When we transitioned to distance learning abruptly last spring, many families were caught off-guard, and not every home works well for parents and children working at home at the same time. I am a former teacher and am now a parent, and I know the choices we have been presented with as a result of COVID-19 are not good. Most of us will have children learning at home for at least part of the school year, and I have some tips, ideas, and suggestions to help you make this a successful and less-stressful school year.
School from home or distance learning is not the same as homeschooling. Many people have used those terms interchangeably, but there are big differences. With school from home or distance learning, your school or school district will be supplying some support and instruction. The amount and type of support varies widely. So, I offer you a word of calm as we move forward: your child will not be “behind.” There is no “falling behind” in this moment. Education is not a race. It’s not a product or a finish line. It is a process. And every child in the United States — and around the world — is going through this moment together.
This is a once-in-a-century (or even longer) moment. And this moment may last a few years. The most important thing you can do for your child is to help them do what they can do and to convey confidence and calm — even when you are like the proverbial duck, paddling underwater as fast as you can.
A few months ago, Bambino said to me, “Mama, it’s like we are living in a book.” He’s right. This is the kind of historical event about which books will be written, stories will be told, and movies will be made. It is world-shifting. And in that context, your child’s science assignment is important — and also not all that important. Take a deep breath. Take control of what you can control. Plan for success. And know that it will all look different this year than it ever has.
You can’t do school at home or distance learning and expect that it will be the same as when your child is at school. It won’t. Teaching online is a very different beast from teaching in a classroom. I know. I have done both. Learning at home is very different from learning in a classroom, too.
But it can be done, and there are a few simple, inexpensive things you can do that will help your child to be more successful at school, more comfortable at home, and to help you get your own work done as well.
I hope these resources are helpful for your family, and I wish you all the best. We are all in this together, and the quicker we stop the spread of COVID-19, the quicker we can get back to normal — or at least a new normal. So wear a mask, stay home, and stay safe, my friends!
Click the links below!
Exciting news! The Fall 2020 One Room Challenge has begun! Check out all of the details!
Fall is my favorite season! Check out the projects and ideas I have for this coziest of seasons!
Make any face mask more comfortable with this easy, no-sew hack! All you need is elastic!
School at home is a new experience for us all! Check out this list of school supplies to make sure your children have what they need at home to start the school year off right!
Tips for at-home learning, a tutorial for comfortable face masks, and more!