Fall is just around the corner but plenty of families are still unable to send their kids off to their first day of school. Instead of getting on a bright yellow school bus this year, many children will be heading to the homeschool classroom. A large percentage of Americans will resume distance learning at home, at least until the number of COVID-19 cases begins to drop, enabling all schools to start in-person classes again.
Feeling a little nervous? Don’t worry, you’ve got this! “Last spring was crisis teaching,” says Lisa Haro, a second grade teacher in San Bernadino, Calif. “It wasn’t distance learning or homeschooling. We’re better prepared now, which means there will be more expectations in terms of lessons and actual grades for both teachers and kids.”
Here, Haro shares five of her favorite homeschool tips to help your kids transition to learning at home, regardless of whether you live in a 500-square foot apartment or a 5,000-square foot mansion.
1. Find a Quiet Space
“There are times where your kids’ live lessons might conflict with each other,” says Haro. “I know a lot of us have more than one child and not very much room, or live in an open concept home, which makes it a little bit more difficult. But, no matter your home size or style, I would say it’s important to help your child find a quiet place to work. Most families have enough room that everyone can have their own little homeschool classroom space, even if it’s just a section of the living room or kitchen or their bedroom.”
2. Get Organized
“For my kids, I find it’s a lot easier if we’re more organized at home,” says Haro. “I have these large bins I bought for them at Costco. That way, each kid has all of the school materials they need during a live lesson accessible right at their fingertips. When they don’t need them, they can put everything back inside the bins away without taking up a lot of space or cluttering up the whole house.”
3. Stock Up On Supplies
“For a lot of kids, it helps if they have important learning tools like a number or place value chart be accessible at home,” says Haro. “You can keep these in a protective sleeve so your kids can write on them with a whiteboard marker then clean them off afterward. That way, the chart or paper stays protected and clean instead of getting torn apart. We’re actually doing this with some important tools for the second graders at my school this year.”
4. Make a Schedule
“Try to keep a consistent schedule, “ says Haro. “The lines definitely get blurred when you are a parent and the teacher. Kids say and do things differently with you than they would with their own classroom teacher, whom they’re always wanting to please. If they need a little break here and there, of course, give it to them. But then have them take a deep breath, focus, and get back to the work. There will be times when they are able to work independently but try to stay consistent and remember to keep checking on them.”
5. Reward Good Behavior
“ You can have a reward system if you know that your child needs does better with a sticker chart or something like that,” says Haro. “Once they have earned so many stickers, they can go to the treasure box just like they would at school. Or, if your child is really motivated to finish work quickly, maybe their reward could be getting to do something fun earlier in the day. What I’ve noticed most with my own children and my students, is that they miss and crave human interaction. Some fun rewards could be spirit days, virtual parties, special lunches, talent shows, or earning screen and video game time during the week. Parents know their children best so they know what will be the most meaningful.”
Dis these homeschool tips come in handy? Tell us your thoughts in the comments–and show us your homeschool classroom hacks on Instagram @Lulus using #lovelulus!
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