How to Have a Successful Virtual Semester

The Applerouth Team
August 10, 2020
#
min read

Tips for Parents on Navigating Remote Learning.

Last spring, millions of students found themselves suddenly becoming remote learners, when schools across the world were forced to adopt a learn-from-home format due to COVID-19. As the fall semester approaches, families are preparing for a range of different school options, including hybrid learning and all-online courses.

Because the transition from in-person to remote learning was so quick, there wasn’t a lot of room for planning; many families were only able to react to the changes that came along. However, you’ve got more time to prepare for the next bout of socially distant learning. With a little careful planning and a lot of flexibility, this upcoming semester can feel a lot more manageable than it did last spring.

Have fair expectations of your student and yourself

As the parents of Applerouth learned last spring, remote learning in the age of COVID isn’t the same thing as homeschooling. If you’re feeling anxious about your teaching qualifications, be kind to yourself: you’re not expected to replace your student’s teacher! Your student’s teacher is still there, just not physically.

Your home also doesn’t have to replace the brick-and-mortar school experience. This isn’t school, it’s learning. It’s more important to identify what concepts and content are mission-critical: what skills does your student absolutely have to master this semester?

In an op-ed for USA Today, cognitive scientist and Northwestern University teaching professor Lindsay Portnoy says that clear expectations are more important than ever this semester: “More clearly outlining expectations of students, teachers, and parents will set the stage for success regardless of the mode of re-entry this fall.” If you’re not sure what the expectations are for your student, reach out to their teachers sooner than later..

Create a dedicated learning space for your student

There is a physical dimension to learning. Think back to your college days: you might have been at your best in a crowded coffee shop or a silent library, but probably not sprawled out in your dorm room. Very few people can honestly say that they can produce stellar academic work while in bed, and K-12 students are no exception. Students need physical space dedicated to learning and learning only. James Lane, Ph.D., Professor of Elementary Education at Columbia College in South Carolina, told the New York Times that it’s important that parents “do what [they] can to make that learning space as distraction-free as possible.” That might mean requiring students to put their cell phones and tablets in a box before learning time begins, or putting a sign on the door to remind other members of the family that your student needs quiet time.

If you have the room to make a permanent learning area, that’s great. If you don’t, though, that’s all right as well! You can make a temporary learning area, as long as you have clear distinctions between learning time and non-learning time.

Make sure everyone’s on the same page with a clear schedule or to-do list

Brick-and-mortar schooling has a structure baked into it: students have the same class schedule every week and they know where they need to be and when they need to be there. That kind of structure helps them learn, and it also reassures anxious students by providing a sense of security.

In virtual learning, your student might not have such a strict schedule, and their success might be measured by what they produce, rather than clocking in at the same time every day. CDC guidelines for virtual learning encourage families to work together to build a schedule that works for them: “Discuss your family’s schedule and identify the best times for learning and instruction, as well as family-oriented physical activity, such as walks outside. A family calendar or other visuals could be useful for keeping track of deadlines and assignments.”

You know your student better than anyone, so what that schedule looks like will depend on their needs. Some students benefit from an hour-by-hour calendar (where they spend an hour on AP Government, followed by a 10-minute social media break, followed by an hour of Physics), while others work better with a to-do list (where they check off the day’s assignments and work at their own pace). You can keep track of the day’s tasks electronically or by using a white board or laminated poster.

Encourage your student to stay active and take lots of breaks

A typical school day is full of breaks from learning. Sure, there are the big ones, like lunch and recess, that we tend to remember, but there are also lots of smaller breaks: walking from class to class, taking bathroom breaks, and chatting in those moments when the teacher is calling roll or passing out papers. Even on their most difficult days, your student wasn’t spending eight full hours crouched over a textbook. Once you’ve set up your student’s learning space, you can allow them to take breaks to check their social media, chat with friends, or play with pets. Younger children will obviously need more help managing their break times than older ones, but this is a good opportunity for them to learn time management skills and focus in a safe environment.

It’s also important that students stay physically active, even though virtual learning doesn’t always include gym class or recess. The CDC recommends students stay as active as they can during this time, and parents can help by “identifying ways to add physical activity to your child’s daily routine.” This might mean starting the day with stretching or yoga (there are lots of online videos to get you started!) or with a short walk, respecting social distancing guidelines.

Help your student stay connected with their peers

One of the most important aspects of traditional schooling is the social aspect. When schools closed last spring, students went from spending eight hours a day with their friends to staying indoors with their family all day, every day. Even under the best of circumstances, that’s not a recipe for success.

The social bonds students form in school can have profound effects on their wellbeing. According to the CDC, “school connectedness […] has been shown to have positive effects on academic achievement, including having higher grades and test scores, having better school attendance, and staying in school longer.” It’s important to make sure your student has a way to bond with their friends, even if they can’t be in the same room. Older students will likely know how to keep in touch with their friends, but it’s worth checking in on them. Younger students will probably need help setting up Facetime or Zoom playdates.

Keep an eye on your student’s mental health

Any period of prolonged stress can have serious consequences for our mental and emotional health, and children and teens aren’t immune. As Jeffrey Kluger notes in TIME, “Living in a universe that is already out of their control, they can become especially shaken when the verities they count on to give the world order–the rituals in their lives, the very day-to-dayness of living–get blown to bits.” School provides structure, familiarity, and a social network for students, and they may be grieving the loss of an important part of their lives. Different students react to this loss in different ways: some may act out, while others become withdrawn. Students with pre-existing mental health conditions may find their symptoms changing under these new conditions.

The CDC recommends that you “watch for and anticipate behavior changes in your child (e.g., excessive crying or irritation, excessive worry or sadness, unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, difficulty concentrating), which may be signs of your child struggling with stress and anxiety.” They’ve also published a variety of resources to help parents help their students cope with stress. You can find them here.

This semester looks to be another adventure in learning, but you are your student’s best advocate. Taking time to plan ahead will make this fall run much more smoothly, and provide your student with the best possible learning environment.

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