How Parents Are Approaching Round Two Of Remote Learning

Most parents will admit that remote learning was a disaster by the end of the last school year. The complaints I heard on the playground were endless: children acting miserably and unable to focus, some feeling self-conscious on camera, parents venting and voicing that their own work suffered, and much more.

Now that summer is officially over, it's time for a second round of home learning for many of us. In our district, school was delayed a couple of weeks and will be fully remote. Kids will then get back to the classroom only two days a week, and the other two days will be at home. However, the plans change by the day.

There's no doubt that last school year's remote learning experience was a train wreck. As educator, author and speaker Kimberly A. Morrow explains, "the main concern shared by the parents was the lack of preparation for remote learning."

If there's one thing about parents, it's that we're quick to learn lessons and adjust our ways. I checked in with a few moms, and here are their plans for making this remote school year a better experience for everyone.

Getting More Comfortable

Mom Holly is setting her rising fourth grader up with a real desk this time, with more attention on ergonomics. "We got one of those pivoting footrest blocks to put under his feet, and got a real keyboard so we can raise his Chromebook to eye level without him having to reach to type. No idea how it will go, but it feels good to be doing something — anything — differently."

A Dedicated Space

Mom Suzanne's biggest change is that she and her family built a school space in her home from scratch over the summer for her boys, ages 9 and 6. "We set up desks and built in a set of shelves, too. We wanted them to have a dedicated space for work and everything they need. And they got to choose chairs with wheels, which they love!"

Keep That Paper Out

Morrow adds that even though kids are online, we should still bring out paper and pencils. "Many students and parents may want to skip the paper and pencil and go straight to typing out their assignments. This is not recommended, as it does not help with retaining the information long term," Morrow says.

According to an article in Redbooth, which was cited from the Journal of Educational Psychology, “Taking organized notes presumably involves deeper and more thorough processing of the lecture information, whereas transcribing requires only a shallow encoding of the information."

Clearly Defined Parent/Teacher Roles

Mom Amanda created a school environment in her home by turning her guest room into a classroom. "We’re on Week Four now, and this has made a big difference, mostly on my stress level. When we’re done with school, we leave that room (and its clutter) behind, and it separates school and home more clearly. Also, when we’re in that room, I’m the 'teacher' and not so much Mom, also helping to draw a clearer delineation."

Short And Sweet

Amanda adds, "We also have the same start time every morning and try to end by noon — [our children are in] first grade and preschool, so it’s doable most days, barring any meltdowns. We buckle down and then leave the afternoon for outside time and play (and sometimes lazy movie time!)."

Getting More Involved

Mom Jenny says, " E-learning in the spring was, understandably, kind of thrown together, and my daughters could complete it without much oversight in less than two hours. They are good students, and since the assignments didn’t seem to be teaching them anything new, I focused mostly on keeping my youngest busy and out of their way. When school starts next week, though, I am planning to be much more involved. I want to know exactly what they are studying so that I can provide enrichment beyond their Chromebook."

Less Work, More School

Kathy is on the same page and says, "The biggest thing I'm doing differently is cutting back on my work hours so I can help them without staying up half the night working."

More Parenting News:

• How To Balance Working From Home With The Kids Around
• How Parents Are Dealing With Life's Uncertainties During COVID-19
• How To Help Keep Your Kids Focused During Virtual Classes