Many children have not been able to return to school this fall. Of those fortunate enough to attend at least some in person classes, rising COVID rates across the country risk sending many of those children back to online learning. To help with the challenges of online learning, I’ve been reading articles and watching videos looking for the best tips to make the challenges of distance learning less stressful and more successful. Here’s my summary of the 4 best tips to aid elementary aged students with online learning. 

1. Create a functional work space for your child to do school from. 

The number one tip on almost every list is to create a work space for your child that helps your child focus during online class. 

A good work space minimizes potential distractions.

• It is clutter free and organized.
• Manage noise. Have your environment sufficiently quiet or have your child wear headphones.
• Consider the use of a shield or screen to reduce visual distractions (pictured below, here’s an Amazon link to this item).

Have all necessary supplies available so your child doesn’t miss something because they have to leave the video to get a needed item.

• Make sure you know from the teacher what supplies your child needs to fully participate in calls.
• If you are fortunate enough to have a dedicated space for your child to do school, have the supplies present and well organized. Otherwise, create a portable supplies organizer out of a shower caddy (or something similar), or repurpose your child’s backpack as supply storage.

Select a good location.

• Take your child’s preferences into account. Your child may also wish to work in different locations on different days.
• Most experts recommend having your child work in a location where you can keep an eye on what he or she is doing from your own work space (to help keep them on track, or be ready to lend a hand).
• Many families find that parents and children working together at the dining room table is a good option, if all have headphones and parental work allows.
• If your child doesn’t have a dedicated work space, have them set up their work space each morning as part of the morning routine.
• Allow for trial and error to find the best spot. 

2. Make a schedule.

Perhaps even more important than the structure that an organized and distraction free workspace provides, is the structure provided by having daily and weekly schedules. Kids thrive on structure and the predictability it provides about what will happen when. Include your availability on it and you will decrease interruptions. 

A good schedule has routines.

• The schedule should specify bedtime and wake up time.
• Include getting dressed, breakfast, teeth brushing just like they were headed to school.
• A morning meeting for the family to go over the day’s schedule and assignments and other todo items.
• Time for setting up the child’s Zoom work space.

A good schedule includes activity breaks.

• Most schools will include these in their daily schedules.
• Try to arrange parental work schedules so that at least one parent can join in the activity break. It’s fun and good for you too.

A good schedule includes time for homework.

• If your child’s teacher assigns homework, put the homework time in the schedule.
• If possible, Schedule yourself to be on hand during homework time to provide what help is needed.

A good schedule includes time for fun.

• Family games, video games, meeting up with friends (on Zoom, FaceTime, or socially distanced).

A good schedule is visible.

• Write the schedule on a posterboard and place it in a place that is visible to everyone.

3. Be Flexible

During this strange time of distance learning, the priorities are: 1) Don’t let school become a source of conflict between you and your child, and 2) As long as your child is advancing in the key skills of math, reading and writing, it doesn’t matter if they are doing all of the work the teacher is assigning.

Both of these goals are served by being flexible in how your child acquires the skills to keep pace with his or her grade level. If it’s easier for your child to learn math or reading or writing through an online platform, such as IXL, that’s a lot better than fighting with your child to get him or her to do homework.

Swing Education lists 20 other online learning resources.

4. Communicate with your child’s teacher.

Teachers are dedicated, caring professionals. They want your child to have a good learning experience this year. They want to work collaboratively with parents to make sure that happens. Reach out to your child’s teacher if you have concerns, if you want to find out about how your child is doing, or about alternatives to the assigned work.

Of course we want to be respectful of teachers’ time. They are busier than ever (I heard one teacher describe this year as “building the play while we’re flying it”), but they do want to hear from you.

I wish all of you the best during this highly stressful time. I hope these tips are helpful to you in making remote learning the best experience it can be for your children and you.