The School From Home Survival Guide! Round Two!

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The School From Home Survival Guide! Round Two!

It's that time of year again! School is starting and students, as well as, parents are preparing to learn again. Brighter futures lie ahead. This year however is very different than the 2020 catastrophe and even more different than the years prior due to the changes in the COVID-19 progression. 

We are currently living in hybrid ways of learning where some schools have in-person learning, in-person with restrictions, half and half virtual learning, and 100% virtual learning. It's a little hard to manage but we need to do what we need to do for our children.

This survival guide is essentially a Ridiculously Ben re-run episode for virtual classes only. It'll contain everything I've learned all in one place and with some extra bonus content. As this is going to be a long post, I'll make a little index for us!

Disclaimer: This guide is for those who believe that COVID-19 exists and that it is harmful or for those who have the opportunity to have their child go to school virtually. It is not meant to scare anyone or offend anyone. Please keep in mind this guide was made in hopes to help people and does not push an opinion.

Virtual Learning This Year

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Depending on the district you are involved in, things will be very different and in some cases more difficult. I've learned that my district, as well as other districts, may be hiring independent companies to teach our children. Not to worry though, as the following should be noted:

  • The district has their hands in a lot of the company's processes
  • Most if not all teachers are retired teachers who are also substitutes, accredited, or certified
These programs are called "independent study" which means while the teacher is there to help out, it is up to you and your child to get all assignments done and really being self-driven and independent. Here are some pros and cons I've observed thus far:

Pros

  • Your child will not be physically around other people. This will reduce the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
  • No time consuming health checks with in-person learning needed.
  • Peace of mind of your child being close by and safe.
  • Able to monitor what is being taught.
  • Teachers are flexible, understanding, and have office hours available for parent and students.

Cons

  • Education time is limited. You technically loose about 2 hours or more of what your child would normally experience in an in-person environment.
  • Your child may be grouped up with children in a 2 to 3 grade level bracket. This means, your 3rd grader can be grouped up with 1st and 2nd graders depending on the demand in your district.
  • You are not a part of the specific assigned school anymore until you decide to return to in-person classes. This is temporary however... hopefully.
  • You loose special classes and dual immersion. This would be, but not limited to, robotics, coding, music, art, PE, etc.
  • No sports.
  • Class sizes can be pretty big.
  • Teacher assignment can change within the first two weeks. This can be a pro, as your child may be with more children within the same grade level!
So with the Cons outweighing the Pros, why have your child learn virtually? Safety! The reason you are here and the reason you've opted for online independent study is so your child will stay safe with the world pandemic. 

Take Action Now!

Photo by Vlad Cheศ›an from Pexels
So, the independent study doesn't look like it is as good as last year or wasn't as expected, right? Time to take action. Be that super hero parent you're supposed to be! As parents, we need to take some initiative into our own hands. This will essentially become home school where you become the school and teacher's assistant. Here's a few tips to be on your way to a positive and enriching education for your child.

Look for Workbooks: Find some fun workbooks or even find out what workbooks the in-person classes are using. This is crucial. It makes your child practice and stay on top of what's being taught in-person that can be lacking in your virtual class. Tip! Some workbooks can be found free or discounted on Facebook parent groups, ThriftBooks, or on E-Bay. They may be a little used, but still helpful and better than nothing.

Add the extras: Aside from the normal tasks the virtual teacher has set aside, make your own. Make a check list or a fun chart with your child for what they need to focus on for the time they are not in virtual class. This would be the curriculum that is absent from the class. For example, do some karaoke, drawing, dance to some music, or even run in place and do some jumping jacks. 

First time doing school from home? No Problem!

If you are new to this, there are some things to consider, and you're in luck, as I've already made guides for you! In short, I'll explain the first steps to prepare for independent study. 

First you'll need a comfortable and and age appropriate desk and chair for your child. It is ill advise to have your child on a couch, bed, or anything other than suggested, as it becomes a distraction. Next, if the school does not provide a device, make sure you have a suitable and newer device with a camera. In the following link I'll suggest some affordable samples. Lastly, you have your device, get used to Google's features, book marks, chrome tabs, and auto-fill features. For more information in detail, please review the following blog post: School From Home Help For Parents

Keep your child safe with computer safety

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The internet is a scary place and can be a dangerous place. I have four steps I take to this approach.

Number One: Talk with your child about the dangers of the internet. Explain that an intentional wrong turn can cause their computer to break (virus, etc.) and to stick to the websites the teachers provide. This will encourage them to stay on task, as, who wants to break something that can potentially play video games right?

Number Two: Prepare their computer. Restrict usage and set them up with their own profile. Instructions can be found here: Setting up a profile

Number Three: Set up the browser with restrictions. Turn on and off features you feel can be hazardous and turn on safesearch features. For a more in-depth view on how to get this going, review the following link: Computer Safety For School From Home

Alternatively, there is an online game called Interland that can teach your child about internet safety in a fun way. Although I have not reviewed it, I've heard many teachers, parents, and children who believe it is a great resource.

Making things comfortable

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You will notice a lot of children will squirm, fidget, stand on their head, and so on and so forth. This is 100% normal especially for the younger ones! I've wrote a post that can help you through this with some ideas to explore! In short, good communication and establishing a comfortable chair, appropriate height, and a good set up is key. To learn more, visit: Keep Your Child In Their Chair During School From Home!



Specifically for the parents

This has got to be one of the hardest parts. As parents, we have our hands metaphorically and literally in almost every aspect of our children's life. Normally however, school should be handled by the school and home with home. As parents during a virtual class, we must evolve, adapt, and become hybrid parents and educational professionals. This creates a really hard border between helicopter parenting and actually getting some progress done! I highly encourage you to read my post specifically about this, found here: School From Home: Helicopter Parenting Is Back! 

Monkey see, monkey do

Photo by Paulette Vautour on Unsplash
Something else to note, and fair warning, whether your child is in person or virtual, your child will monkey see, monkey do. What you say at home, do at home, watch at home, will be exactly or weirdly translated to whatever class their in. Why do I bring this up in a post about virtual learning? The worst part about "monkey see, monkey do" is that you'll be at home, listening to your child copy you. Read my post about some steps to work through this phenomena here: School From Home: Your Kid Will Embarrass You! 

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