The pandemic took everyone by surprise, and as a result lives were instantly changed. People went from moving about as they pleased, to being confined at home, and finally to moving about cautiously with a mask. Jobs went from being in person to working from home. Even schools had to adopt a new way of operating. Online schools were once used as a backup for families of children who were being bullied. Online schools have now become a way of life for many. Online schools can be effective if both the parents and children are properly prepared for it.
My husband and I have been using online schooling to educate our children for years before the pandemic hit. We decided to homeschool our 3 children for a few years, and then we enrolled them in an online charter school. We found a few things to be helpful with creating an environment that encourages learning from home. Many people were thrown into educating their kids from home. If you are new to online schooling, this sudden shift may have caused a lot of stress to you and your family. Here are a few tips that have helped our family. Each family is different, and each family has their own set of needs. What works for my family, may not work for yours. I have listed a few things our family does to make learning from home easier for both the children and us the parents. Could any of these help your family?
- Attire Matters– The clothes we wear can impact our attitude. Rolling out of bed and sitting at your computer may be great, but does it prepare you mentally for learning? When you are learning from home, I believe there needs to be something that sets the tone for school. I have always required my children to wear uniforms, even when I was homeschooling them. Most people are naturally comfortable at home. We tend to move slower and feel more relaxed. Requiring your children to wear a uniform or making some clothing off limits, changes their mindset to thinking about getting things done. The attire does not have to be as formal as uniforms, but you may want to consider no sweats pants or pajamas during the school hours.
- Morning Schedule– It is important to set a morning schedule. As I stated before, most people are very relaxed at home. When we set a schedule, it gets our mind thinking about moving in a more purposeful way. Decide for your family what is important for you to accomplish in the morning. Our family schedule includes morning devotions, so our kids rise earlier than the normal school day to accommodate this priority. However, a morning schedule can be as simple as what time they are expected to shower, have breakfast, and be ready to sit at their computer.
- Dedicated, Organized, Quiet Space– Whether you have one child or multiply children, a dedicated organized space is vital. This space should include a desk with enough space for a computer, as well as room for your child to spread out notes, books, and any other resources. Our family has also found it helpful to use organizers to hold all their learning resources. For example, pencil case, a four-drawer organizer to hold textbooks, and school resources. If possible, it is also nice for each child to have their own printer in their room as well. Some online charter schools provide the computer and printer for each child. The printer can sit right on top of the four-drawer organizer, which minimizes the amount of space needed for school supplies. Providing your child with a specific space allows them to have a stable, reliable, organized space to maximize their potential during the school day.
Online schooling was something most people would not have ventured into without being forced to experience this way of learning. It is likely that educating from home will become more significant to many families. Every family has their own set of values and priorities. The tips listed above is intended to give you ideas of how you can make the most out of your child’s online education.
CHSHQ Challenge: Take time to think about your families’ values. How could you use this extra time of being home with your kids to reinforce your families’ values?