10 back-to-school tips for online learning

Hope all the parents and students are getting into a routine for the new school year. The fall session has started for almost all schools across the country at this point, after a gap of more than five months! Our last day of school was March 12th in Spring and students start back on September 8th virtually for the fall session. Most schools, if not all, are giving options for learning virtually or start face to face classes some time this fall. This post is about some tips for all students to have a successful school year- be it online public school education or home-schooling.

Spring semester learning was unexpectedly virtual due to COVID- 19 and the best resources and support were given to all the students as was possible. In the summer all educators- teachers, administrators and para-professional staff were trained about getting ready for the virtual school session for the new school year 2020. So now for the fall session, we are ready! I say this in the perspective of an educator. I am also a mom and so can speak from the point of a parent, and a mom of 2 teens returning back to school. So read on about my back to school tips!

10 back to school tips for 2020

Irrespective of whether your child is doing virtual learning or home-schooling, here are 10 tips to make it a successful school year for all students:

1. Have a routine in place:

In addition to schooling, there should be set time for meals, sleep, and social connection. I am not sure how it was in your place, but at our home all of this was chaotic during the summer. We were sleeping late and waking up at noon, with mealtimes changing and nothing set in stone. Thankfully now that the break is over, I am looking forward to getting in routine.

A sample of routine-

7 am- Wake up

7:30 am- Breakfast

8:00 am- School starts

12:30 pm- Lunch time

3:30 pm- School ends

4:00 pm- Outdoors (back yard, walks or park)

5:00 pm- HW time

7:00 pm-Family connection time (game or conversation about the day)

8:00 pm- Dinner

8:30 pm- TV/relaxation

9:30 pm- Getting ready for bed

10 pm- Bedtime

2. Be ready for the daily schedule:

Students should be ready and dressed up, as if going to a physical school building, every day. This may include taking a shower, changing from PJs into outside clothes, combed and brushed, and be ready to actively participate in the school session. We will be more ready mentally if we take time to get ready physically.

3. Have supplies ready:

This goes without saying. Just like any other year of school, students should shop for their supplies before the first day of school. The difference may be that instead of a backpack and lunch box, they may shop for workbooks, tech devices and other curriculum guides if they are home schooled or doing online learning. The basic supplies of a planner, pens, pencils, erasers, markers, glues, sticky notes, index cards, loose sheets, calculator and highlighters; to name a few; are necessary. Technological device is a must for learning, so any device which your child may not need to share with others, will be helpful. Examples include laptop, desktop, iPad, Chrome book or a phone.

4. Have a designated space for daily classes:

If your child is homeschooled or doing online learning, having a study space for school work is vital. The work area can be in any part of the house (I wouldn’t recommend a bed, but a desk in their bedroom may work) and should be available for them all the time. It is their learning space, and they can decorate it, mark it or leave it as is.

5. Have time allocated separately to work on home work, project and any other due assignment:

The students should be given couple hours, outside of regular school hours, to work on daily assignments and ways to extend and enrich their learning. These learning opportunities may include project work, HW assignments, group work or project based learning.

6. Check with teachers regularly:

Again this goes without saying. Students should take the support of their teachers, every day! With this novel way of teaching and learning, it is but natural to have multiple questions, concerns or clarifications. Always ask! Remind your students to not wait till the last minute or close to when the assignment is due, to ask for help. Meet and talk with teachers, daily if needed. Remember that their grades matter, and in these times of virtual learning everyone benefits from some extra support or guidance.

7. Make sure your students social emotional needs are met:

This goes for the social emotional learning support from the teachers as well as parents. Students should feel safe, supported and given a voice and choice in their learning. Students need to learn how to manage stress, anxiety, conflict, classroom behavior, and other expectations. In schools there may be use of circle time, self-reflection, peer connections, and other active talk time in classrooms to help meet social emotional needs of all students. At home parents may share their own social, relationship and decision making skills with their child. You may read this post for more ideas about how to meet the SEL needs of your students.

8. Make sure your student takes time on a regular basis to work on something outside of school work:

Yes, schooling is important and education is pivotal for overall growth of students. But we should also let students work on their extra-curricular passions- something they are interested in outside of school. Some such hobbies may include gaming, reading, art and craft. You may read this post for more ideas about hobbies and how pursuing something they love will make them more creative and passionate. Whatever interest you child shows, it is very important to let them have some structured time to explore and practice those skills and interests.

9. Family connection time is very critical:

Whether it be in the morning at breakfast table or during dinner, set aside some time on a daily basis to connect with your child. It can be a reflection about how the day is going, what is on their mind and how to balance schooling at home with so many things going on.

10. Relax and not stress:

As a parent it will very important to not stress education for our students, and relax as students get comfortable with this new type of learning. Rest assured that students are gaining 21st century skills as they take their virtual learning into a new level. Be there for them, and emphasize that you are always there for them.

Wrap up

As students start back to school in 2020 with the COVID pandemic still looming, it is very important to give our full support to these students as they make virtual learning a reality and a novel way to grasp classroom learning. With these 10 back to school tips in hand, all students can and will feel successful at home with online instruction.

Dear readers, we would love to hear from you. Please share your tips, learning or reflections about schooling this year. You may comment below or send an email to nishtha@dawnandhope.com