Ideas I’ve Borrowed from the Classroom

How to Get Your Own Work Done and Ensure Your Kids Do Theirs.

Feeling frazzled and frustrated? By now, tempers are short, and the days are long. Is it five o’clock somewhere?? Take a deep breath. We’re all in this together. Okay, technically we’re six feet apart, but we will get through this. In the meantime, here are 11 distance learning tips for parents that might help.

*If you’re a parent who is an essential worker, thank you for going out there every day. Although it’s tough for those of us at home; it’s so much tougher for you. Here’s hoping you have the support of others to get you through.

1.  Try to keep a schedule.   No, not a Pinterest-worthy masterpiece seen on social media.  Maybe I’m just jealous (keeping it real here) but that’s hard to maintain. That said, routines are important for kids. There’s research that says they actually want them, although I’d argue this was stated by no kid ever. At least not mine. 

Thursday is physical education day? Send them outside. Monday is art? Play-Doh time. Oh, and as a teacher, I know this one well. Try to be flexible and patient. Okay, most of us are past the patient part, but flexibility will save the day. They can finish an assignment later if it’s too much. And sometimes it’s important not to keep a schedule. No one is grading you on this!

2.  Minimize distractions. Distance learning is all about distractions. I know, the students are the distraction. And the second you’re on a call or Zoom meeting, one of them has a question, demand, or a complaint. And, they don’t go away. My son asked me for more cereal. He texted it from his iPad(?!) and then told me my service rated “one star.” What. the. blank.  

Back to kids and distractions. “Music helps me concentrate,” says every kid I’ve ever taught. That’s a recipe for getting nothing done and arguing all day about why. One tip some suggest is having a place in the house for electronics until the school work is done. Warning: this one is tough. I’ve failed many times. Stay strong, friends!  

3.  Use proximity.  Teachers use close distance to refocus students. It can also work at home. “I’ll do it in my bedroom” is code for doing nothing but texting friends and gaming. But, if you need to get work done, then let kids do their thing. But…

Quiet is good, but can also be scary.  It’s quiet when my son is hosting an ice cream party for one, complete with chocolate syrup and sprinkles. I know of a parent whose toddler washed the kitchen floor – with a garden hose. But I digress. I’m pretty sure social distancing does not refer to kids keeping away from parents so they can post on TikTok or sneak in a little Paw Patrol.  Just saying.  Walk by when you take a work break.  Or a bathroom break.  If you have time for a bathroom break.

4.  Refocus them, but don’t engage.  When they don’t know how to do it, and you don’t know how to do it…what to do? What happened to carry the one in math, anyway? Take a deep breath. Have they checked their resources? I’m guessing they haven’t. Teacher tip: do not engage when you’re losing your patience. Walk away. Say it with me now, “walk away.” Thank yourself later.

Alert:  Proceed with caution when kids say, “I don’t get it.” Maybe they don’t (and do need help) or maybe they are waiting for you to supply the answer. In the business, we call this “learned helplessness.” The student can and will wait until the quarantine ends before they attempt to find the answer. Trust me. At this point, redirect them to their resources. Oh, and walk away.  

Stress balls or squishy objects could help kids concentrate. Caveat: these objects might have the unintended consequence of distracting a child even more. A kid’s attention span is about 15 minutes. You heard me. 15 minutes. Do the math. Or, in this case, don’t and let them do it. For the record, my son is a fourth-grader with an attention span of 15 seconds.  

5.  Organize them.  Many kids struggle with organization. Since most of their work is online, it can be tough to help them organize it. One strategy is to “chunk” subjects or blocks of time for kids. Work for an hour, then have (another) snack. Finish your science, take a quick break. 

 Checklists work well. Kids find it satisfying to cross off completed items. Not into lists? Try post-it notes. Yellow for math, pink for Social Studies. Remove when the task is completed and reuse the next day. Colored markers can be used to organize by assignment or class period. Whatever makes their (and your) life easier. 

Use a timer. Sands through the hourglass, whatever you’ve got. This can be an effective way to keep kids focused on the task at hand. I always use a timer in my classroom and now at home, too. And it’s not for cooking.   

6.  Motivation.  Kids need motivation. My son does his work so he can play outside or online. Is there a fourth-grader out there who isn’t on Roblox? Where is that unicorn? But motivation is different for all kids. Tap into what motivates yours, and dare I say to motivate them with earning something – screen time, coloring, or Legos. Hey, we’re in desperate times.

I know, students should complete their work for the joy of learning. Reality check, we use incentives in schools and they work for many kids. There’s research out there. I am NOT suggesting you bribe kids to do what they are expected to do. We are trying to create self-sufficient people here, and be honest, don’t you reward yourself now and then?  

I’m talking about small things kids would do anyway. It’s a “Finish your math and if we have time, ride your bike longer” type of thing. Not, “I’ll buy you new Jordans if you do that term paper.” Some people are opposed to this, and I get it. My boss doesn’t give me a bonus if I’m on time for work. Maybe try it when needed, if your child is pushed to the limit. If you need motivation, that’s a different post. Coming soon.  

7.  Online freebies.  Teachers post resources so you don’t have to hunt for them. Don’t forget about the museums, zoos, aquariums, and amusement parks that offer free virtual tours! Note: all kids are in the same situation. Your kids will not be “left behind” because all schools have a lot of review to do in September. If we’re back by then. Just kidding. I hope. Looking up that liquor delivery site right now…  

8.  Downtime.  When kids are online, be vigilant about what they are doing. Predators and bullies don’t rest just because there’s a Coronavirus pandemic. Stay cautious to keep your kids safe.

Recess, the golden hour. Everyone outside til the street lights come on. Maybe a scavenger hunt? My students love them; they’re free and easy. Make a paper checklist of items in your house, apartment building, or on your block. And if you’re thorough, it’ll take a while. A looong while.  

9.  Help others.  Are they driving you crazy? Have kids put their energy to good use.  Give them projects around the house or yard.  We leave water bottles for mail, sanitation, and delivery workers with a thank you note. Hang some lights. Sidewalk chalk.  Whatever it takes to lift people’s spirits.

10.  Keep your sense of humor.  I’m stress eating in my kitchen right now. Licorice, anyone? Twenty students in a class are less demanding than one at home.  This situation is overwhelming, but there are ways to cope.

Practice social distancing from your loved ones. Shed in your backyard? Field trip! Bathrooms are a place to get away from the “students.” I hid in the basement laundry room, but my son found me – to ask for more goldfish. The bag was conveniently located three feet from him. Sometimes there’s just no escape.

At a local coffee place with curbside pickup, a customer let all of us cut the line.  She said, “I’m in no rush to get home.”  We hear you, sister!  Sit in your car and crank those tunes. Ten minute vacay! 

Let’s keep our perspective. Coronavirus has taken so much from us, not the least of which is people’s lives. It’s robbed us of our friends and family, security, income, wellbeing, and sense of community. It has ruined birthday parties and canceled graduations. It has given us a bit too much “quality time” with our students. If I had a dollar for every eye roll…but we’re not talking about wealth management here.

11.  Save your sanity.  Homeschooling isn’t forever. One day we will be back to our lives. In the meantime, take care of yourself. Find 15 minutes or even 15 seconds to recharge. Stare out the window, water your plants, try to finish a cup of coffee, read funny parent tweets.  I have heard mediation works well; I haven’t had a minute to try it yet…

These distance learning tips look good on paper, but we know real life gets in the way. When it gets really stressful, vent to your family and friends. Post on social media. Laugh. Share and learn from others. Might I suggest an adult beverage? I’ll say it again. We’re all in this together. And we will be okay. Um, so check in with me in two months, okay? In the meantime, send bubbly.