Many of us were thrown into distance learning last Spring with no idea what to expect. Now that we made it through that mess it’s time to make a plan and dominate distance learning this fall.
The expectation when distance learning began was for kids to complete their assignments by themselves. But that wasn’t the case. My daughter didn’t focus on what she was doing unless I was sitting with her and directing her.
Helping my daughter with schoolwork takes a lot of time. I’m sure it will be the same when school starts in a few weeks. She’ll be starting the third grade. So I know the lessons are going to be more intense this year.
Now that we have an idea of what to expect here are some tips to start out the new school year right.
First Talk To Your Kids
Ask your kids what they think will work for them. Let them in on the planning process. Before school starts sit down and have a talk with your kids. Let them know how you plan on tackling distance learning from home. If everyone helps with planning then there will be no surprises.
Make Their Own Space
When we started distance learning last year we did schoolwork at the kitchen table. Or the couch, or in my daughter’s play tent. Trying to get school work done in all these different places made focusing difficult. My daughter would get distracted by the smallest thing. So an hour of school work would end up taking much longer than it needed to.
This time around I’m creating a place that she goes to every day to work on school lessons. She doesn’t have to have her own office. But I want her to have her own desk. Where she can keep her Chromebook and other supplies needed to complete her school work.
This way when she’s at her desk she knows that it’s time to do school work.
Follow a Routine
Having a routine always makes life easier. Try having a routine that your kids can follow every day. And be consistent with the schedule you create
School for us doesn’t start for another few weeks so I don’t know what to expect yet. But I would like my daughter to start working on her lessons at 9 am and finish for the day by 1 pm. Of course, I plan on having lunch and a short break during this time.
Organize
Having their own space will help your kiddos keep their school stuff organized. Keep everything they need to complete their school work in the same place. That way when your kids need something they know exactly where it is. And they’ll be able to find what the need by themselves.
Meal Plan and Prep
Meal planning and prep will save you lots of time. That time saved will give you more time to help your kiddos with school work. Already having a plan to feed your family will be one less thing you have to worry about.
Take time out on the weekend to plan your family meals for the week. Also, do all the grocery shopping and prep what you can ahead of time. Here’s a helpful blog post if you need more help with meal planning and prep.
Take Breaks
Do you know about the Pomodoro Technique? It’s a time management technique where you use a timer to break down work into intervals. Timers usually work well with kids because they know how long they have left to do something.
I know school work for four hours straight each day isn’t going to happen. I plan on my daughter taking a short break every 30 minutes. We could turn on GoNoodle and dance for a few minutes.
Then take a longer break after 90 minutes. For the longer breaks if the weather is nice we could go for a 15-minute walk around the neighborhood. Or we could do a quick craft for a fun break.
Entertain Younger Children
Having younger children at home makes it difficult to help your school-aged children. My younger son is home with me and it’s difficult to focus all my attention on my daughter. Also, younger siblings can be distracting.
To entertain younger children you can keep them busy with quite bags. You can make simple bags to keep them entertained for short amounts of time. An easy one to make is with pipe cleaners and beads. Or you can make a bag that has lacing cards in it.
If your little ones are old enough you can start a homeschool preschool for them. That way they can learn at the same time with their older siblings.
The Last Thing to Know about Preparing for Distance Learning
Last Spring was an unorganized mess. We did what we could when we could. My daughter was able to get her work done but it was a battle every day! I’m hoping this year with a plan everything will go a little smoother.
Preparing for distance learning can save you a lot of stress. Talk it over with your kids so they know what to expect. Let them have their own space to keep everything organized. Plan your meals ahead of time so it’s one less thing on your to-do list.
I hope you found these tips for preparing for distance learning useful! How are you planning to stay sane while schooling from home? Let me know in the comments:)
Related Posts:
- Back to School Tips for Parents
- Homeschooling Your Preschooler: Tips to Start
- Meal Planning Tips For School Lunches
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