Back to School Support for Parents

As more and more districts are adopting a distance learning model for the upcoming school year, I cannot as an educator, not offer some support to parents. I hear your cry parents, and before I get into some tips and suggestions, I must say that I am sure that all parents have a newfound appreciation for teachers and what it is that we do; it is not at an easy job at all and those summer vacations are much needed in order to be refreshed and prepared for a new year.

I cannot give specific suggestions because everybody’s situation is different, however, whether your children will be participating in your district’s distance learning program or you will be homeschooling your children, it will be helpful to prepare like a teacher since that is what you now are. Here then are some tips adapted from The New Teacher’s Complete Sourcebook (Scholastic, 2002).

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Set Your Expectations

This is first. What do you realistically expect you will be able to do to support your children in their education? Will you be busy working full-time and will need your children to be able to work independently most of the time? Or will you be able to spend more time assisting your children but maybe not feel equipped to help with certain subjects? Identify and seek support for problem areas.

Grade Level Expectations

Next, find out how your children learn. Maybe they are kinesthetic learners and need to be able to move their bodies. Or maybe they are visual learners and need to see examples. For more information about Multiple Intelligence Theory and to test your children’s areas of intelligence, check out this website. In general:

• Kindergarteners are hands-on learners.
• First graders need well-defined rules and routine. They like group play.
• Second graders are reflective and can work independently, but also need group time and opportunities for movement.
• Third graders are confident in their skills and thus, make great peer tutors. They enjoy math and science, so have them conduct investigations.
• Fourth graders are sensitive to criticism. They are interested in learning what goes on in the world so focus on social studies and plan field trips for them.

With all of this in mind, familiarize yourself with your state’s standards for your children’s grade levels to learn the expectations. Locate resources you will need for teaching, even if you are not homeschooling, as supplementing what they are learning in school will only solidify your children’s education.

See Related: Book Recommendations for Children

Classroom Environment

Where will the learning take place? At the kitchen table? In the dining room? Prepare the area with all of the supplies you will need. Basic supplies to stock:

Establish what your procedures will be for distance learning/homeschool and teach them. This is important so that your children won’t be going to the refrigerator for snacks at random times, for instance. Procedures are very important to have for everything, no matter how small it may seem. You may want to decide what your procedure will be for the following:

• Beginning the day. Are they coming to homeschool in pajamas or getting dressed as they would if they were going to school, or somewhere in between?
• Ending the day. Are they going to summarize what they have learned? Are they going to be receiving any type of incentives, such as stickers, for completing work or following rules?
• Taking out/putting away/taking care of supplies.
• Getting help with assignments or handling difficulties with siblings
• Handing in completed work. Where does it go?
• What to do with unfinished work.
• When you will provide breaks for snacks, drinking water, etc.
• How they will be heading their independent work assignments. First and last name? Date?
• What they will do when they finish early. Reading quietly? Writing in a journal? Getting on an iPad?

Daily Schedule

If you are homeschooling, prepare your lesson plan and materials for the first week, at least a week in advance, remembering to concentrate on teaching your procedures and the rules. Having a schedule is important, especially so if you have more than one child.

The rest of the instructional time should be filled in with science, social studies, and character development.

My experience is with elementary students, so that is what I have concentrated on in this article. Additionally, I am a reading specialist, so if you have more specific questions about how you can support your elementary child at home or your K-12 child with reading, please see the related articles below, or ask them in the comments below and I will do my best to answer.

See related: Helping Your Child Learn to Read

See Related: How to Teach Your Child to Write

Until then, enjoy the rest of summer! ☀️