Now that virtual school is official for at least the first part of the school year, we know that the at-home stress levels are probably higher than ever. In addition to being a parent and an employee or boss, you now have to be an adjunct teacher or professor. To help ease that transition we have compiled resources, tips, and helpful advice on turning that corner of your living room into your child’s assigned classroom seat.
Create A Dedicated Space
If you haven’t already, the best way to help your children, no matter what age they are (yes we are looking at you, college students whom exclusively work from their beds) having an area, whether it is their favorite patch of carpet by the coffee table, desk, or spot at the dining table to work at is the first step to success. Going to go sit at the same spot everyday helps establish a routine. It will be the first signal to your children’s brain that it is school time now, and it’s time to learn and work.
Having a dedicated area also helps keep wandering children away from your workspace, as most of us will be working from home for the foreseeable future as well. Keeping their school spot separate from their time-out and break spaces will help reinforce that when they sit there it is time for learning, just like in regular school.
Break the day into pieces. In regular school, learning doesn’t happen for eight straight hours. In a home school setting, there isn’t much distraction from the child and the lessons, while in regular school there is really only about 3 to 4 hours of effective classroom learning time. The rest is spent in the hallways, in recess, in lunch, and in waiting for others to take their turns. After intensive studying for a period of time, get up and go do something different. It helps recharge the brain.
Stay Active
Keeping your children active is a vital part of keeping them healthy and happy. This is made even more difficult by virtual school, parks being closed and not the safest, and pools being mostly closed all summer. We know it has been a long few months cooped up inside, and your wiggle time ideas might be running a little dry. Not to fear, we have a list of resources for everything from at home recess to Pre-K yoga.
Working in Activity with Classroom Lessons
GoNoodle Aps and Games to Get Moving
Recess At Home Through CATCH.org’s Google Classroom
Videos and Printables for Game Play at Home
Resources:
General: These are a few resources for you and children of different ages.
Having a family Jeopardy night? Here is a YouTube channel all about trivia
Today.com has complied 101 free resources for at home education during COVID-19
Need a little inspiration for helping your child learn?
Khan Academy is a free online resource with video lessons for all ages on almost every subject (but especially for those math questions that none of us know the answer for).
Need a movie night but want to help answer some of those questions about deep sea animals and what actually lives on the plains? Check out Netflix’s One Planet series.
Preschool-Elementary School:
Have the next Neil deGrasse Tyson at home? Check out this playlist on Let’s Go To Space!
Almost everything at school revolves around growing up and social connections. This playlist will help your child Get To Know Your Emotions.
Is “I Want to Be A Scientist” a common phrase? Check these out!
The same Khan Academy as above but this time just for Learners.
National Geographic Kids has a dedicated YouTube Channel.
Middle-High School
The CrashCourse YouTube channel has short well-illustrated lessons on every subject from Organic Chemistry to U.S. History.
Ted Talks are a great way to help inspire and supplement some subjects that may be hard to care about right now: Literature, History, Art, Math, Science, Music, and Writing!
National Geographic has a YouTube channel for adults too!
Ask Your Doctor
If you are worried about keeping your children active, engaged in their learning, or have questions about where your children should be developmentally to best help judge what they need from you, just ask us! We are here to be another resource outside of your child’s teachers and administration. Give us a call at 540.349.3225 to speak with your provider.