So, our kids will be at home for the foreseeable future. What now? And what happens when you have kids at different schools, different ages in the same school or with different primary learning initiatives?
For us, having two boys close in age was always a blessing. They are learning similar things at similar times and it never seemed to be an issue - until we got into the Dual Language Program with UCPS. So, while they may be close in age, one is now learning in Spanish and the other - my younger - is still working on his mastery of the English Language!
I checked in with my teacher friends and compiled a list of some must-haves for different ages when setting up your remote learning center or "classroom" as we are calling it in our house.
Preschool ~ This list was compiled by some of the most dedicated preschool teachers I know: My Son's :-) Thank you to my friends Mindy, Talya, Meri, Lauren, Heni and Courtney from the Charlotte Jewish Preschool.
- They all agreed that the MOST IMPORTANT is to set a routine/schedule. The stuff isn't as important.
- Circle Time: read a story, talk about the days of the week, weather, etc.
- Get outside: play, run, bike
- Craft
- Snack
- Special Activity
- Create a dedicated learning area with tools that will help them learn the skills they need:
- Alphabet and Number posters
- Colors, Shapes, Seasons, Opposites, etc. Posters are also helpful
- White Board or Boogie Board - something they can easily hold and write on - practicing shapes, letters, numbers, etc.
- Get the basics, but offer a variety - for example:
- Paint
- watercolor, tempra & finger
- Paper:
- construction, white, lined, tissue
- Paint
- Puzzles and other math manipulatives are really helpful - pompoms for sorting and counting, foam blocks, etc.
- LOTS OF BOOKS!
Elementary School ~ Thanks to some amazing teachers at Antioch Elementary School - both dual language and traditional - I was able to set up our "classroom."
- The most important thing was to create a dedicated work space; for younger learners, who may still be working on handwriting, a work surface that allows them to keep feet on the ground is critical!
- A laminated paper to help you organize all of the codes:
- zoom codes
- canvas codes/passwords
- Classroom codes
- extra app lists and passwords
- White board and markers and erasers
- Pencil sharpener
- Planner or calendar (to keep track of assignments, zooms, etc.)
- A comfy place to read for pleasure
- Space to take a break - whether its outside or inside, someplace nearby to have a snack or to just take a brain break
- Gayle Prince, my friend and 5th grade teacher also loves the Boogie Board. You can find a link to it HERE.
Middle School ~ Middle school is a tricky widget! Kids are not quite old enough to be fully-autonomous, but the expectations are there and growing every day. They have loads of work but not nearly as much control as, say, your high schooler does. Middle school teachers and parents, like educator Nita Bryan, weighed in on this one and shared:
- Create a space that is uniquely theirs for their work - having ownership over their space is important, especially in these middle school years.
- Encourage your child to communicate often and freely with their teacher - try not to email the teacher for things that your child can do on their own. They will gain that skill and it will be invaluable as the year progresses
- Allow your kids to be the barometer of where they are at in terms of mental saturation - you can help them through things, but if they are DONE, give them a break.
- But still: set dedicated work hours - this will help them carve out "school time" v. "play time"
- Encourage them to get involved with after-school activities for socialization (in a safe way) - whether that's volunteering or soccer; there are a lot of sports and clubs that are meeting with social distance and/or masks.
- Create a password or log-in "cheat sheet" and laminate it somewhere they can access
- Get a planner or calendar for them to keep track of assignments, zooms and other school related scheduling details.
- Beware of social media - especially now that the kids will be online for so much of their schooling.
High School ~ It's been a while since I was in High School, but I remember that I worked BEST totally differently then than I did in lower grades and - to be honest, not much differently than I do now! Dorit Cohn is a UCPS High School teacher and she offered some insights:
- Flexibility is key when helping your High Schooler learn. By this point in your child's education, presumably, they know how and where they learn best. Is it at the kitchen table? Or do they prefer spreading all of their books on the floor and sitting there? Give them space and time to find their ideal situation and trust it.
- Wherever they are learning, make sure there is good lighting. Buy a desk or clip on lamp if they prefer direct light to overhead.
- Create a "Password Sheet" that includes everything they may need for their online learning
- Headphones are key - if you can get noise cancelling, those are probably best. Invest in a set with a microphone, too. This year the kids will be able to talk in real-time with their teachers online, so a mic is hugely helpful.
- Become a "Canvas Observer" so that you can easily ensure they are doing their assignments
- Communicate with their teachers - don't hesitate. The teachers are expecting this and welcome it. You are a team in this less-than-ideal situation!
