Getting your Child's Remote Learning Work Done!

Right now, we are in the midst of a historical time.  Our world has been turned upside down as many are out of work, schools are closed, and we’re forced to stay at home in order to practice social distancing. In some respects, you might think you’re going to get a lot done around the house, maybe do some redecorating.  But then you remember that you have children.  Not only are they stuck at home without socialization with their friends, but chances are they have a pile of “remote learning work” to do.  That’s where more stress comes in… for the children and the teachers and the family! 

I have heard and read many friends’ comments about the workload or process of remote learning.  I have seen parents sit their children down at a table in front of a computer for hours to “get it done”.  Parents and children are in tears over the amount of work being asked to complete.  THAT IS NOT OK!

More complicated still, each district is doing things differently.  Some are requiring students to do zoom meetings are present their material on a screen.  Other districts are having links to upload work available for students.  And… there are a few that are not requiring students to turn in anything.  No matter what your child's district is putting in action, it can be overwhelming and stressful.  

If you are fighting with your child(ren) about “doing schoolwork” let me offer some guidance…. STOP! 

If it gets to the point where you or they are going crazy just STOP!  Do you think teachers would normally have a child sit still until their work is done for the day?  Absolutely not.  As a teacher myself, I work hard to individualize curriculum and work daily for my students.  My students are NEVER doing the same thing at the same time.  I adjust expectations based on children's ability and interest level.  Sadly, there is no easy way to individualize the remote learning options (although some awesome teachers will find a way!).  So, take a deep breath.  

With the stay at home orders coming down from governors, administrations were forced to put something into action as quick as possible to take the place of school.  I think they overall did a great job.  But it’s important to remember that it’s NOT LIKE REALY SCHOOL.  Remote learning will not and CANNOT mimic the school atmosphere.  

In reality, teachers are trained to assess social emotional development and behavior.  If a child is overwhelmed, they make changes to the activity, environment, or assignment.  Teachers spent August to February developing strong relationships with students.  They know that getting to know each one will assist them in knowing each’s trigger or level of tolerance for different things.  You are not going to know these academic thresholds and responses, nor are you expected to. My children's school is rocking the remote learning plan.  Look at the reminders they put on the work available to us each week:

 

I promise, your child’s teachers do NOT want you forcing your child to do their work if it is causing social-emotional stress.  Just STOP.   Walk away.  Don’t do ANY work for a whole day.  

Mental health comes first.  Something that comes to mind as a teacher is Maslow's hierarchy of needs.  This theory tells us that no learning can occur until the bottom of the pyramid has been developed.  That means if a child is hungry, cold, scared, etc. a teacher needs to tend to those needs before teaching anything.  Look at the pyramid below.  Learning can occur in the self-actualization stage, which is at the top!!! You cannot start there.  You start way down at the bottom and hit each level as you work your way up.  

Ok, so you'll stop trying to teach and put the work away.  Then, what?   

What’s even more amazing is that LEARNING WILL STILL OCCUR if you don’t do the remote learning activities.  Promise. 

Think I’m crazy?  Actually, my children’s principal agrees.  He recently sent out an email explaining what can happen when families are forced to stay home… and it’s LEARNING.  It’s not the learning you would expect to see, it’s sort of hidden.  That being said, it may be the most important learning that your child can experience.  For example, we’ve all seen the memes of “kids these days” not being able to balance a checkbook, cook, do laundry, etc.  Well, maybe this time in our life is a chance to change that!  If your middle schoolers learn to create a laundry schedule for the house, they will be utilizing mathematical/ logical skills, possibly learning about chemical reactions by removing stains with topical products, learning how materials respond to chemicals like bleach, etc.

A young child can learn so much through simply cooking.  Reading a recipe is reading applications, comprehension, and fluency.  Following the steps of a recipe is math:  sequencings, order, numerical concepts and actually measuring ingredients (measurement).  There is science as you watch different materials coming together to create a new product.  There are chemical reactions in cooking!  There is direction following, comprehension, science, math, and language and literacy… all in COOKING! These life skills have plenty of learning embedded in them if you look a little closer.  In the end of this stay at home order we may see children find new interests, talents, and/or appreciation for a home cooked meal, an organized home, a daily schedule…. And this is precisely what Michael Griffen wrote in his letter to families at a Strongsville City elementary school.  He ended with this:

“What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?”

If interested, you can read his entire letter here: https://www.smore.com/9jwze-the-muraski-tribune?ref=email-content#w-9601082669

I also want to remind you that our government has put specific safeguards into place for our students.  For example, testing has been eliminated this year!  This is AWESOME.  No one will be expected to meet a specific data point.  Children are left free to learn with intrinsic motivation rather than something external like a reward or punishment making them do it. 

Then you have the question of, “Will my child be behind?  Will they be ready for…..(whatever grades comes next)?”  Again, STOP.  Just relax.  EVERYONE is going to move up a grade, but “behind” a little.  Everyone is experiencing time (weeks to months) without their standard learning environment.  This will affect the students, but the teachers are experts.  They KNOW what to do if a group of students walk in to 4^th grade classroom lower than traditionally expected.  They adjust the curriculum, environment, and assignments.  This is what they do best!!!  Above all, it is great that more flexibility will be granted to teachers and administrators to allow them to meet children where they are at rather than where they “should be”.  

So, if you find yourself getting into a power struggle with pile of worksheets between you and your child, just STOP.  Your child’s teacher would.