with Your Child’s Teacher

 

This is going to be huge for any student that is working online but especially for students that are struggling. When your teacher’s child gets ahold of you or your child, for the first time make sure you establish a way of communication that works well for you.

 

Most of the teachers I work with are more than willing to communicate with parents via email, text, or phone calls. Usually the teacher will communicate with you based on what works best for the parent. Building strong communication with the teacher will be key for you and your child.

 

It will help you best understand assignments, ask for ideas, and help the teacher to give specific support to your child. If you have a younger child and they are learning virtually you are going to be a key component to help the teacher understand your child’s needs. It will help support you to have a successful school year!

 

Accommodations

 

During classroom instruction, teachers will ask students to complete lessons in a vareity of ways including; small group, one-on-one, whole group instruction, and centers to name a few.

 

This will look different for each child depending on their grade level, abilities, and the subject they are being asked to work on. It is called “differentiated instruction” its giving the instruction in different ways to support ALL learners.

 

If you child is on a 504 plan or Individual Education Plan (IEP) they are probably offered some accommodations throughout the day to help support their learning. It is important that you talk to your child’s teacher about these things to know exactly what your child is offered. This will help you best support them throughout the day.

 

Some examples of accommodations that may be available to students throughout the day are:

 

• Having the text read to them, sometimes this can be achieved with different computer programs
• Having the child read a page, and then the teacher reading a page
• Using manipulatives (a clock, play money, counters, etc.)
• Providing extra time

 

I would ask your child’s teacher what accommodations they might offer your child during the regular work day and how you can provide this at home.

 

Remember your child’s teacher wants your child to be just as successful as you do! We are all in this together.

 

Read at Home

 

Reading at home has so many benefits for children! Besides exposing your child to more vocabulary and exposure to text it also can help provide sustained attention.

 

Many teachers break up the day by reading aloud chapter books to students after transitions like lunch/recess or specials class. In my class we would keep the lights off and I would let them color or draw during this time. It was only about 10 minutes a day but it gives the children the opportunity to relax and focus on something outside of school work.

 

I have a list below of some of the chapter books that my classes have enjoyed over the years. You can also ask your child’s teacher for some of their favorite read aloud books.

 

• Humphrey By: Betty G. Birney
• Mr. Popper’s Penguins By: Richard Atwater
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle By: Beverly Cleary
• Flat Stanley By: Jeff Brown
• Freckle Juice By: Judy Blume

 

There are my top tips for helping your child this school year! Remember no matter what your situation give yourself (and your child) grace, make it fun, and know that we are all in this together!

 

In the end we will all make it through this and your child will adapt. Let’s go into this year knowing we will continue to need to be flexible, supportive (to our children, teachers, and administrators), and kind! And remember, YOU’VE GOT THIS!

   

Love, Ashley E

 

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