By Guest Blogger Britney Dent

School is out for millions of children nationwide as K-12 education has shifted from the classroom to the internet or a hybrid model. While many school districts are giving their teachers crash courses in online learning, parents also play a major role in ensuring that kids get a first-rate education. While your child may have been working virtually for several months now, your child might be struggling or a little burnt out. To keep him on track, here are some helpful online schooling tips you may want to start (or restart).

Are you struggling to balance your day with supervising your child’s coursework? I totally get it! I discussed a few of the challenges here early on. Your school may have sent your child home with devices and materials for completing their assignments. You’ll still need to provide structure and motivation.

Follow these strategies to develop an effective structure:

1. Schedule your days. Stick to your usual routines as much as possible, including bedtimes and mealtimes. Let your child know you expect them to log in on time for classes each morning.
2. Arrange your space. Designate an area just for school. It may be a room or a section of the dining room table as long as it’s quiet and comfortable. Stock up on supplies like notebooks, pens, calculators, and even snacks.
3. Limit distractions. Ban games and movies during class time. Keep in mind that some children may learn better with a little background music.
4. Enjoy recess. Breaks and lunch hours are essential. Serve healthy food and provide lots of fun options for physical exercise. Check out Dr. Cengia of Novant Health and her stressing the importance of physical exercise during remote learning.
5. Be social. How can your child maintain their friendships? Use technology for group study sessions, video chats, and virtual play dates.
6. Contact your school. Ask school officials and teachers about the most effective way to communicate with them and stay in touch regularly. Find out what resources are available for collaborating with other parents.

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Strengthen study skills with these techniques:

1. Give practice tests. Many studies show that testing yourself is one of the most productive ways to learn. Design questions together. Treat quizzes like a game to reduce anxiety. Even use games like quizziz, gimkit, or kahoot!
2. Conduct reviews. Prepare for tests by going over past material on a regular basis. Your child is more likely to forget their lessons if they cram at the last minute.
3. Create outlines. Identify key facts and major themes. Building a framework increases reading comprehension and strengthens writing skills. It also encourages critical thinking.
4. Proofread and edit. Review your child’s completed assignments before they’re submitted. Make revisions together until they’re comfortable doing it on their own.
5. Evaluate your progress. Give your child constructive feedback. Discuss teacher comments and test results. Ask your child to describe their strengths and weaknesses. Set specific goals like reading a certain number of pages each day or looking up unfamiliar vocabulary words.
6. Browse for resources. Even if field trips are on hold, there are vast collections online for any subject your child loves. Delve deeper into dinosaurs or sports nutrition or even travel the world virtually with sites like girltraveltours.com.
7. Be selective. At the same time, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by your choices. Start out with a few reliable sources or ask your child’s teacher for recommendations. For example, you might want to explore the PBS Parents Play and Learn App for younger kids and Great Courses for their older siblings.

While circumstances may change, the importance of education remains the same. Help your child to gain knowledge and skills that will enable them to have a positive impact on the world. Be patient with yourself and stay connected as you and your child navigate online learning. Connect with other parents and reach out to coaches, guidance counselors, and friends.

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